Uluki chuckled, attempting to banish her worries about Kaydee and Julen. Both their fates would be revealed soon enough, and there was nothing she could do for them in the meantime.
"The warriors serve me today, but only because their leader is absent, and left me in charge. His name is Aorle-- he is also, I believe you said, the one who sent you on your quest."
"The warriors have been very kind to me and patient with me, but they owe allegiance to their lord. My family just arrived in the city today. I'm not entirely sure why Aorle left me in charge, only..."
She paused. What to say about that? It wasn't that she didn't trust Sigvard-- he seemed like a good man-- it was just that based on the walking legs story, she suspected anything she said that proved of interest to him would turn into a rather fanciful rumour. Better not to be too interesting.
"I used to live in a place very far from here, and things were rather difficult there. I worked to organize and provide for a group of refugees there, and did what I could to strengthen the community as a whole. I guess Aorle left me in charge because he expects I'll do the same thing here."
Was that why? How much had she even told Aorle about that?
"I'm no warrior or military strategist, though. I'm a healer. It's just that sometimes things needed to be done, and there was no one else to do them, so I just... figured out how, I suppose."
"Aorle said we could stay at the base. My family... that's my husband, my two daughters, my son, and me. He said we could stay and work for him. That's why I was in charge today."
"I won't be in charge again after this, though, because I made a mistake. I let Julen get lost, and maybe hurt."
There was a huge weight of guilt behind these words. Uluki knew she'd failed miserably. She only hoped Julen was still alive, that he hadn't died because of her error, her incompetence.
"It'll be alright, though. We'll get Julen and Kaydee home safe and sound, and there'll be plenty of other work for me. I think Aorle will still trust me to do that."
Though she had to admit, at least to herself, she anticipated failure on that front too. How in the world was she going to provide for all those people without any money? She had some ideas, ways to earn a little, but it was never enough, not to feed and clothe that many. She would only manage to let Aorle down again.
She refused to allow that train of thought to go any further. She'd worried about that last time, too, and it had all worked out, though it had always been a struggle. There they'd had access to wild game and plants, but maybe they'd find some other method of support here. There were too many worries; her mind couldn't hold them all. She couldn't worry about her family, and supporting the people at the base, and the two missing people all at once. Some of it would have to wait.
She hoped Julen and Kaydee were still alive. Anything else that had been done to them, she could heal. Please, please let them be alive...
"Stories of my life will not be interesting to warriors like you. Tell me more of yourselves..."
Atonement
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Lylessa Uluki
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Falcon Bertille
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“Really?” A huge grin broke through Sigvard’s unkempt beard when Uluki told him the name of her chieftain. “What good news! Mark my words, no mere coincidence brought us together tonight. This is a sign from the gods. Now I feel more certain than ever that our quest will be completed successfully and Aorle will allow our swords to join with yours.”
Out of the corner of his eyes, Sigvard noticed that Thetta made a face when he mentioned the gods, but he was used to such irreverence from his sister. Really, it was surprising that she hadn’t been struck by lightning or otherwise rebuked by angry deities. Then again, maybe even the gods were a little scared of Thetta. Sigvard couldn’t really blame them.
As Uluki described her work aiding the refugees, Sigvard listened with genuine interest. Community was very important among his people, so he understood the significance of her work, and he respected her for it. However, he was a bit surprised when she mentioned her two daughters and son. She hadn’t struck him as being old enough to have already borne three children. Of course, the shawl she wore draped over her head kept him from getting a really good look at her face, and perhaps it was just her small stature that gave him such an impression of youth.
Sigvard was not particularly astute at picking up on the emotions of other people. However, even he could hear the guilt in Uluki’s voice when she spoke about the responsibility she felt for whatever had happened to Julen. Sigvard still wasn’t clear on the circumstance surrounding the man’s disappearance, but he suspected Uluki was shouldering more than her share of the blame. “I’m sure Aorle won’t punish you for a simple error. We all make mistakes. Even the gods make mistakes, and they’re still the gods.”
Then, she asked about him, and Sigvard began to enthusiastically expound on his favorite subject. “Well, as I said, we were born in the Northlands, where the gods of winter rule. I remember drifts of snow taller than a man’s shoulder and entire lakes frozen solid. We used to wear shoes with blades of bone attached to the bottoms of them, in order to skate across the ice. And feasts! We filled the coldest months with as much feasting and storytelling as possible. In fact, that’s how the trouble began.”
Sigvard glanced over at Thetta, to see if she objected to sharing this bit of her past. But his sister’s face betrayed no emotion and she acted as if she couldn’t even hear him. So Sigvard decided it would be alright to proceed.
“At the feast, it was traditional for guests to draw lots, to determine where they would sit. And it was also traditional for a man to marry a woman if he repeatedly drew lots that placed him next to her. Such a thing was taken as a sign that the gods favored the union. Well, the chieftain of our village, who had been recently widowed, ended up next to Thetta at three feasts in a row. So he married her.”
Again, Sigvard stole a peek at his sister, and again she appeared oblivious to his tale. “Unfortunately, his kinsfolk weren’t overly fond of Thetta. I can’t imagine why.” A slight hint of playfulness sparkled in Sigvard’s eyes when he said that, although he soon became serious again. “When the chieftain died a week after he and Thetta were wed, they accused her of murdering him. The whole village listened to the case, and after hearing all the evidence, it was decided that Thetta would prove her innocence by pulling holy stones out of a cauldron of boiling water. I don’t know why it didn’t work. I’m convinced that my sister did no wrong, so it should have worked. But it didn’t. She was badly burned. So the village outlawed her.”
Out of the corner of his eyes, Sigvard noticed that Thetta made a face when he mentioned the gods, but he was used to such irreverence from his sister. Really, it was surprising that she hadn’t been struck by lightning or otherwise rebuked by angry deities. Then again, maybe even the gods were a little scared of Thetta. Sigvard couldn’t really blame them.
As Uluki described her work aiding the refugees, Sigvard listened with genuine interest. Community was very important among his people, so he understood the significance of her work, and he respected her for it. However, he was a bit surprised when she mentioned her two daughters and son. She hadn’t struck him as being old enough to have already borne three children. Of course, the shawl she wore draped over her head kept him from getting a really good look at her face, and perhaps it was just her small stature that gave him such an impression of youth.
Sigvard was not particularly astute at picking up on the emotions of other people. However, even he could hear the guilt in Uluki’s voice when she spoke about the responsibility she felt for whatever had happened to Julen. Sigvard still wasn’t clear on the circumstance surrounding the man’s disappearance, but he suspected Uluki was shouldering more than her share of the blame. “I’m sure Aorle won’t punish you for a simple error. We all make mistakes. Even the gods make mistakes, and they’re still the gods.”
Then, she asked about him, and Sigvard began to enthusiastically expound on his favorite subject. “Well, as I said, we were born in the Northlands, where the gods of winter rule. I remember drifts of snow taller than a man’s shoulder and entire lakes frozen solid. We used to wear shoes with blades of bone attached to the bottoms of them, in order to skate across the ice. And feasts! We filled the coldest months with as much feasting and storytelling as possible. In fact, that’s how the trouble began.”
Sigvard glanced over at Thetta, to see if she objected to sharing this bit of her past. But his sister’s face betrayed no emotion and she acted as if she couldn’t even hear him. So Sigvard decided it would be alright to proceed.
“At the feast, it was traditional for guests to draw lots, to determine where they would sit. And it was also traditional for a man to marry a woman if he repeatedly drew lots that placed him next to her. Such a thing was taken as a sign that the gods favored the union. Well, the chieftain of our village, who had been recently widowed, ended up next to Thetta at three feasts in a row. So he married her.”
Again, Sigvard stole a peek at his sister, and again she appeared oblivious to his tale. “Unfortunately, his kinsfolk weren’t overly fond of Thetta. I can’t imagine why.” A slight hint of playfulness sparkled in Sigvard’s eyes when he said that, although he soon became serious again. “When the chieftain died a week after he and Thetta were wed, they accused her of murdering him. The whole village listened to the case, and after hearing all the evidence, it was decided that Thetta would prove her innocence by pulling holy stones out of a cauldron of boiling water. I don’t know why it didn’t work. I’m convinced that my sister did no wrong, so it should have worked. But it didn’t. She was badly burned. So the village outlawed her.”
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Lylessa Uluki
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- Name: Uluki
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Uluki drew in her breath sharply at the mention of the stones in the boiling water. She knew what it felt like to be burned, and she hated the thought of it happening to anyone else. Uluki was beginning to realize why Thetta seemed so wounded, and was quite sympathetic, though she chose to indicate it only indirectly.
"I don't know anything about gods, Sigvard," she said cautiously, although it was clear her comments were directed to Thetta too. "I've never understood much about religion. I'm not smart enough, I suppose."
She regretted that. Religion was a subject she'd always been curious about. Once a kind priest had explained his beliefs to her, and she'd understood what he said and had appreciated his taking an interest in teaching her about it. That priest was the one who had, a few months after that conversation, performed her marriage ceremony. She wished more religious people were like him, willing to explain things so she could understand.
"I don't know about gods, but I like to think I've come to understand a few things about people. And people... do things that are wrong. Sometimes when people say they have messages from their gods, it's really just what they wish their gods would say. Sometimes they claim their gods tell them to hurt people, innocent people, and I don't believe it is so."
"One time, a man who claimed to be speaking the will of a god said my husband deserved to die. My husband is a good, kind man. I may not know much about religion, but I know that no god deserving of the title would want someone like him to suffer."
