Kavala thought that was interesting, the fact that he used every part of the ingredients when he got them. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know how he say used the brains or genitals or even some of the more distasteful ingredients. Sausage maybe? “I like Sea Urchin, but much of it isn’t edible. I rarely eat them because there are only small bits inside that are delicious. It’s nice you use all of your animal and plant carcasses that come into The Almond Blossom.” She said, chuckling slightly.
“Riverfall has known lean winters. I think all places have. It just depends on the weather. The Winter of 512 was really hard. We all learned that lesson quickly and now we eat far better because we work hard during the summer and fall to make sure things get put up.” Kavala responded, hating to bring up the Djed Storm of 512, but that’s really what she was saying. A lot of the people in Riverfall suffered. She was sure it was the same year round. She herself had supplemented their Sanctuary stores with bounty from the Sea. But not everyone was able to do that.
“My place is a few miles north of the city. It would be impossible to do what I do within the city. There’s not enough room. But we’re safe enough. We have large walls surrounding the compound and an expansive underground living component. The animals get all the above ground space the clinic doesn’t take. And since we are on the cliffs, I have a large sea cave that can shelter the animals in the event we have another storm… a djed storm.” Kavala said, knowing that what she grazed out on the Sea of Grass would never make it back in time unless they had ample warning like they had before.
Kavala’s voice softened. “Orin, I wasn’t born on Mura where the rest of the Konti live. I was born to a Drykas Pavilion on the Sea of Grass. Most of my family are gone due to the Djed Storm we had a few years ago… the family that would claim me. Being Konti, even with a human father, isn’t easy among a human culture that values the ability for a woman to provide a man with Sons more than anything else. The family I have left are my niece and nephew, my children, and the rest are all folks that didn’t belong somewhere else that found a home at The Sanctuary. We are none of us related by blood, but we are all related by heart. I have a half dozen brothers and sisters that I work shoulder to shoulder with daily. To me, Friends are Family.” The Konti added, her face going soft and vulnerable for a moment.
Kavala nodded at Orin’s answer to her question. That made sense. Orin must be high enough ranking in his field to not do the preservation work that perhaps his underlings had too. She was pleased to note he was from Syliras too. “I enjoyed my two visits to Syliras. It was a lovely very friendly place. I found the knights very congenial.” The Konti added, chuckling. “I traveled through twice when I was younger in visiting Mura and returning home.” Kavala added, reaching up to tuck a strand of loose hair back into her pony tail that was slowly coming unraveled.
When Orin asked if she was fond of swimming, the Konti laughed. She tilted her neck back, ran her hand up to a spot just behind her ears, and flexed her gills for him to clearly see. “You might say we take to the water as if we were fish. Everyone should learn to swim sometime. If you’d like to learn just let me know. I bet we could trade some lessons or something. I’ve always wanted someone to take a look at The Sanctuary’s Pantry, Icebox, and Kitchen set up and maybe make some improvements to it or maybe make some suggestions for a menu to feed a lot of people at once with easy recipes. That sounds like something you could do easily.” Kavala added, not having the balls to ask him to teach her to cook. She knew a little and was getting better over time. But the Konti was a bit too proud to reveal that she could over boil water into vapor in next to no time because she was never able to actually concentrate with the interruption her children offered when she was at home.
“I’m thinking of buying it actually…” She said, in regards to The Sapphire Star. “The owner wants to sell and its basically just a ladies club were ladies come to meet, intermingle, and talk. Sometimes they will all read the same books and talk about them. OR sometimes they do art classes or hold parties. It’d just be a business investment. They also have male entertainers there that dance or cook or just give the women people to talk too. I believe it’s a lot like what you men would call a brothel, with the roles reversed.” Kavala admitted, knowing that she’d started to paint The Sapphire Star in a way that wasn’t really true to form. He’d find out eventually anyhow.
“Men aren’t the problem in Riverfall. I think we women have more freedoms here than most places, to be honest.” Kavala admitted, eyes darting to another book on the shelf that she plucked down to get a closer look at.
When he described how his staff was transient, Kavala frowned. “I couldn’t trust new grooms all the time. I want my animals cared for in a certain way and I have to have people I know in order to trust them. Especially my horses. That’s what I breed primarily, though we have Imperial Watchers that have a litter or two a year as well. Primarily we are known for our Warhorses. We breed Denusk Warhorses for the Kuvay’Nas Militia. They are the ones that have the shimmering duochrome coats that gleam in metallic colors when the sun hits them. Some are even a shimmery rainbow if their coats are light enough.” Kavala added, her expression wistful, almost thoughtful.
Their chatting continued, and Kavala found Orin easy to talk to. She was enjoying his company more than she’d like to admit. He was still human. But she knew there were exceptions to every race. Maybe he was one of them. Her brother was, and truth be told, Orin reminded her of Vanator. They even had similar mannerisms.
