The Kelvic felt incredibly comfortable around the father daughter pair. And if pressed to say why, Kelski wouldn’t be able to answer. She liked Bron’s touch too, almost coveted it, and freely melted into the girls support when she offered it. Kelski was also relieved that Bron seemed to be getting better by the chime. Normally she’d fuss, but since Matrim hadn’t seemed concerned, Kelski decided to follow his lead and let Bronwen make her own decisions on whether she was okay or not.
The Kelvic hadn’t minded that the Syliran Knight hadn’t returned her slight affection. She was used to men being rough, brutal even, and had not encountered those that gave comfort or showed concern. He was, in that, no different than his peers in Sunberth that Kelski had ran across.
“Help me?” Kelski looked puzzled. She wasn’t sure she needed help, but she let the conversation flow onward and didn’t press the subject. The Kelvic did however note Bron saying her father was an honorable man. He wouldn’t hurt her? No, all men hurt women. It was just how the world worked. Kelski touched Bron’s shoulder a moment, gently, as if acknowledging her words, but she didn’t say anything. It was most likely that this rather large man in front of her sheltered her daughter from what really happened between men and women. It was an ugliness in the world the Kelvic wanted no part of.
The Kelvic could see a myriad of thoughts in the young woman’s eyes, but none of them made sense to her. She understood fear, pain, uncertainty, but Bronwen seemed to not have any of those. Instead, there were questions that went unspoken. Kelski wanted to ask about what she saw in the girls eyes, but she remembered Thorne and how the girl had wanted to take her home… how she’d entertained Darvin in the back alley and then claimed it was all for Kelski… which was something the Kelvic hadn’t wanted to ever see again.
“It’s a sign of nothing for me.” The Kelvic said irritably, responding to Bronwen’s comments about piercings. “It’s a way for him to control me, hurt me, and make me ashamed. He is a hedonist, my owner, and wants his things decorated to the point of being garish. I understand the subtleties of beauty. My jewelry designs are simple and timeless and things anyone would be proud to wear. But over and over he makes me sit at my bench and make things that are too much… too gaudy… ugly even. Jewelry should enhance or highlight something, not overwhelm it. But if you argue, he’ll call a minion in and add a new piercing. Then he will weigh it down with something heavy. He’ll put them in places no jewelry should be… and then display it to someone he wants to covet what is his, never letting them touch or taste. And the bitterness and resentment grows. My owner is ill of the mind.” She said softly, knowing if they were going swimming together, Bron would see just exactly what Kelski was talking about.
“Thank you for… trying to see light in the darkness. But sometimes it is only dark and one should be enough to just let it be dark.” Kelski said, her grey eyes meeting Bron’s gaze. The girl leaped the puddle beside the woman, both of them walking with Matrim now who strode as if he were a man on a mission.
When Bron said her words, her flattery, Kelski reached out and stopped her… interrupting her train of thought. “I am not a woman, Bronwen. Thank you for thinking so and thank you for saying I should be treated as a beautiful woman… but I don’t want that. They are subservient and usually on their back or knees. I am a Sea Eagle and I need no one to treat me as anything like that, especially not here. If I did not wear a collar and have an owner, I would be in the sky and away from here. Humans… the humans here… are decayed. There is something wrong with each and every one of them. If I could, I’d fly away and never wear skin again. Women hate you because of your features. Men just want to dominate you, holding you down and putting their bodies in yours to show you how powerful they are by hurting you. Being human is horrible. Being on the wind, hunting, living free is much better.” She said firmly, knowing her words to be true.
By this time they’d reached the shore, Matrim was already swimming. His dive was clean and he looked like a seal … albeit a very large seal… diving into the water. Kelski was surprised he wore clothing and Bronwen had something on under her outfit as well. Why would they get their clothing wet? The Kelvic shrugged and stripped to her skin, revealing that she did indeed have piercings in places no one should have them and an ugly brand on her right buttock in the style of the Sun’s Birth gang. It was still healing, partially scabbed over where someone had pressed a hot iron into her flesh. She acted as if it didn’t bother her.
When Matrim waded towards them, Kelski paused, watching him a moment. He looked like a predator but there was nothing predatory in his manners. The contrast in the scene gave her momentary pause. How could men look strong and not particularly aggressive? Darvin certainly was. Her owner was as well. Kelski glanced at Bron, taking her ques from the woman. Bron wasn’t getting into the water yet, but Kelski wasn’t going to let that stop her.