Uluki stared at her hands. She wasn't sure how her next words would be received. Would they think she was mocking their religion? "I think the people who made Thetta burn her hands were wrong. I don't think the gods wanted that. I think the people were angry and scared, and they were doing their will. I don't think it's right or just that they hurt Thetta."
Then, after a pause, "I was exiled from my tribe too." An odd thing to share with strangers, but it seemed appropriate. "I was guilty of the crime, but it was an accident. I didn't mean for the old man to die. I liked him. I didn't intend for him to be hurt, but he died, and it was my fault."
This was an old wound, and her voice was wistful but not deeply pained, not anymore. "They sent me away because of what I did. I deserved that. There was a man I was engaged to be married to, and they said he could go along with me, but he didn't want to."
"Don't feel bad for me!" she added hastily, in case either should be sympathetic about the loss of the lover. "I'm glad I didn't get married to him. I learned to live by myself, learned to be a grown-up. Then, when the time was right, I fell in love with a different man. A better man. A man who treats me well, who wouldn't leave me just because life stopped being easy. I married him, and we've been very happy together."
Then, addressing Thetta directly, she said quietly, "My sympathies about your husband's death."
She couldn't imagine the pain of such a loss, couldn't imagine trying to live without Rollick. Thetta must be even stronger than she'd realized.
"I don't know anything about gods, Sigvard," she said cautiously, although it was clear her comments were directed to Thetta too. "I've never understood much about religion. I'm not smart enough, I suppose."
She regretted that. Religion was a subject she'd always been curious about. Once a kind priest had explained his beliefs to her, and she'd understood what he said and had appreciated his taking an interest in teaching her about it. That priest was the one who had, a few months after that conversation, performed her marriage ceremony. She wished more religious people were like him, willing to explain things so she could understand.
"I don't know about gods, but I like to think I've come to understand a few things about people. And people... do things that are wrong. Sometimes when people say they have messages from their gods, it's really just what they wish their gods would say. Sometimes they claim their gods tell them to hurt people, innocent people, and I don't believe it is so."
"One time, a man who claimed to be speaking the will of a god said my husband deserved to die. My husband is a good, kind man. I may not know much about religion, but I know that no god deserving of the title would want someone like him to suffer."
Uluki stared at her hands. She wasn't sure how her next words would be received. Would they think she was mocking their religion? "I think the people who made Thetta burn her hands were wrong. I don't think the gods wanted that. I think the people were angry and scared, and they were doing their will. I don't think it's right or just that they hurt Thetta."
Then, after a pause, "I was exiled from my tribe too." An odd thing to share with strangers, but it seemed appropriate. "I was guilty of the crime, but it was an accident. I didn't mean for the old man to die. I liked him. I didn't intend for him to be hurt, but he died, and it was my fault."
This was an old wound, and her voice was wistful but not deeply pained, not anymore. "They sent me away because of what I did. I deserved that. There was a man I was engaged to be married to, and they said he could go along with me, but he didn't want to."
"Don't feel bad for me!" she added hastily, in case either should be sympathetic about the loss of the lover. "I'm glad I didn't get married to him. I learned to live by myself, learned to be a grown-up. Then, when the time was right, I fell in love with a different man. A better man. A man who treats me well, who wouldn't leave me just because life stopped being easy. I married him, and we've been very happy together."
Then, addressing Thetta directly, she said quietly, "My sympathies about your husband's death."
She couldn't imagine the pain of such a loss, couldn't imagine trying to live without Rollick. Thetta must be even stronger than she'd realized.
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Falcon Bertille
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Sigvard listened intently while Uluki spoke, his expression rather like a man struggling to push a boulder up a greased hill. Although he might be able to out-run, out-drink, and perhaps even out-atone many people, it was clear that out-thinking them was another matter entirely. “Some gods are difficult to understand,” he agreed. “During our travels, my sister and I visited lands where strange religions held sway. In one realm, the people believed that they were inhabiting the dream of a being that would one day wake and end the world. In another realm, they believed that the gods were not separate beings at all, but instead a sum of the energy that exists in every living thing. That always puzzled me.”
“But the gods of the Northlands are not mysterious. The things they expect from us are quite specific. We’ve been told what sacrifices to make if we want a mild winter, what trials to perform if we want to prove our innocence. Those things haven’t changed for hundreds of years.”
“And do they always work, brother?” Thetta snapped. “Every time we sacrifice a boar, do we always get a mild winter? Did you ever actually see anyone pluck runes from boiling water without burning their hands?”
“I’m sure the winters were milder than they would have been if we hadn’t made a sacrifice. As for the runes, there are legends--”
“Legends!” Thetta snorted, shaking her head. “Heed what Uluki is telling you. There was no justice in what happened to me. Nor was it right to claim that her husband deserved death. If the gods caused these events, they were wrong to so. On the other hand, if these things were only the wishes of misguided men, then the gods still failed to stop them. Gods like that do not deserve my worship and I will not satisfy them by giving them my fear.”
After her outburst, Thetta fell silent long enough for Uluki to finish sharing her tale of exile. And, although Thetta’s face did not show it, the story stirred deep feelings of sympathy. Thetta was not entirely surprised to hear that Uluki’s fiancé had refused to join her in exile. Among the Northlanders, Sigvard’s choice was almost unheard of -- many were the children, spouses, siblings and parents who had simply stood by and watched their loved ones walk out of their lives forever. Thetta doubted she would have survived without her brother’s help. And, although she rarely told him, she was deeply grateful. Truly, Uluki had been brave indeed to endure such a thing alone. “You are wise to focus on the strength you gained from your exile. I, too, grew stronger after being outlawed. We should use our strength to aid women who have not been toughened by such losses.”
Thetta’s response to Uluki’s condolences over the loss of her husband was typically curt, although perhaps delivered a little less harshly than her usual comments. “I didn’t love him. But for a man...he was not as bad as some.”
“But the gods of the Northlands are not mysterious. The things they expect from us are quite specific. We’ve been told what sacrifices to make if we want a mild winter, what trials to perform if we want to prove our innocence. Those things haven’t changed for hundreds of years.”
“And do they always work, brother?” Thetta snapped. “Every time we sacrifice a boar, do we always get a mild winter? Did you ever actually see anyone pluck runes from boiling water without burning their hands?”
“I’m sure the winters were milder than they would have been if we hadn’t made a sacrifice. As for the runes, there are legends--”
“Legends!” Thetta snorted, shaking her head. “Heed what Uluki is telling you. There was no justice in what happened to me. Nor was it right to claim that her husband deserved death. If the gods caused these events, they were wrong to so. On the other hand, if these things were only the wishes of misguided men, then the gods still failed to stop them. Gods like that do not deserve my worship and I will not satisfy them by giving them my fear.”
After her outburst, Thetta fell silent long enough for Uluki to finish sharing her tale of exile. And, although Thetta’s face did not show it, the story stirred deep feelings of sympathy. Thetta was not entirely surprised to hear that Uluki’s fiancé had refused to join her in exile. Among the Northlanders, Sigvard’s choice was almost unheard of -- many were the children, spouses, siblings and parents who had simply stood by and watched their loved ones walk out of their lives forever. Thetta doubted she would have survived without her brother’s help. And, although she rarely told him, she was deeply grateful. Truly, Uluki had been brave indeed to endure such a thing alone. “You are wise to focus on the strength you gained from your exile. I, too, grew stronger after being outlawed. We should use our strength to aid women who have not been toughened by such losses.”
Thetta’s response to Uluki’s condolences over the loss of her husband was typically curt, although perhaps delivered a little less harshly than her usual comments. “I didn’t love him. But for a man...he was not as bad as some.”
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Lylessa Uluki
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- Name: Uluki
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Uluki was reluctant to discuss the subject of gods any further. It seemed unlikely to lead anywhere but an argument-- and there was no sense having an argument here in the street. They had more important things to focus on.
Besides, what did she know of gods, anyway? What did she know of morality? Who was she to dictate right and wrong? Better to focus on doing what seemed right, than to try to work out the whole universe.
Speaking of which...
"I was thinking, Thetta, about aiding other women. Several of the women we're bringing back to base have been prostitutes, including Kaydee and Jenny. I think besides just protecting them, we should help them learn other skills, things they can do to support themselves, so they don't have to give their bodies to people who don't respect them, and they won't have to be in so much danger."
"There are some things I could teach them, just simple things like knitting or sewing, and how to treat injuries. I was thinking about what you were telling Jenny, though, about how you'd show her how to defend herself. Maybe it would be a good thing to offer to all the women, so if they want to, they can protect themselves and their families. Do you think you might be willing to help them all, the way you said you would for Jenny? I'm sure my husband would help too, it wouldn't all fall to you, but maybe it would mean more to them, seeing how strong you are, how strong a woman can be. Besides, I think they'd feel they had more in common with a fellow woman than they would with my husband."
"You don't have to, of course, but you could give some thought to it. Maybe you could teach me, too."
Besides, what did she know of gods, anyway? What did she know of morality? Who was she to dictate right and wrong? Better to focus on doing what seemed right, than to try to work out the whole universe.
Speaking of which...
"I was thinking, Thetta, about aiding other women. Several of the women we're bringing back to base have been prostitutes, including Kaydee and Jenny. I think besides just protecting them, we should help them learn other skills, things they can do to support themselves, so they don't have to give their bodies to people who don't respect them, and they won't have to be in so much danger."
"There are some things I could teach them, just simple things like knitting or sewing, and how to treat injuries. I was thinking about what you were telling Jenny, though, about how you'd show her how to defend herself. Maybe it would be a good thing to offer to all the women, so if they want to, they can protect themselves and their families. Do you think you might be willing to help them all, the way you said you would for Jenny? I'm sure my husband would help too, it wouldn't all fall to you, but maybe it would mean more to them, seeing how strong you are, how strong a woman can be. Besides, I think they'd feel they had more in common with a fellow woman than they would with my husband."