“Yes, Orin, they just keep it out in the open. To them its not as important as other things. I’m not sure they’d loan them to everyone, and the collection is a bit limited, but there are titles. Things like Glyphing, Auristics, and some of the more physical magics that some of the warriors are interested in. Projection, Flux… that kind of thing.” Kavala said, looking thoughtful before she continued. “Other things, like Reimancy, magecrafting, that sort of thing you need private tutors for. They are around, you just need to know where to look for them.” The Konti added.
“You really need to know a few things living here, Orin. Kuvan are non-Akalak that are full citizens of Riverfall. Non-Akakaks can’t even be real citizens unless they get Kuvan Status. They need one discipline like a weapon or unarmbed combat that’s competent and they test for it. It shows they are able to fight for Riverfall if the city needs it. I’m surprised you don’t have some wicked knife skills as a cook or something you could test under. You get a tattoo under your wrist when you get the status.” She twisted her wrist around and showed him her Kuvan Tattoo that indicated she was a full citizen. “You can’t even own a business in Riverfall unless you are a Kuvan.” She amended.
“A Nakivak is something else… it’s more the dark side of Riverfall.” Kavala lowered her voice and stepped closer to Orin, not quite believing he hadn’t heard of them before. “The Akalak are all males. Everyone knows that. They sire themselves on human, Kelvic and Konti women… sometimes others. But women are always in short supply so sometimes they rescue them from slavers or buy them in trade deals. These women go into debt to the Akalak.” The Konti kept her voice low. “They keep records on the debt owed to Riverfall and put a bracelet on the woman’s wrist then offer out a contract on her. Any male can take on a contract. Once he has her contract, she must bear him a child to pay back her debts. Some women who have nothing come here to voluntarily enter into the program. They are treated very well, sometimes like royalty, but its still… a form of … “ Kavala broke it off. “I have three children. Their father’s are dead. Akalak’s tend not to have long lifespans when they are young. I left my Pavilion when I was a young teen to train in medicine on Mura. When I was returning home to the Sea of Grass I was captured by slavers. Akalaks rescued me. That’s how I ended up here. I became a Nakivak and paid my debt to the Akalaks by having two children. My second pregnancy was a duo birth, so I ended up with three. It paid my debt. So… when you were asking about my family. I made my own.” Kavala said, chuckling slightly. “I have two boys and a little girl. And even though they don’t have fathers, I am trying to raise them in their culture as best as I can. My weapons trainer takes the boys often, and will run their rites of passage when the time comes.” Kavala said, shaking her head. “How have you been in Riverfall as long as you have without knowing these things? Nakivaks are all over the place. If one comes into your restaurant, they will seat her immediately. Pay attention to it. You can spot them by the bracelets that are various colors denoting various ranks. They are called Undan. And you won’t see a way they can be removed. They look like manacles. A silver one means that she’s available for a contract and you can have her if you take it on. A gold one means she’s under contract and her body is owned by someone. These women are usually pregnant. They rank above a lot of the general population.” Kavala pointed out.
They talked of Kelvics and Kavala noticed a change in Orin. It was hard to see at first, but there was something there. But she didn’t want to press. He might have known one, sired one, or even tangled with one in the past. HE offered kind words, but his eyes were haunted. She moved on quickly, not wanting to hurt him or bring him distress.
So she changed the subject and asked him something that surprisingly startled him. He gave her the rundown on his history and Kavala listened intently. It wasn’t an easy past, that much she could tell. Orin skimmed over the details, but from his expression and what he did say, she could tell it wasn’t pleasant. “It doesn’t sound silly at all, Orin. We all do what we love. I’m so sorry your father wasn’t a loving man. I run into that a lot with humans. Most humans have me wary of even spending time with them. They tend to be wrapped up in themselves. You don’t seem to be anything like him. If I were you I would be proud of that fact. We don’t have to grow, as children, to be what our parents are.” The Healer was firm on that one. But she grew quiet again as Orin started talking about his hobbies.
“One piece of advice, Orin. It’s a good idea to be good at more than one thing. I love daggers too and would be glad to spar with you any time. IF you ever want to learn to swim, I’d be willing to teach you as well. I mean that. And as for combining cooking with potions, that’s a noble cause. I am twice marked by Rak’keli. If you ever need healing potions to add to your dishes, let me know and I can supply them. I’d want something in return though…” She added, almost flirting with him… almost.
“I’d want at least a meal once in a while at your restaurant. I have very little excuse to get out to the city these days, and anything is a really good reason to take a break. Trust me on that one.” Kavala said, then glanced down at the book she’d drawn from the shelves. It was on saving seeds and planting things that could be sprouted again the next season. The title made her smile and she added it to the other one that was already tucked under her arm.
“Now… we should get you some books… reading is an excellent hobby. Is there any other sections you want me to show you now you know where the cooking and preserving one is?” She asked curiously, wondering what else he’d want to reveal about himself, even inadvertently.