Wading into the water, Kelski splashed around happily until she could sink down into the water up to her neck and grin. “I don’t have underthings, so it’s my skin or me fully dressed and I don’t want Darvin to find me with my borrowed clothing soaked.” Kelski said, indicating the neat pile she’d carefully made on top of her prized kidskin boots. Then she frolicked around, dipping her head down and putting her face under the water to splash water up and over her hair and down her back. The action looked exactly like a bird bathing, splashing in and throwing water up on her back. She laughed, carefree, and splashed some more.
Matrim looked at Bron and raised an eyebrow. He beckoned her into the water. “Did I hear her say she was a Kelvic? It explains so much.” He said, gripping his daughter’s hand and walking her backwards into the water. He kept an eye on the playful Kelvic, understanding as only a father with two precocious daughters could, that the slave had to get her delight out of her system before Kelski could actually pay attention to a lesson.
“Now Bron… there’s two things you need to learn first. We have to get you both floating, and then we have to get you both treading water. Floating isn’t hard. People naturally float. The air in our lungs help, but our bodies are very buoyant anyhow.” He kept a grip on her hand and smiled an encouragement at her. “I’ll keep a hold of you but lean back, like you are gently falling onto a soft bed, and let the water pick you up and hold you. Arch your back, spread your arms out… I’m right here if you get nervous…. But do as I say and you’ll float like a champ…” He said with a rumble, watching his daughter with pride.
Kelski, despite her play, had been listening. She moved so she could watch Matrim help Brom and did what he said, lifting her arms out to her sides perpendicular to her body and leaned back, letting her feet come off the bottom and the water hold her. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. She jerked a couple of times, losing the relaxation that came with her success and falling into the water. But she kept trying, arching her back a little more until she felt a big hand under her back, holding her up.
Matrim had moved to stand between the two young ladies… as both Kelski and Bron floated. Kelski could touch Bron’s right arm with her left one, their two limbs intertwining as they moved their arms keeping their bodies afloat. Matrim’s arms were stretched out, one cupping the small of Bron’s back, supporting her gently, the other stretched out doing the same for Kelski. He muttered encouragement to both of them.
“Good… very good… ready to learn to tread water?” He asked, gently giving them both a guiding hand back to a bit more shallow water so they could put their feet down.
The Kelvic hadn’t minded that the Syliran Knight hadn’t returned her slight affection. She was used to men being rough, brutal even, and had not encountered those that gave comfort or showed concern. He was, in that, no different than his peers in Sunberth that Kelski had ran across.
“Help me?” Kelski looked puzzled. She wasn’t sure she needed help, but she let the conversation flow onward and didn’t press the subject. The Kelvic did however note Bron saying her father was an honorable man. He wouldn’t hurt her? No, all men hurt women. It was just how the world worked. Kelski touched Bron’s shoulder a moment, gently, as if acknowledging her words, but she didn’t say anything. It was most likely that this rather large man in front of her sheltered her daughter from what really happened between men and women. It was an ugliness in the world the Kelvic wanted no part of.
The Kelvic could see a myriad of thoughts in the young woman’s eyes, but none of them made sense to her. She understood fear, pain, uncertainty, but Bronwen seemed to not have any of those. Instead, there were questions that went unspoken. Kelski wanted to ask about what she saw in the girls eyes, but she remembered Thorne and how the girl had wanted to take her home… how she’d entertained Darvin in the back alley and then claimed it was all for Kelski… which was something the Kelvic hadn’t wanted to ever see again.
“It’s a sign of nothing for me.” The Kelvic said irritably, responding to Bronwen’s comments about piercings. “It’s a way for him to control me, hurt me, and make me ashamed. He is a hedonist, my owner, and wants his things decorated to the point of being garish. I understand the subtleties of beauty. My jewelry designs are simple and timeless and things anyone would be proud to wear. But over and over he makes me sit at my bench and make things that are too much… too gaudy… ugly even. Jewelry should enhance or highlight something, not overwhelm it. But if you argue, he’ll call a minion in and add a new piercing. Then he will weigh it down with something heavy. He’ll put them in places no jewelry should be… and then display it to someone he wants to covet what is his, never letting them touch or taste. And the bitterness and resentment grows. My owner is ill of the mind.” She said softly, knowing if they were going swimming together, Bron would see just exactly what Kelski was talking about.