"You don't have to, of course, but you could give some thought to it. Maybe you could teach me, too."
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Falcon Bertille
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Thetta nodded in approval when Uluki suggested her plan for educating the former prostitutes. “There is much wisdom in your words. We cannot be their caretakers forever and women who have no other way to support themselves will fall back on the only thing they know. As for training them to fight, I consider it my duty. I will awaken their warrior hearts.”
Learning that Uluki thought she might also benefit from Thetta’s training came as surprise. Thetta had observed the respect Uluki commanded from her escort, and in Thetta’s world, it was unheard of for a woman to be so esteemed by warriors unless she herself was also a warrior. She’d just assumed that Uluki made up for her small size by being particularly ferocious. But if Uluki wanted to be taught, Thetta certainly felt willing to oblige. “As for you, I will be honored to offer training, although I can tell that your heart needs no awakening. I will also train your daughters, if they are old enough to grip a sword. It’s never too early for such lessons.”
“Of course,” Thetta reminded, “Aorle has not yet accepted me or my brother into his service. We will have to see what happens.” Perhaps understandably, Thetta was not nearly as much of an optimist as her brother.
Meanwhile, Sigvard had been distracted by the growing awareness that they were being followed. But not by a man. Instead, it was the dog that Thetta had tossed the rat to, limping along after them in hopes of other treats. Sigvard liked dogs. This one was smaller than the huge shaggy hunting hounds that were common in the Northlands, and its mottled fur was also unlike anything he’d ever seen before, appearing almost bluish-silver in places. Still, a dog was a dog. Sigvard didn’t want to slow down their progress. However, as they group continued to walk, he shrugged off his backpack and rummaged around in it until he found a bit of dried meat. Lowering his hand to his side, he allowed the food to dangle from it, in hopes that the sight of it would inspire the dog to greater boldness.
Learning that Uluki thought she might also benefit from Thetta’s training came as surprise. Thetta had observed the respect Uluki commanded from her escort, and in Thetta’s world, it was unheard of for a woman to be so esteemed by warriors unless she herself was also a warrior. She’d just assumed that Uluki made up for her small size by being particularly ferocious. But if Uluki wanted to be taught, Thetta certainly felt willing to oblige. “As for you, I will be honored to offer training, although I can tell that your heart needs no awakening. I will also train your daughters, if they are old enough to grip a sword. It’s never too early for such lessons.”
“Of course,” Thetta reminded, “Aorle has not yet accepted me or my brother into his service. We will have to see what happens.” Perhaps understandably, Thetta was not nearly as much of an optimist as her brother.
Meanwhile, Sigvard had been distracted by the growing awareness that they were being followed. But not by a man. Instead, it was the dog that Thetta had tossed the rat to, limping along after them in hopes of other treats. Sigvard liked dogs. This one was smaller than the huge shaggy hunting hounds that were common in the Northlands, and its mottled fur was also unlike anything he’d ever seen before, appearing almost bluish-silver in places. Still, a dog was a dog. Sigvard didn’t want to slow down their progress. However, as they group continued to walk, he shrugged off his backpack and rummaged around in it until he found a bit of dried meat. Lowering his hand to his side, he allowed the food to dangle from it, in hopes that the sight of it would inspire the dog to greater boldness.
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Lylessa Uluki
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- Name: Uluki
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"I think Aorle will accept you," Uluki said with confidence. "The enthusiasm you and your brother have shown in locating Kaydee and your obvious wish to protect others all speak well of you. I will make sure Aorle knows of that."
"My daughters are young women, not little children. Their brother is an infant-in-arms, but we adopted our daughters a few months after he was born."
That was the easy part, telling people the girls were adopted. Uluki and Rollick saw adoption as no less valid a path to becoming parents than giving birth was. Besides, it was obvious anyway. The daughters clearly had no Duskling blood, and although they looked human, at least "human" in the loosest definition of the term, they bore no more than a common-species resemblance to Rollick either.
The harder part was that Thetta had mentioned the girls in a combat capacity, which brought up all sort of thorny issues. What sort of spin was best to...?
Uluki made a snap decision she might come to regret: to tell Thetta the truth. This was unheard of with relative strangers, but Uluki suspected Thetta might understand. Thetta knew of exploitation, and Uluki couldn't imagine her betraying young women to the men who would treat them as property. Uluki was cautious because anyone providing their former "owners" with information about the girls would be generously rewarded... but she thought she didn't have to worry about Thetta being tempted, not after the the resolve she'd seen in Thetta's eyes when offering to protect Jenny.
Sigvard seemed distracted by something... Uluki couldn't see what, but he didn't seem to perceive a threat, so she assumed it didn't require her attention. That was good; she preferred her words be for Thetta, not for him.
"My daughters came to us having escaped from an intolerable situation. They were considered property, and were to be forced to be soldiers by the men who created them. They would be used as weapons, and would not be given a choice in the matter. One of my daughters they considered particularly attractive, and they..."
Uluki couldn't even say it, not about Zee. She didn't want to think about the things they'd had in mind for her daughter.
"...Well, they wouldn't have given her a choice, either. My daughters had no desire to live such a life, owned by someone else, so they escaped it. Eventually they found their way to us. I suppose they don't need us, really. They could provide for themselves. It's just, they really wanted to be part of a family. They had never experienced being someone's daughters, and what they needed from us was to be loved. That, we were happy to provide."
"My husband and I have told few people about this, because those who claimed to own them would pay a high price to recover them. We worry that the wrong person might find the money too tempting, might be able to convince themselves that my daughters are not people but property, nothing but living and breathing weapons, and thus be able to justify betraying them. I don't think you would do that, though. I don't think you would sell out my daughters for money."
"My daughters are young women, not little children. Their brother is an infant-in-arms, but we adopted our daughters a few months after he was born."
That was the easy part, telling people the girls were adopted. Uluki and Rollick saw adoption as no less valid a path to becoming parents than giving birth was. Besides, it was obvious anyway. The daughters clearly had no Duskling blood, and although they looked human, at least "human" in the loosest definition of the term, they bore no more than a common-species resemblance to Rollick either.
The harder part was that Thetta had mentioned the girls in a combat capacity, which brought up all sort of thorny issues. What sort of spin was best to...?
Uluki made a snap decision she might come to regret: to tell Thetta the truth. This was unheard of with relative strangers, but Uluki suspected Thetta might understand. Thetta knew of exploitation, and Uluki couldn't imagine her betraying young women to the men who would treat them as property. Uluki was cautious because anyone providing their former "owners" with information about the girls would be generously rewarded... but she thought she didn't have to worry about Thetta being tempted, not after the the resolve she'd seen in Thetta's eyes when offering to protect Jenny.
Sigvard seemed distracted by something... Uluki couldn't see what, but he didn't seem to perceive a threat, so she assumed it didn't require her attention. That was good; she preferred her words be for Thetta, not for him.
"My daughters came to us having escaped from an intolerable situation. They were considered property, and were to be forced to be soldiers by the men who created them. They would be used as weapons, and would not be given a choice in the matter. One of my daughters they considered particularly attractive, and they..."
Uluki couldn't even say it, not about Zee. She didn't want to think about the things they'd had in mind for her daughter.
"...Well, they wouldn't have given her a choice, either. My daughters had no desire to live such a life, owned by someone else, so they escaped it. Eventually they found their way to us. I suppose they don't need us, really. They could provide for themselves. It's just, they really wanted to be part of a family. They had never experienced being someone's daughters, and what they needed from us was to be loved. That, we were happy to provide."
"My husband and I have told few people about this, because those who claimed to own them would pay a high price to recover them. We worry that the wrong person might find the money too tempting, might be able to convince themselves that my daughters are not people but property, nothing but living and breathing weapons, and thus be able to justify betraying them. I don't think you would do that, though. I don't think you would sell out my daughters for money."
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Falcon Bertille
- Citizen
- Posts: 196
- Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:15 pm
Thetta listened with growing horror as Uluki explained the origin of her adopted daughters. Slavery was not uncommon amongst the Northlanders, since raids provided a constant supply of captured men and women. But Thetta had grown to loathe the practice. Her countrymen justified it by saying that the strong deserved to rule the weak, which was an argument she’d heard all too often from others trying to defend their subjugation of women. Anyway, if her countrymen were so strong, why did they need slaves to help them run their households and farms?
As bad as that was, the situation Uluki described sounded much worse. At least in the Northlands, there were laws governing the treatment of slaves, and some even managed to eventually buy their freedom. But Uluki’s daughters would have been at the mercy of their creators. They would have known no other life. They would have been...things. The thought of such a fate befalling two young girls filled Thetta with cold rage.
Glancing over at her brother, Thetta saw that he was distracted by rummaging around in his pack. Good. It was best that Uluki’s story reached her ears alone. Not that Sigvard would ever intentionally bring harm to a friend’s family -- Sigvard took family very seriously. But her brother had his weaknesses. When he was deep in his cups, he tended to talk, and it would be all too easy for him to say the wrong thing to the wrong person.
After Uluki had finished speaking, Thetta placed a hand on the smaller woman’s shoulder. “You should be proud to have rescued two innocent women from such a fate. And if those men ever try to reclaim what they created, I will defend your daughters with my life. You have my word.”
Meanwhile, completely oblivious to the conversation between his sister and Uluki, Sigvard was making progress with the stray dog. Several times, he’d gotten it to take a bit of dried meat from his hand. And, although it usually only ventured close for the few seconds required to seize the food before darting away again, during its last feeding it had lingered long enough to lick his fingers. Really, the beast had a brave and grateful heart. It would be a shame to leave it here. He could take it with him, train it. A trained dog was a useful companion. And it would be nice to have something around that showed him a bit more affection than Thetta usually did.
