Dances with Daggers

by **Starling Frost** on November 2nd, 2013, 4:19 am

Starling watched her teacher go through the basic movements of dagger-work, watching with her head cocked quizzically to the side which was her habit when paying close attention. He was a nice man, big and strong. Perhaps one day they would marry- Akalak's aged but slowly and so she could expect to catch up with him in age. Marriage held a strong intrigue for Starling, although at her age she thought mostly of fancy dresses and giving a speech at the wedding feast.

When the demonstration was done, Starling took up her stance, moving through the forms as she had seen them. Her movements were more or less accurate and her body was loose and fairly graceful, especially for a girl her age. She moved as if it were more of a dance that a martial technique, although her face bore the comical fierceness one sees in a lion cub learning to hunt.

"Like this, and this. Have at you!" Starling moved lightly on the balls of her feet.

by **Favchean Hronis** on November 2nd, 2013, 5:26 am

The hand that does not hold his dagger raises to scratch idly at his shaven scalp, his braided mohawk barely moving with the motion. His eyes never left the girl, eying first her arms, then her legs, and then her wrists marking corrections mentally.

He did not interrupt, though he is no teacher of children he suspected that they needed to get basic muscle memory down before perfecting movements. He still can not help but smile at her, when was the last time he smiled so much? He really already shown her enough to where perhaps she wouldn't stab herself in the foot, but something about her made him want to make sure she was protected. It might be because she was female, and she was a child, both of which Favchean treasures above all else. The children of Riverfall are often doted and while not spoiled, they are taught discipline and hard work but they are well loved and cared for.

"We will practice these two Little Bit. When you can do them to my satisfaction, we will move on. But that will be on another day." Favchean braced himself for his forms again, his feet shoulder width apart. "Once more, do them with me Little Bit." Slowly his dagger slides forward, and without pause he moves directly into the defensive pose, his elbow bent near his face, protecting his head.

"You will be a deadly daggerer." He said, using her word and managing not to crack a grin at it but just barely. "Come, show me your home. Are you hungry? Perhaps we will stop and get a bit of lunch on the way."

by **Starling Frost** on November 3rd, 2013, 4:05 am

Starling was pleased to learn that she would be getting instruction on another day as well. There was something about living on her own that made her eager to learn, both out of the pleasure of learning and because there was so much that she didn't know, and no one in charge of her to fill in her gaps in knowledge.

She went through the drill again with care, watching Favchean carefully out of the corner of her eye, gesturing with her dagger just so. Having finished, she bowed from the waist, as one might do at the end of a play.

"Thank you, although I hope that I shall only have to stab a minimum of people and that most of the bad guys will flee and hide in the water closet. I can show you where I live but there are rules about having a man up to your room. I think that Nia is worried that they would leave dirty socks about. I should very much enjoy some food!"

Starling tended to be hungry a lot, both because she was growing and she husbanded her coins carefully, not sure what needs would arise.

by **Favchean Hronis** on November 3rd, 2013, 4:19 am

Favchean figured that she would want to eat, if she was telling the truth about being on her own then food might be a bit more difficult to procure then it might seem. There was also the problem of how was she paying for the room? There were many other worries but Favchean pushed them to the side as he grins down at her.

"Very good first day Little Bit. Pretty soon you will have all of them hiding in the water closets. Then I can tell any bad guys that might run into me that you will be using their bones as tomato stakes." If she had been older, or perhaps taller, he might have offered her his arm as he does most ladies, but instead he simply bowed low and flourished his arm before him escorting her away.

It really was lucky that he had ran across her rather then his light brother. His light brother would have been just as eagerly helped but he was so stiff and proper that he doubted that he would have been able to enjoy Starling as much as he had. It was also, a very good thing, to keep his Akalak ...problem...quiet for now. It might spook her.

"What does Little Bit want to eat? Fish, or would you like some hot rolls?"

by **Starling Frost** on November 5th, 2013, 5:00 am

Starling examine her dagger carefully before resheathing it, pausing to wipe the blade on the hem of her shirt. The man she'd bought it from told her not to put it away wet or dirty and she had dropped it on the ground. It was always best to take care of your things.

"Well," she said "I'd better not get too ferocious or there shan't be any water closets open when I need one."