“Thank you for… trying to see light in the darkness. But sometimes it is only dark and one should be enough to just let it be dark.” Kelski said, her grey eyes meeting Bron’s gaze. The girl leaped the puddle beside the woman, both of them walking with Matrim now who strode as if he were a man on a mission.
When Bron said her words, her flattery, Kelski reached out and stopped her… interrupting her train of thought. “I am not a woman, Bronwen. Thank you for thinking so and thank you for saying I should be treated as a beautiful woman… but I don’t want that. They are subservient and usually on their back or knees. I am a Sea Eagle and I need no one to treat me as anything like that, especially not here. If I did not wear a collar and have an owner, I would be in the sky and away from here. Humans… the humans here… are decayed. There is something wrong with each and every one of them. If I could, I’d fly away and never wear skin again. Women hate you because of your features. Men just want to dominate you, holding you down and putting their bodies in yours to show you how powerful they are by hurting you. Being human is horrible. Being on the wind, hunting, living free is much better.” She said firmly, knowing her words to be true.
By this time they’d reached the shore, Matrim was already swimming. His dive was clean and he looked like a seal … albeit a very large seal… diving into the water. Kelski was surprised he wore clothing and Bronwen had something on under her outfit as well. Why would they get their clothing wet? The Kelvic shrugged and stripped to her skin, revealing that she did indeed have piercings in places no one should have them and an ugly brand on her right buttock in the style of the Sun’s Birth gang. It was still healing, partially scabbed over where someone had pressed a hot iron into her flesh. She acted as if it didn’t bother her.
When Matrim waded towards them, Kelski paused, watching him a moment. He looked like a predator but there was nothing predatory in his manners. The contrast in the scene gave her momentary pause. How could men look strong and not particularly aggressive? Darvin certainly was. Her owner was as well. Kelski glanced at Bron, taking her ques from the woman. Bron wasn’t getting into the water yet, but Kelski wasn’t going to let that stop her.
Wading into the water, Kelski splashed around happily until she could sink down into the water up to her neck and grin. “I don’t have underthings, so it’s my skin or me fully dressed and I don’t want Darvin to find me with my borrowed clothing soaked.” Kelski said, indicating the neat pile she’d carefully made on top of her prized kidskin boots. Then she frolicked around, dipping her head down and putting her face under the water to splash water up and over her hair and down her back. The action looked exactly like a bird bathing, splashing in and throwing water up on her back. She laughed, carefree, and splashed some more.
Matrim looked at Bron and raised an eyebrow. He beckoned her into the water. “Did I hear her say she was a Kelvic? It explains so much.” He said, gripping his daughter’s hand and walking her backwards into the water. He kept an eye on the playful Kelvic, understanding as only a father with two precocious daughters could, that the slave had to get her delight out of her system before Kelski could actually pay attention to a lesson.
“Now Bron… there’s two things you need to learn first. We have to get you both floating, and then we have to get you both treading water. Floating isn’t hard. People naturally float. The air in our lungs help, but our bodies are very buoyant anyhow.” He kept a grip on her hand and smiled an encouragement at her. “I’ll keep a hold of you but lean back, like you are gently falling onto a soft bed, and let the water pick you up and hold you. Arch your back, spread your arms out… I’m right here if you get nervous…. But do as I say and you’ll float like a champ…” He said with a rumble, watching his daughter with pride.
Kelski, despite her play, had been listening. She moved so she could watch Matrim help Brom and did what he said, lifting her arms out to her sides perpendicular to her body and leaned back, letting her feet come off the bottom and the water hold her. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. She jerked a couple of times, losing the relaxation that came with her success and falling into the water. But she kept trying, arching her back a little more until she felt a big hand under her back, holding her up.
Matrim had moved to stand between the two young ladies… as both Kelski and Bron floated. Kelski could touch Bron’s right arm with her left one, their two limbs intertwining as they moved their arms keeping their bodies afloat. Matrim’s arms were stretched out, one cupping the small of Bron’s back, supporting her gently, the other stretched out doing the same for Kelski. He muttered encouragement to both of them.
“Good… very good… ready to learn to tread water?” He asked, gently giving them both a guiding hand back to a bit more shallow water so they could put their feet down.