Sigvard was already beginning to consider names, when the dog suddenly lost interest in his scraps of meat. Instead, it dashed ahead and began sniffing at some sort of heap that had been left in the middle of the road. A heap which was being strenuously ignored by all the nearby humans. Sigvard whistled, hoping to distract his new pet from the pile of garbage, but it ignored his summons, and continued its examination. Then, to Sigvard’s astonishment, the heap moved –- just a little, as if making a feeble attempt to fend off the dog.
Now thoroughly curious, Sigvard jogged ahead of his companions. As he drew closer, the shape of the heap grew clearer, although he still doubted his eyes. It couldn’t be two people. Surely two people wouldn’t be left lying in the street, not even in this place. But that’s exactly what it was. A man and a woman, with the woman clumsily drawn into the arms of the man. The woman was naked, and the man was nearly so, revealing the bruises that covered both their bodies. Dust had settled in the man’s unruly brown curls and mixed with the blood around his mouth. As for the woman, her shoulder-length hair was tossed back from a face that might have once been pretty before the beating it had obviously received. If he hadn’t just seen movement from one of the pair, Sigvard would not have been sure that either was still alive.
“Uluki?” Like his sister, Sigvard couldn’t be described as a bleeding heart. But he’d never come so close to hoping that he hadn’t just completed his quest. “This isn’t--? Is it?”
As bad as that was, the situation Uluki described sounded much worse. At least in the Northlands, there were laws governing the treatment of slaves, and some even managed to eventually buy their freedom. But Uluki’s daughters would have been at the mercy of their creators. They would have known no other life. They would have been...things. The thought of such a fate befalling two young girls filled Thetta with cold rage.
Glancing over at her brother, Thetta saw that he was distracted by rummaging around in his pack. Good. It was best that Uluki’s story reached her ears alone. Not that Sigvard would ever intentionally bring harm to a friend’s family -- Sigvard took family very seriously. But her brother had his weaknesses. When he was deep in his cups, he tended to talk, and it would be all too easy for him to say the wrong thing to the wrong person.
After Uluki had finished speaking, Thetta placed a hand on the smaller woman’s shoulder. “You should be proud to have rescued two innocent women from such a fate. And if those men ever try to reclaim what they created, I will defend your daughters with my life. You have my word.”
Meanwhile, completely oblivious to the conversation between his sister and Uluki, Sigvard was making progress with the stray dog. Several times, he’d gotten it to take a bit of dried meat from his hand. And, although it usually only ventured close for the few seconds required to seize the food before darting away again, during its last feeding it had lingered long enough to lick his fingers. Really, the beast had a brave and grateful heart. It would be a shame to leave it here. He could take it with him, train it. A trained dog was a useful companion. And it would be nice to have something around that showed him a bit more affection than Thetta usually did.
Sigvard was already beginning to consider names, when the dog suddenly lost interest in his scraps of meat. Instead, it dashed ahead and began sniffing at some sort of heap that had been left in the middle of the road. A heap which was being strenuously ignored by all the nearby humans. Sigvard whistled, hoping to distract his new pet from the pile of garbage, but it ignored his summons, and continued its examination. Then, to Sigvard’s astonishment, the heap moved –- just a little, as if making a feeble attempt to fend off the dog.
Now thoroughly curious, Sigvard jogged ahead of his companions. As he drew closer, the shape of the heap grew clearer, although he still doubted his eyes. It couldn’t be two people. Surely two people wouldn’t be left lying in the street, not even in this place. But that’s exactly what it was. A man and a woman, with the woman clumsily drawn into the arms of the man. The woman was naked, and the man was nearly so, revealing the bruises that covered both their bodies. Dust had settled in the man’s unruly brown curls and mixed with the blood around his mouth. As for the woman, her shoulder-length hair was tossed back from a face that might have once been pretty before the beating it had obviously received. If he hadn’t just seen movement from one of the pair, Sigvard would not have been sure that either was still alive.
“Uluki?” Like his sister, Sigvard couldn’t be described as a bleeding heart. But he’d never come so close to hoping that he hadn’t just completed his quest. “This isn’t--? Is it?”
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Lylessa Uluki
- Citizen
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:12 am
- Name: Uluki
- Race: Duskling - Fae
Uluki nodded her thanks to Thetta, grateful for but not surprised by her support.
When Sigvard darted ahead, Uluki's attention was distracted from the conversation. He seemed quite intent, and Uluki finally became concerned with what he was doing. She strained her eyes, but even so it took her a moment to see what he saw, and another moment to recognize the two shapes as human.
"Quickly!" she called, her heart beating wildly. "We have to get them out of the road. Move them back into the alley, but do so carefully so as not to injure them more."
She wasn't sure, at first, if these two were the people they sought. That made no difference. Anyone injured and left bleeding required the same treatment. The girl's face gave her no clues, she'd never seen Kaydee before anyway, but the man... bruised and dirty and blood-soaked as he was, when she got close she could see it was Julen.
"These are the people we seek," she said quietly, and there was defeat rather than triumph in her voice.
She pondered what to do. Should she heal them here, or attempt to get them back to the hall? The hall was safer, but both looked inches from death. She wasn't sure they would survive the trip back. Besides, she couldn't continue to look at their battered faces and do nothing.
"I will be able to save them." It was meant to be reassuring, not boastful. "We will pause here while I do so. I need you to guard either end of the alley and make sure no one interrupts me." That would also mean their focus was distracted from what she was about to do. With any luck, they wouldn't notice that she was doing magic.
Then, assuming her orders would be obeyed, Uluki turned her full attention to the two injured people. She knelt by Julen, laying her open palm on the centre of his chest. She closed her eyes, channeling her energy into him, mending his injuries, first the internal damage, then moving toward the surface. So much pain. Uluki forced her mind to stay clear, to recognize the pain so she could heal it, but not to lose herself to it. She ought to leave him a bruise or two, make things look good, like she hadn’t used magic, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Julen was her friend. He had been kind to her. He had a wife waiting for him, a wife who would hate to see him hurt. Though Uluki knew it might lead to her own condemnation, she couldn't bear to hold back. Then it was too late, she’d healed it all.
He should start to come around immediately. She needed to move on to Kaydee, but before she did she leaned closer and said softly. "You are a brave, compassionate man. I know you were protecting Kaydee." She could tell that by the way he had held her, even when he was himself so badly injured. "She's going to be fine. I'm going to help her too."
Uluki looked for the locket, hoping to do as Rosemary had instructed, but she didn't see it, and she had little time to devote to searching for it. She settled for words. "Rosemary said for me to tell you that she loves you. We’ll have you back to her soon." Uluki gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, then moved on to her next patient.
As upsetting as it was to see Julen injured, the sight of Kaydee's wounds was nearly more than Uluki could bear. A healer sees plenty of injuries, but Uluki was always most disturbed by deliberate, gratuitous abuse. No illness or battlefield injury could compare to the sight of harm inflicted just for the sake of it. Uluki recognized the bruises on Kaydee's wrists, distinctive in their shape and regularity even with bruises covering most of the girl's skin. Manacles. Uluki knew the girl's suffering must have been prolonged and painful.
Kaydee looked so young… Uluki wasn’t sure how old she actually was, she always had difficulty telling human ages, but she couldn’t push aside the thought that Kaydee reminded her of her daughters. Seeing her so badly injured was like a deep, physical ache. She wished… she wished Kaydee really was her daughter, a family member rather than a stranger. Then maybe she could begin to ease the suffering in Kaydee’s mind after her ordeal, as well as just the physical trauma.
Uluki slipped her shawl off and wrapped it around Kaydee, covering her naked body, providing warmth as well as dignity. She then lifted the unconscious girl into nearly a sitting position—gods, she was light— and held her so her head rested on Uluki’s shoulder, with Uluki’s arms around her. She hugged her like she would one of her daughters, if either were suffering and in need of comfort. Uluki focused her energy through the embrace, healing Kaydee, mending her injuries. There was so much to mend…
The pain faded away. Uluki could feel it go, could feel her energy heal Kaydee’s wounds. The process complete, Uluki moved slightly so Kaydee still leaned against her, supported, but loosened her arms enough that if Kaydee didn’t want to be hugged, she could break the embrace easily.
Kaydee began to stir; she was waking. "You’re safe now," Uluki told her quietly. "No one is going to hurt you anymore. I know Snyde said he intended to teach you a lesson today, but I hope the only lesson you learned is that you’re worth fighting for. You’re worth saving. Things are going to be better now."
Uluki wondered about the consequences of what she’d just done. Her transgression against the law would be obvious. Maybe not now— both Julen and Kaydee were still dirty and caked with dried blood— but it would be when everything washed off, and they were no longer suffering from any injuries. So many people would know, and surely someone would report her… perhaps even Kaydee or Julen would do the reporting. Oh well. It was worth it. One life for two was a fair trade.
To everyone, she suggested, "Let’s get these two safely back to the base."
When Sigvard darted ahead, Uluki's attention was distracted from the conversation. He seemed quite intent, and Uluki finally became concerned with what he was doing. She strained her eyes, but even so it took her a moment to see what he saw, and another moment to recognize the two shapes as human.
"Quickly!" she called, her heart beating wildly. "We have to get them out of the road. Move them back into the alley, but do so carefully so as not to injure them more."