She moved close to Favchean as he led the way quickly returning to a mannerism she'd once had of putting her hand lightly on his leg when something caused her a bit of startlement or alarm, as if looking for a tiny helping of security. The city did not startle her much anymore, but it still did seem quite big and strange, and she had not entirely gotten used to being around so many huge warriors.

"I know a place where they make a pastry with meat and cheese inside, and some sort of spices that I can't tell what they are. It is a very fine invention! Also they might have apples." Starling liked to eat as many apples as possible in the fall.

"Do you have scores of babies at your house," she said suddenly, an idea coming to her. "Because I am a very fine baby minder if I do say so."

by **Favchean Hronis** on November 5th, 2013, 5:50 am

As soon as Favchean realized that she meant to stick close to him, he shortened his steps considerably so not to tax her smaller legs. If he was given any looks at having a Vantha child at his side he didn't notice, Akalaks were notorious about protection of women and children so there weren't too many odd looks. The first time her hand brushed his leg he assumed it was accidental from her walking, but the second time he noticed how her body tenses just briefly. Smiling he didn't remark on it, but he did occasionally return the touch by gently laying a large hand on her shoulder.

"Lead on Little Bit, lunch is on me. I promise you can eat as much apples as you can..or until they run out." The Akalak smiled, he was already becoming attached to her enthusiasm, which typically would mean it was time to back away. The longevity of his race meant that friendships with other races save Konti were doomed to lead to a sad parting. Even if Starling lived to be a ripe old age, Favchean wouldn't even have seen half his life gone. Barring, of course, a violent death.

However he could not bring himself to simply give her some miza's and leaving. He dreaded the thought of her fending for herself, even in a city as benign as Riverfall. Was it chance that she made it to perhaps the one city where she could almost assuredly be absolutely safe, if not pressed to become Nakivak? Or did perhaps Akalak Mother Akija have something to do with it? It seemed almost something she would do.

"Scores of babes? No not hardly. Though it is getting time for me to start looking to put a few sons in my house." He smiled down at her as they begin to walk down the stairs as the gardens they had been in was on the very top of the city. "A very fine baby minder you say? I might need one of those sooner rather then later I am sure. Are you offering your services?"

by **Starling Frost** on November 7th, 2013, 4:30 am

Starling favored her new-found mentor with a beaming smile. It was easy to take favors from older people when you were young, having made a lifetime habit of it by necessity. Without thinking, she began to hum a quiet song from Avanthar as she walked.

"Oh yes! If you have babies I shall be pleased to mind them. I know twelve ways to make a baby laugh using only a simple handkerchief, and how to pin a diaper so it never sticks the baby. It is a very fine thing to sit in a rocking chair with a sleeping baby on your shoulder."

She cocked her head to one side as she said this, imaging a baby nestled in the crook of her neck. In Avanthar the weather had encouraged a lot of indoor activity and a baby was a fine plaything, even despite the diaper business.

The shop Starling had in mind was not a long walk from the park. Starling was still new to the town and had learned several routes along which she would not get lost, and tended to stick to those. Consequentially most of the places she frequented were close together. The place was not too busy and it was without difficult that the two found a table near a window overlooking a well planted patio. Starling climbed up on her chair and sat with her legs swinging idly too and fro: Akalak furniture was rather large for her.

by **Favchean Hronis** on November 7th, 2013, 7:59 pm

Sitting opposite of Starling, his large frame cushioned well by the chair, his dark green hands laying lightly on the table, Favchean considers the girl for a long moment. His blue eyes so lightly colored that often they were described as icy sweeping over her figure as he tried to think of what he could do for her. He hated the idea that she was fending for herself, at such a young age but what was he to do about it? He was a single man with no wife, and no babies for Starling to look after.

He signaled the serving girl, and when she came over he ordered gruffly, "One of those meat pies with spices in them, and as many apples as the young lady can eat please. For me I would just like a glass of water if you please, bring the young lady a glass of water as well."

While waiting for Starling's food to arrive, the Akalak leans back in his chair carefully. "Have you tried to get word to your mother Starling? You said she still lived in Avanthal?" He couldn't imagine living without knowing where his child was, and he felt sure this child's mother must be half out of her mind with worry if it had been too long.