She wasn't sure, at first, if these two were the people they sought. That made no difference. Anyone injured and left bleeding required the same treatment. The girl's face gave her no clues, she'd never seen Kaydee before anyway, but the man... bruised and dirty and blood-soaked as he was, when she got close she could see it was Julen.
"These are the people we seek," she said quietly, and there was defeat rather than triumph in her voice.
She pondered what to do. Should she heal them here, or attempt to get them back to the hall? The hall was safer, but both looked inches from death. She wasn't sure they would survive the trip back. Besides, she couldn't continue to look at their battered faces and do nothing.
"I will be able to save them." It was meant to be reassuring, not boastful. "We will pause here while I do so. I need you to guard either end of the alley and make sure no one interrupts me." That would also mean their focus was distracted from what she was about to do. With any luck, they wouldn't notice that she was doing magic.
Then, assuming her orders would be obeyed, Uluki turned her full attention to the two injured people. She knelt by Julen, laying her open palm on the centre of his chest. She closed her eyes, channeling her energy into him, mending his injuries, first the internal damage, then moving toward the surface. So much pain. Uluki forced her mind to stay clear, to recognize the pain so she could heal it, but not to lose herself to it. She ought to leave him a bruise or two, make things look good, like she hadn’t used magic, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Julen was her friend. He had been kind to her. He had a wife waiting for him, a wife who would hate to see him hurt. Though Uluki knew it might lead to her own condemnation, she couldn't bear to hold back. Then it was too late, she’d healed it all.
He should start to come around immediately. She needed to move on to Kaydee, but before she did she leaned closer and said softly. "You are a brave, compassionate man. I know you were protecting Kaydee." She could tell that by the way he had held her, even when he was himself so badly injured. "She's going to be fine. I'm going to help her too."
Uluki looked for the locket, hoping to do as Rosemary had instructed, but she didn't see it, and she had little time to devote to searching for it. She settled for words. "Rosemary said for me to tell you that she loves you. We’ll have you back to her soon." Uluki gave his shoulder a reassuring squeeze, then moved on to her next patient.
As upsetting as it was to see Julen injured, the sight of Kaydee's wounds was nearly more than Uluki could bear. A healer sees plenty of injuries, but Uluki was always most disturbed by deliberate, gratuitous abuse. No illness or battlefield injury could compare to the sight of harm inflicted just for the sake of it. Uluki recognized the bruises on Kaydee's wrists, distinctive in their shape and regularity even with bruises covering most of the girl's skin. Manacles. Uluki knew the girl's suffering must have been prolonged and painful.
Kaydee looked so young… Uluki wasn’t sure how old she actually was, she always had difficulty telling human ages, but she couldn’t push aside the thought that Kaydee reminded her of her daughters. Seeing her so badly injured was like a deep, physical ache. She wished… she wished Kaydee really was her daughter, a family member rather than a stranger. Then maybe she could begin to ease the suffering in Kaydee’s mind after her ordeal, as well as just the physical trauma.
Uluki slipped her shawl off and wrapped it around Kaydee, covering her naked body, providing warmth as well as dignity. She then lifted the unconscious girl into nearly a sitting position—gods, she was light— and held her so her head rested on Uluki’s shoulder, with Uluki’s arms around her. She hugged her like she would one of her daughters, if either were suffering and in need of comfort. Uluki focused her energy through the embrace, healing Kaydee, mending her injuries. There was so much to mend…
The pain faded away. Uluki could feel it go, could feel her energy heal Kaydee’s wounds. The process complete, Uluki moved slightly so Kaydee still leaned against her, supported, but loosened her arms enough that if Kaydee didn’t want to be hugged, she could break the embrace easily.
Kaydee began to stir; she was waking. "You’re safe now," Uluki told her quietly. "No one is going to hurt you anymore. I know Snyde said he intended to teach you a lesson today, but I hope the only lesson you learned is that you’re worth fighting for. You’re worth saving. Things are going to be better now."
Uluki wondered about the consequences of what she’d just done. Her transgression against the law would be obvious. Maybe not now— both Julen and Kaydee were still dirty and caked with dried blood— but it would be when everything washed off, and they were no longer suffering from any injuries. So many people would know, and surely someone would report her… perhaps even Kaydee or Julen would do the reporting. Oh well. It was worth it. One life for two was a fair trade.
To everyone, she suggested, "Let’s get these two safely back to the base."
In the dream, Julen stood at the gates of a beautiful garden. A rainbow of colors bloomed everywhere, while tempting fragrances wafted out to him, the honey-sweet scents of ripe fruit and flowers releasing their perfume beneath a summer sun. And even more wondrous than any of those were the shapes that the darted about in the garden: dragons (real dragons, not blimps), fairies (real fairies, not dusklings), and all the other creatures from his mother’s stories. Enticingly, they called to him. Come to us. Play with us. Lay down your burdens forever.
Stretching his hand toward the gate, Julen tried to enter. But something held him back. Some great weight still pulled on him.
Then, within the garden, Julen saw a woman approaching him, her step so light that she seemed to walk on top of the flowers instead of bending them beneath her feet. A shimmering white dress flowed down around her body and she carried a bundle of fresh herbs her hand, just like the one Julen remembered her carrying on so many mornings when she and her young son searched for flavorings to add to that day’s meals.
Julen’s mother stopped when she reached the gate, and they both stood there, staring at each other through its iron bars. No words existed in Julen’s heart capable of expressing how he felt, to once again be in the presence of the woman he had loved so deeply and lost so early. And perhaps his mother was similarly unable to voice her thoughts, because she said nothing as she gazed at the child she’d left behind as a boy, and who now stood before her as a strong young man.
Without warning, the garden flickered. Julen felt a fresh wave of pain as his broken body was lifted. He tasted the mixture of blood and dust that clung to his tongue. Then, just as suddenly as they’d come, the sensations vanished and he was back at the gate. Again, Julen strained to move past it -- to enter the garden, to be with his mother once more. But his mother shook her head. Reaching through the iron bars, she touched his outstretched hand with her own. Gently, in a voice that contained both joy and grief, she spoke two words.
Not yet.
Light rushed into Julen, healing all it touched as it flowed through his veins. At the same moment, the weight that had been pulling on him suddenly tugged hard, jerking him away from the garden, and he was falling, falling, falling back into...
Julen opened his eyes. He was lying on the ground in an alley. And the pain...the pain was gone. Not gone because he was in shock, not gone because he was nearly dead, but gone because his body had been made whole. How? No, how didn’t matter. What mattered was Kaydee. Pushing himself up on his knees, Julen prepared to offer her all the help that his new strength allowed. But they were no longer alone. Someone was holding Kaydee. At first, in the dim evening light that disguised her distinctively blue skin, Julen didn’t recognize Uluki, and moved to pull Kaydee from the arms of a potentially dangerous stranger. Yet, something made him hesitate. Maybe it was gentleness with which the stranger allowed Kaydee’s head to rest on her shoulder. Maybe it was reaching the logical conclusion that someone had healed him and must be healing Kaydee as well. Or maybe it was some echo of the stranger’s magic, singing to the magic in his own blood. For whatever reason, Julen waited, still and silent, until Kaydee began to stir.
Then, when he heard her speak, Julen recognized Uluki. However, he didn’t have time to greet his friend. Kaydee awoke with a jolt, kicking and flailing her arms, still trying to fight off Snyde. Afraid that the struggling girl might hurt herself or Uluki, Julen caught hold of her shoulder. “Kaydee. It’s alright. It’s over. Snyde can’t hurt us anymore.” Four sentences –- the first one was her name, the second and third ones were lies, and the fourth one was debatable. But Julen didn’t know what else to say. Sometimes lies were all you had to work with.
In any case, his words seemed to calm Kaydee. Ceasing her struggling, she pulled the shawl even more tightly against her body, and stared around with wide eyes. Her silence gave Julen a moment to think. As he’d suspected, Uluki did indeed have magical abilities, which she’d used to heal him, despite the danger to herself. Julen felt a mixture of gratitude and surprise that she would take such a chance for someone she’d met only hours earlier. But thanking her would have to wait. Right now, his priority needed to be minimizing her risk. Softly, in a voice intended only for the two women closest to him, he hurriedly made his suggestion. “Carry us back to the base. The people out there saw us lying in the road for hours, and they’ll get suspicious if we suddenly walk home. Word might reach the wrong people.”
Then, as Uluki called the warriors back from their posts at either end of the alley, Julen slumped back on the ground. To his relief, he saw that Kaydee understood enough to imitate him.
Stretching his hand toward the gate, Julen tried to enter. But something held him back. Some great weight still pulled on him.
Then, within the garden, Julen saw a woman approaching him, her step so light that she seemed to walk on top of the flowers instead of bending them beneath her feet. A shimmering white dress flowed down around her body and she carried a bundle of fresh herbs her hand, just like the one Julen remembered her carrying on so many mornings when she and her young son searched for flavorings to add to that day’s meals.
Julen’s mother stopped when she reached the gate, and they both stood there, staring at each other through its iron bars. No words existed in Julen’s heart capable of expressing how he felt, to once again be in the presence of the woman he had loved so deeply and lost so early. And perhaps his mother was similarly unable to voice her thoughts, because she said nothing as she gazed at the child she’d left behind as a boy, and who now stood before her as a strong young man.
Without warning, the garden flickered. Julen felt a fresh wave of pain as his broken body was lifted. He tasted the mixture of blood and dust that clung to his tongue. Then, just as suddenly as they’d come, the sensations vanished and he was back at the gate. Again, Julen strained to move past it -- to enter the garden, to be with his mother once more. But his mother shook her head. Reaching through the iron bars, she touched his outstretched hand with her own. Gently, in a voice that contained both joy and grief, she spoke two words.
Not yet.
Light rushed into Julen, healing all it touched as it flowed through his veins. At the same moment, the weight that had been pulling on him suddenly tugged hard, jerking him away from the garden, and he was falling, falling, falling back into...
Julen opened his eyes. He was lying on the ground in an alley. And the pain...the pain was gone. Not gone because he was in shock, not gone because he was nearly dead, but gone because his body had been made whole. How? No, how didn’t matter. What mattered was Kaydee. Pushing himself up on his knees, Julen prepared to offer her all the help that his new strength allowed. But they were no longer alone. Someone was holding Kaydee. At first, in the dim evening light that disguised her distinctively blue skin, Julen didn’t recognize Uluki, and moved to pull Kaydee from the arms of a potentially dangerous stranger. Yet, something made him hesitate. Maybe it was gentleness with which the stranger allowed Kaydee’s head to rest on her shoulder. Maybe it was reaching the logical conclusion that someone had healed him and must be healing Kaydee as well. Or maybe it was some echo of the stranger’s magic, singing to the magic in his own blood. For whatever reason, Julen waited, still and silent, until Kaydee began to stir.
Then, when he heard her speak, Julen recognized Uluki. However, he didn’t have time to greet his friend. Kaydee awoke with a jolt, kicking and flailing her arms, still trying to fight off Snyde. Afraid that the struggling girl might hurt herself or Uluki, Julen caught hold of her shoulder. “Kaydee. It’s alright. It’s over. Snyde can’t hurt us anymore.” Four sentences –- the first one was her name, the second and third ones were lies, and the fourth one was debatable. But Julen didn’t know what else to say. Sometimes lies were all you had to work with.
In any case, his words seemed to calm Kaydee. Ceasing her struggling, she pulled the shawl even more tightly against her body, and stared around with wide eyes. Her silence gave Julen a moment to think. As he’d suspected, Uluki did indeed have magical abilities, which she’d used to heal him, despite the danger to herself. Julen felt a mixture of gratitude and surprise that she would take such a chance for someone she’d met only hours earlier. But thanking her would have to wait. Right now, his priority needed to be minimizing her risk. Softly, in a voice intended only for the two women closest to him, he hurriedly made his suggestion. “Carry us back to the base. The people out there saw us lying in the road for hours, and they’ll get suspicious if we suddenly walk home. Word might reach the wrong people.”
Then, as Uluki called the warriors back from their posts at either end of the alley, Julen slumped back on the ground. To his relief, he saw that Kaydee understood enough to imitate him.
Shim -- where the men are men, and the livestock are scared.
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Lylessa Uluki
- Citizen
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:12 am
- Name: Uluki
- Race: Duskling - Fae
Uluki ducked Kaydee's arm on its wild swing toward her face, but felt a sharp pain as Kaydee's boney knee struck her thigh. The reflexive response would have been to push Kaydee away, but Uluki didn't. She dropped her arms, not wanting to make Kaydee feel trapped, and merely sat still and waited as Julen spoke words of comfort, words the girl seemed to accept.
She'd been stupid. She shouldn't have hugged Kaydee. She shouldn't have given in to the impulse. So Kaydee made her think of her daughters, so what? That didn't mean she was. That didn't mean she needed or wanted anything from Uluki. Uluki had heard what Kaydee had been through, had seen the injuries, and she should have known better than to try to comfort her like that, should have anticipated the obvious reaction.
She isn't my daughter...
Uluki waited silently as Julen calmed Kaydee, then made his suggestion that they lie back down. She was surprised he'd thought of it, that after he'd been through so much pain, he had any energy left to spare a thought for Uluki. She'd thank him for that later, for his concern about her, and at the same time she would apologize for letting him get lost.
Uluki nodded to the warriors to pick up the two people, as Julen had suggested. "Our first priority is to keep these two safe. The time will come-- soon-- to deal with Snyde, but for tonight our task is to get them back to the hall."
As they made their way back, Uluki thought she noticed a change in the shanty town residents. Was it her imagination, or were they doing everything possible to avoid the group? Had they seemed this jumpy before, this afraid of having the strangers anywhere near them? Perhaps they really were acting differently, or perhaps Uluki was merely feeling the effects of the horrific sight they'd just witnessed, and it made the whole world seem strange.
Uluki was surprised, then, when she saw a small group coming toward them, slowing and waving while they were still at some distance. For a moment Uluki tensed, expecting a trap, but then she recognized them and waved back. It was Darir, Triarius, and Jenny, along with a child who must be Bethany. There were also three other women Uluki didn't recognize, one of whom was heavily pregnant. Presumably these were Jenny's friends who had been watching her child. Each carried a bundle that looked like blankets and a few household goods. Uluki was pleased they had decided to come along.
Jenny, seeming bolder now than she had before, hugged Uluki in in greeting as Uluki had hugged her goodbye-- though Uluki suspected that, while Jenny was probably genuinely glad to see her, at least half the reason for the warm gesture was to reassure her friends that Uluki wasn't a threat.
Uluki smiled at Jenny, then said, "It's good to see you all." She saw the three women casting worried glances at Kaydee and Julen. "These people have been injured, as you can see, but they're going to be alright."
"Snyde?" One of the women asked, sounding quite cautious.
"Yes," Uluki said honestly, "But they will be protected from him now, as will you."
The three women exchanged concerned looks, but seemed to arrive at an unspoken agreement that they were now committed, and that going back held more danger than going with the strangers did.
As the two groups came together, Uluki took Jenny aside, speaking to her quietly, intending only she would hear. “Jenny, if you are willing, I need you to do another errand for me as well, still under the protection of these two warriors.”
Jenny nodded, slightly nervously, and waited to hear Uluki’s request.
“Is there still any place where you can buy things, or is it too late in the night?”
“Still a few places. Depends on what you want.” Her expression suggested she expected Uluki to ask for drugs or something equally unsavoury—but that it wouldn’t particularly bother or surprise her.
“I need a dress. It should be a white one if possible. It’s for Kaydee, not me,” she added. Jenny had noticed the state of Uluki’s own clothing, and it was important the new dress fit the right person. “I don’t have any money. Can I trade for it?”
Jenny nodded. “No one here’s got much money.”
“Can you trade these?” Uluki indicated her shoes. They were well made and, unlike her worn clothes, fairly new.
“Sure. I’ll get you your dress.”
“If you can’t find one…”
“I’ll find you one. You can find anything here, if you know where to look. Don’t you worry.” Jenny no longer seemed frightened. In fact, she seemed rather pleased to have a task she felt she could accomplish, a way to contribute, rather than waiting meekly for a handout. The warriors protecting her also gave a boost to her confidence, as one would expect.
Uluki slipped off her shoes and handed them to Jenny. “Thank you. I’ll see you back home, if not before.” She also nodded her thanks to Darir and Triarius, indicating they should accompany Jenny, hoping that they were willing to guard her a little longer.
She wished she could buy Julen some clothes too, but she had nothing else to trade, and surely they could find something for him back at the base. It wasn't just about Kaydee having something to wear-- clothes could have been found for her too-- it was an attempt, a small and somewhat pathetic one, to begin to give her back what she'd lost.
Bethany and the three women joined Uluki's group. Uluki offered to carry the pregnant woman's bundle of belongings, and she accepted with a genuine if still nervous smile.
The group continued toward the hall.
She'd been stupid. She shouldn't have hugged Kaydee. She shouldn't have given in to the impulse. So Kaydee made her think of her daughters, so what? That didn't mean she was. That didn't mean she needed or wanted anything from Uluki. Uluki had heard what Kaydee had been through, had seen the injuries, and she should have known better than to try to comfort her like that, should have anticipated the obvious reaction.
She isn't my daughter...
Uluki waited silently as Julen calmed Kaydee, then made his suggestion that they lie back down. She was surprised he'd thought of it, that after he'd been through so much pain, he had any energy left to spare a thought for Uluki. She'd thank him for that later, for his concern about her, and at the same time she would apologize for letting him get lost.
Uluki nodded to the warriors to pick up the two people, as Julen had suggested. "Our first priority is to keep these two safe. The time will come-- soon-- to deal with Snyde, but for tonight our task is to get them back to the hall."
As they made their way back, Uluki thought she noticed a change in the shanty town residents. Was it her imagination, or were they doing everything possible to avoid the group? Had they seemed this jumpy before, this afraid of having the strangers anywhere near them? Perhaps they really were acting differently, or perhaps Uluki was merely feeling the effects of the horrific sight they'd just witnessed, and it made the whole world seem strange.
Uluki was surprised, then, when she saw a small group coming toward them, slowing and waving while they were still at some distance. For a moment Uluki tensed, expecting a trap, but then she recognized them and waved back. It was Darir, Triarius, and Jenny, along with a child who must be Bethany. There were also three other women Uluki didn't recognize, one of whom was heavily pregnant. Presumably these were Jenny's friends who had been watching her child. Each carried a bundle that looked like blankets and a few household goods. Uluki was pleased they had decided to come along.
Jenny, seeming bolder now than she had before, hugged Uluki in in greeting as Uluki had hugged her goodbye-- though Uluki suspected that, while Jenny was probably genuinely glad to see her, at least half the reason for the warm gesture was to reassure her friends that Uluki wasn't a threat.
Uluki smiled at Jenny, then said, "It's good to see you all." She saw the three women casting worried glances at Kaydee and Julen. "These people have been injured, as you can see, but they're going to be alright."
"Snyde?" One of the women asked, sounding quite cautious.
"Yes," Uluki said honestly, "But they will be protected from him now, as will you."
The three women exchanged concerned looks, but seemed to arrive at an unspoken agreement that they were now committed, and that going back held more danger than going with the strangers did.
As the two groups came together, Uluki took Jenny aside, speaking to her quietly, intending only she would hear. “Jenny, if you are willing, I need you to do another errand for me as well, still under the protection of these two warriors.”
Jenny nodded, slightly nervously, and waited to hear Uluki’s request.
“Is there still any place where you can buy things, or is it too late in the night?”
“Still a few places. Depends on what you want.” Her expression suggested she expected Uluki to ask for drugs or something equally unsavoury—but that it wouldn’t particularly bother or surprise her.
“I need a dress. It should be a white one if possible. It’s for Kaydee, not me,” she added. Jenny had noticed the state of Uluki’s own clothing, and it was important the new dress fit the right person. “I don’t have any money. Can I trade for it?”
Jenny nodded. “No one here’s got much money.”
“Can you trade these?” Uluki indicated her shoes. They were well made and, unlike her worn clothes, fairly new.
“Sure. I’ll get you your dress.”
“If you can’t find one…”
“I’ll find you one. You can find anything here, if you know where to look. Don’t you worry.” Jenny no longer seemed frightened. In fact, she seemed rather pleased to have a task she felt she could accomplish, a way to contribute, rather than waiting meekly for a handout. The warriors protecting her also gave a boost to her confidence, as one would expect.
Uluki slipped off her shoes and handed them to Jenny. “Thank you. I’ll see you back home, if not before.” She also nodded her thanks to Darir and Triarius, indicating they should accompany Jenny, hoping that they were willing to guard her a little longer.
She wished she could buy Julen some clothes too, but she had nothing else to trade, and surely they could find something for him back at the base. It wasn't just about Kaydee having something to wear-- clothes could have been found for her too-- it was an attempt, a small and somewhat pathetic one, to begin to give her back what she'd lost.
Bethany and the three women joined Uluki's group. Uluki offered to carry the pregnant woman's bundle of belongings, and she accepted with a genuine if still nervous smile.
The group continued toward the hall.
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Falcon Bertille
- Citizen
- Posts: 196
- Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:15 pm
It was an odd sensation, to be carried along when she felt quite capable of walking. And Kaydee didn’t even entirely understand why they needed to deceive people. Wasn’t it a good thing that they were both alright? Wouldn’t it give hope to others if they saw that Snyde’s intended victims had not died the slow, lingering death that he’d planned for them? But Julen told her do this and she trusted Julen. It had been a long time since Kaydee could say that about anyone.
The men who supported her shoulders and legs were gentle, so Kaydee soon relaxed in their grip, staring up at the star speckled sky above Marn. It was kind of like being taken for a ride. Like playing. Although Kaydee had only recently reached her sixteenth year, playing already seemed like a distant dream.
Occasionally, however, Kaydee stopped stargazing and twisted her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of Julen, who she assumed was being carried along somewhere behind her. During the beating she’d received from Snyde, he’d taunted her with threats about what he was going to do to her “white knight”. Kaydee hadn’t had the slightest idea what he was talking about. She had friends among the other whores, of course, but they would be too terrified to help her. Who did Snyde think considered her to be anything more than a disposable toy? Who did he think cared enough to rescue her?
But Julen had come to her aid. And although Snyde only woke her for the last part of the battle, in time to make her watch her “knight” being pounded senseless, she’d seen the bodies of two of Snyde’s thugs lying on the floor. Outnumbered 6-to-1, Julen hadn’t run. He hadn’t begged for mercy. He’d stood up to Snyde and fought for her. Never, in her whole life, had Kaydee witnessed anyone standing up to Snyde.
Of course, Julen had lost. But she didn’t blame him for that. In a way, it brought them closer, since they had both suffered together, with no one else to cling to. Kaydee remembered Julen holding her as they lay in the street. Even though she was naked, and he was nearly so, there had been nothing sexual in the embrace. Only comfort and protection. No man had ever held Kaydee like that.
Again, Kaydee returned her gaze to the stars. She didn’t know where she was going. But she felt certain it would be better than what she’d left behind.
The men who supported her shoulders and legs were gentle, so Kaydee soon relaxed in their grip, staring up at the star speckled sky above Marn. It was kind of like being taken for a ride. Like playing. Although Kaydee had only recently reached her sixteenth year, playing already seemed like a distant dream.
Occasionally, however, Kaydee stopped stargazing and twisted her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of Julen, who she assumed was being carried along somewhere behind her. During the beating she’d received from Snyde, he’d taunted her with threats about what he was going to do to her “white knight”. Kaydee hadn’t had the slightest idea what he was talking about. She had friends among the other whores, of course, but they would be too terrified to help her. Who did Snyde think considered her to be anything more than a disposable toy? Who did he think cared enough to rescue her?
But Julen had come to her aid. And although Snyde only woke her for the last part of the battle, in time to make her watch her “knight” being pounded senseless, she’d seen the bodies of two of Snyde’s thugs lying on the floor. Outnumbered 6-to-1, Julen hadn’t run. He hadn’t begged for mercy. He’d stood up to Snyde and fought for her. Never, in her whole life, had Kaydee witnessed anyone standing up to Snyde.
Of course, Julen had lost. But she didn’t blame him for that. In a way, it brought them closer, since they had both suffered together, with no one else to cling to. Kaydee remembered Julen holding her as they lay in the street. Even though she was naked, and he was nearly so, there had been nothing sexual in the embrace. Only comfort and protection. No man had ever held Kaydee like that.
Again, Kaydee returned her gaze to the stars. She didn’t know where she was going. But she felt certain it would be better than what she’d left behind.
Julen was thoroughly glad when they finally arrived at Lightsword Hall. He possessed a modest nature, so being paraded through the streets -- covered in filth, nearly naked -- made him deeply uncomfortable. Of course, he understood the necessity of it, and would have endured far worse to protect Uluki’s secret. But that didn’t stop him from being grateful when the ordeal ended. Now that they were back, all he wanted to do was bathe, drink a pitcher of water, and sleep until sunlight once again reclaimed the world.
As they entered the hall itself, Julen heard a cry of alarm. Rosemary. He knew how this must look to her, to see her husband carried in, stripped of his armor, his body caked with blood and dust. Guilt welled up in Julen when he thought about the distress he was causing her. And what if Uluki had found him just a little later? What if she’d brought back a corpse? That was a pain Julen couldn’t bear the thought of inflicting, especially not through his own carelessness. His life did not exist in isolation. To risk it needlessly was to risk harming those close to him. He had to remember that, to temper the instinct toward rash action.
Then, Rosemary was kneeling beside him, cupping his face in her hands. “Julen? Are you alright? What happened?”
Julen wanted to tell her everything, but not with all the Lightswords clustered around. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his new allies. However, a secret was a secret, and the less people who knew it, the better it would keep. The best course of action would be for Kaydee and him to lay low for a little, until they each received a visit from Aorle. The Lightswords had probably been told that Aorle possessed a permit from the city which allowed him to practice his healing magic. And, while Julen knew that Uluki’s healing far exceeded Aorle’s own capabilities, he doubted that the other Lightswords knew it. Better to let them credit Aorle for what Uluki had done.
So all he could do to reassure Rosemary was smile and murmur “I’m going to be fine,” knowing that she wouldn’t believe him, that she’d think he was just being brave. With tears streaming down her face, Rosemary kissed his lips, despite the grime that fouled them, and then stood so that the Lightswords carrying him could take him somewhere to lie down. Then, turning toward Uluki, Rosemary repeated her question. “What happened?”
As they entered the hall itself, Julen heard a cry of alarm. Rosemary. He knew how this must look to her, to see her husband carried in, stripped of his armor, his body caked with blood and dust. Guilt welled up in Julen when he thought about the distress he was causing her. And what if Uluki had found him just a little later? What if she’d brought back a corpse? That was a pain Julen couldn’t bear the thought of inflicting, especially not through his own carelessness. His life did not exist in isolation. To risk it needlessly was to risk harming those close to him. He had to remember that, to temper the instinct toward rash action.
Then, Rosemary was kneeling beside him, cupping his face in her hands. “Julen? Are you alright? What happened?”
Julen wanted to tell her everything, but not with all the Lightswords clustered around. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust his new allies. However, a secret was a secret, and the less people who knew it, the better it would keep. The best course of action would be for Kaydee and him to lay low for a little, until they each received a visit from Aorle. The Lightswords had probably been told that Aorle possessed a permit from the city which allowed him to practice his healing magic. And, while Julen knew that Uluki’s healing far exceeded Aorle’s own capabilities, he doubted that the other Lightswords knew it. Better to let them credit Aorle for what Uluki had done.
So all he could do to reassure Rosemary was smile and murmur “I’m going to be fine,” knowing that she wouldn’t believe him, that she’d think he was just being brave. With tears streaming down her face, Rosemary kissed his lips, despite the grime that fouled them, and then stood so that the Lightswords carrying him could take him somewhere to lie down. Then, turning toward Uluki, Rosemary repeated her question. “What happened?”
Shim -- where the men are men, and the livestock are scared.
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Lylessa Uluki
- Citizen
- Posts: 669
- Joined: Thu Jun 14, 2007 12:12 am
- Name: Uluki
- Race: Duskling - Fae
"Julen was protecting this young woman, and was injured while doing so," Uluki told Rosemary carefully. "He was very brave. I know he looks rather the worse for the wear, but what he says is true, he will be fine. I think it would be best if you two found a room upstairs where he can have food and water and wash up."
Best to leave it at that. What he told Rosemary was up to him, but given his previous caution Uluki wasn't worried. If he didn't think Rosemary would be able to restrain herself from reporting magic done to save the life of the man she loved, he wouldn't tell her anything. If Julen hadn't betrayed Uluki's secret by now, he wouldn't.
"Thank you for... before," she said quietly to Julen. "I appreciate your concern for me. I'm sorry about this whole thing. It was my fault that you got hurt. I should have sent someone with you. This wouldn't have happened if it weren't for me, but you still--" She never got to finish her sentence.
"Uluki!" Rollick, alerted to her arrival, had entered the hall and was looking worried. With an apologetic glance at Julen, she left his side to speak to her husband.
"You're covered with blood. Are you hurt? What happened?"
Uluki noted that her dress was indeed spattered with blood, as well as caked with dirt, though "covered" in blood was a husband's worried exaggeration. Martha's shawl was also dirty and bloody, probably ruined. Uluki would knit her a new one. "I'm not hurt. It isn't my blood." Not hurt, but tired and sad. "I'll tell you the rest later."
He seemed to accept that and asked nothing further, though he took her hand as she gave her orders to the warriors. "I can look after the civilians from here. I am grateful for your help tonight. I assume Rollick has set watches." He nodded to confirm her assumption; they'd spent enough time living and working together she would have expected nothing less. "You should speak to him about the watch schedule, but otherwise your duties are finished for the night, and you have my thanks for your efforts. Rest well, and we'll convene again in the morning."
While Uluki spoke to the warriors, Dash and Zee appeared from upstairs, smiling to see their mother had returned safely. The two girls offered to take over supporting Kaydee.
As Rollick discussed the watch schedule with the warriors, Uluki turned her attention to the civilians. "You will have protection here as long as you desire it. My daughters will help you settle in and find you bedding, as well as food if you're hungry. Is there anything else you need?"
One of the women met her eye. "I got a question, missus?" The statement that she had a question was spoken as a question itself.
"Alright, go ahead." Uluki was not used to giving people permission to speak. Permission to speak was assumed, all the time. "But you can just call me Uluki."
"Missus Uluki, I was wondering. What's your cut?"
"My cut?" Uluki looked blank. She didn't understand the question.
"Yeah, how much goes to you?"
Still nothing was registering in her mind. "How much of what?"
"Of the money we make," the woman explained patiently. "How many tricks we gotta turn, and how much money we gotta give to you?"
Though Uluki's mind had initially gone in the direction of magic tricks, she eventually caught on to what the woman was saying. She hadn't made her position clear enough. These women thought she was going to be a nicer version of Snyde, and that thought made her a little sick. "You don't have to give me anything, and you don't have to do that anymore. You're safe here, and you'll have what you need. There's plenty of work to do, and I would be grateful for your help with it, but you don't have to sleep with men for money. In fact, I don't want you to give your bodies to anyone unless you want to. It is never an obligation. Do you understand?"
The three women looked surprised and a little puzzled, but this was welcome news and they nodded their agreement.
"Good. My daughter will take you upstairs and get you settled in." She nodded to Zee to do so, while Dash would stay, available for Kaydee to lean on. "Kaydee, if I could speak to you for a moment?" Uluki had seen that Jenny and the others had returned, and she didn't want to make a big production of handing off the dress. As Uluki went to retrieve it, Dash spoke to Kaydee quickly, excited by the prospect of having a friend her own age.
"Hello, I'm Dash. That other girl is my sister, Zee. Uluki-- the blue one-- is our mother, and the man talking to those soldiers is our father, Rollick. We're adopted," she explained. "We've only lived with them a few months. Things used to be hard for us back before we had a family, but we're happy now. I hope you'll be happy here too. It's a nice place." A clumsy gesture at friendship, perhaps, but a sincere one.
Then Uluki returned with the new white dress in hand, having thanked Jenny and the two warriors. She was pleased with the one Jenny had picked; it was simple but well-made, and should last. "We didn't find the dress you used to wear," Uluki told Kaydee, sounding apologetic, "But maybe you'll accept this one as a substitute?"
"I'm sorry about before. I shouldn't have... I didn't mean to scare you."
She ought to provide some explanation, some reason for why she'd acted so strangely, but she was afraid anything she could say would make the girl think even more poorly of her. Surely she would find it creepy that Uluki had been treating her like a daughter. Uluki was still finding the maternal impulse difficult to shake, but she would do her best not to act on it.
"I was... worried about you. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry if I made things harder for you, but if you can forgive that... maybe we can be friends?"
Uluki's suggestion was tentative, and she expected it would be rejected. She certainly hadn't given Kaydee a good first impression, and, combined with the usual reaction to Fae, Uluki assumed she had destroyed any chance of a rapport with her. Still, Uluki wasn't one to give up. If Kaydee seemed uncomfortable with her presence, she would back off, but she wanted to at least give it a try.
((Continued: http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?t=1178))
Best to leave it at that. What he told Rosemary was up to him, but given his previous caution Uluki wasn't worried. If he didn't think Rosemary would be able to restrain herself from reporting magic done to save the life of the man she loved, he wouldn't tell her anything. If Julen hadn't betrayed Uluki's secret by now, he wouldn't.
"Thank you for... before," she said quietly to Julen. "I appreciate your concern for me. I'm sorry about this whole thing. It was my fault that you got hurt. I should have sent someone with you. This wouldn't have happened if it weren't for me, but you still--" She never got to finish her sentence.
"Uluki!" Rollick, alerted to her arrival, had entered the hall and was looking worried. With an apologetic glance at Julen, she left his side to speak to her husband.
"You're covered with blood. Are you hurt? What happened?"
Uluki noted that her dress was indeed spattered with blood, as well as caked with dirt, though "covered" in blood was a husband's worried exaggeration. Martha's shawl was also dirty and bloody, probably ruined. Uluki would knit her a new one. "I'm not hurt. It isn't my blood." Not hurt, but tired and sad. "I'll tell you the rest later."
He seemed to accept that and asked nothing further, though he took her hand as she gave her orders to the warriors. "I can look after the civilians from here. I am grateful for your help tonight. I assume Rollick has set watches." He nodded to confirm her assumption; they'd spent enough time living and working together she would have expected nothing less. "You should speak to him about the watch schedule, but otherwise your duties are finished for the night, and you have my thanks for your efforts. Rest well, and we'll convene again in the morning."
While Uluki spoke to the warriors, Dash and Zee appeared from upstairs, smiling to see their mother had returned safely. The two girls offered to take over supporting Kaydee.
As Rollick discussed the watch schedule with the warriors, Uluki turned her attention to the civilians. "You will have protection here as long as you desire it. My daughters will help you settle in and find you bedding, as well as food if you're hungry. Is there anything else you need?"
One of the women met her eye. "I got a question, missus?" The statement that she had a question was spoken as a question itself.
"Alright, go ahead." Uluki was not used to giving people permission to speak. Permission to speak was assumed, all the time. "But you can just call me Uluki."
"Missus Uluki, I was wondering. What's your cut?"
"My cut?" Uluki looked blank. She didn't understand the question.
"Yeah, how much goes to you?"
Still nothing was registering in her mind. "How much of what?"
"Of the money we make," the woman explained patiently. "How many tricks we gotta turn, and how much money we gotta give to you?"
Though Uluki's mind had initially gone in the direction of magic tricks, she eventually caught on to what the woman was saying. She hadn't made her position clear enough. These women thought she was going to be a nicer version of Snyde, and that thought made her a little sick. "You don't have to give me anything, and you don't have to do that anymore. You're safe here, and you'll have what you need. There's plenty of work to do, and I would be grateful for your help with it, but you don't have to sleep with men for money. In fact, I don't want you to give your bodies to anyone unless you want to. It is never an obligation. Do you understand?"
The three women looked surprised and a little puzzled, but this was welcome news and they nodded their agreement.
"Good. My daughter will take you upstairs and get you settled in." She nodded to Zee to do so, while Dash would stay, available for Kaydee to lean on. "Kaydee, if I could speak to you for a moment?" Uluki had seen that Jenny and the others had returned, and she didn't want to make a big production of handing off the dress. As Uluki went to retrieve it, Dash spoke to Kaydee quickly, excited by the prospect of having a friend her own age.
"Hello, I'm Dash. That other girl is my sister, Zee. Uluki-- the blue one-- is our mother, and the man talking to those soldiers is our father, Rollick. We're adopted," she explained. "We've only lived with them a few months. Things used to be hard for us back before we had a family, but we're happy now. I hope you'll be happy here too. It's a nice place." A clumsy gesture at friendship, perhaps, but a sincere one.
Then Uluki returned with the new white dress in hand, having thanked Jenny and the two warriors. She was pleased with the one Jenny had picked; it was simple but well-made, and should last. "We didn't find the dress you used to wear," Uluki told Kaydee, sounding apologetic, "But maybe you'll accept this one as a substitute?"
"I'm sorry about before. I shouldn't have... I didn't mean to scare you."
She ought to provide some explanation, some reason for why she'd acted so strangely, but she was afraid anything she could say would make the girl think even more poorly of her. Surely she would find it creepy that Uluki had been treating her like a daughter. Uluki was still finding the maternal impulse difficult to shake, but she would do her best not to act on it.
"I was... worried about you. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry if I made things harder for you, but if you can forgive that... maybe we can be friends?"
Uluki's suggestion was tentative, and she expected it would be rejected. She certainly hadn't given Kaydee a good first impression, and, combined with the usual reaction to Fae, Uluki assumed she had destroyed any chance of a rapport with her. Still, Uluki wasn't one to give up. If Kaydee seemed uncomfortable with her presence, she would back off, but she wanted to at least give it a try.
((Continued: http://www.tharshaddin.com/rp/viewtopic.php?t=1178))