Fighting Tedium (Hope)

[Colt]

4th of spring, 515 a.v.
late morning

If there was one mercy that fate had seen fit to bestow upon him today, it was the thin crowds of the Ruby district.

The crowds were thin everywhere, really, but the Ruby district was where he had found himself in the morning, atop a somewhat irritable Akaidras and with Drelah in tow. There was a competition today, he’d heard, and a large number of people had gone to see the event at the Hunter’s allegiance. Khida had mentioned going there as well; perhaps she knew what was going on. There was a vague sense of bafflement across the bond, but nothing outright fearful or aggressive––just confusion in regards to a context Shahar knew nothing of. That could have something to do with it.

For his part, Shahar had returned to the Ruby tents with a horse and travois in search of many things. More dishes were the most immediate concern, but there were also plenty of others listed in his mind––the Dawnwhisper camp had long since outgrown its own equipment, and there was no need for them to continue improvising from scratch when there was an entire district of craftsmen not a half-hour’s ride away.

He had traveled through the Ruby district numerous times before, on commission or on the rare occasions material goods needed replacing, and so he had a vague sense of where to go for what. His first pursuit was pottery, and he knew of a small pavilion on the outskirts of the district that specialized in just that.

He lingered on the main paths, easily within reach of the camp; he had expressed his intentions the night before and Hope had put forth what he interpreted as interest. He would wait here for her, as he had agreed to do, but didn’t want to linger for too long; she would come if she came, and if she didn’t he would simply trudge through the task alone.

As he waited, he ran over the list in his mind: dishes, forks, more knives suited for cooking and eating, cups, a skillet, more baskets, a bucket, a spade, washboard, protective boxes, some sacks, more tools for grooming, tools for leatherworking, tools for preserving, herbs, a handaxe and a body sled. Some more rope wouldn’t go awry, either.

[Hope Dawnwhisper]

Hope

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As soon as the crowds lessened, Hope’s pace had sped up. Having watched Khida’s participation in the Archery Competition, Hope had woven her way through to speak to the shape-shifting huntress for a chime or two. Despite being knocked out of the first round, Hope had congratulated the other girl, stating that she was impressed by her skill. In truth, she was - it was not hard to see that using a bow well took a lot of practice and precision. She had wondered if she might be any good at it, and had mentioned this tentatively to Khida. The girl’s slight form meant that she would never be proficient at any physical combat, nor would she be particularly gifted at melee and short-ranged weapons, like a spear or a sword. The bow, however…

Learning a skill that would be helpful in defending herself was an idea that Hope liked. For too long had she been at the whims of stronger men, unable to protect herself or fight back when they took control of her life. It was something that, more and more, she wanted to change. And.. in Endrykas - a place that she as now beginning to consider her home - where could the harm be in learning to be combative against any of the many beasts that roamed the grassy lands of Cyphrus? But the conversation with Khida was cut short when Hope remembered her agreement to meet the head of their Pavilion in order to go shopping for their impending trip to Riverfall.

With a quick word of ‘goodbye’, Hope fled the contest in search of her pre-arranged meeting place with Shahar. About five chimes of journeying took place before she saw the Drykas standing beside a horse, and she slowed her pace. A wave of greeting and an apology to explain her tardiness was the first that she said to the man, “sorry, watching Khida at… bow?” The words were lost on her, but Shahar had become reasonably good at interpreting what Hope was trying to say. That and the context should be enough - no doubt he knew where his bondmate was. Through her attempt at signing, Shahar might have even been able to establish that the results were not good.

Yet he might have also been able to establish from her body language that she had found it vastly interesting. Raising a hand, the captive girl greeted the horse present with a few gentle strokes along its nose. “Know what is to get first?” She asked as she glanced over to Shahar, asking about what he had planned for their shopping trip. The previous night hadn’t been a detailed discussion of what he thought they needed, and Hope, even with her extensive travel experience, had little knowledge of how to do it properly.

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[Colt]

Shahar looked up as a familiar face appeared from the crowd and waved at him. Nodding in pleased greeting, Shahar waved back.

She had seen Khida with her bow? She must have been at the mysterious event at Hunter’s Allegiance. Shahar tilted his head with vague curiosity; he wondered what it was that had so bemused Khida, but that curiosity could wait until they had begun their task.

Apology no need, Shahar replied reassuringly. Here now, that is good.

Hope moved to greet Drelah, and Shahar wondered if he should have brought the dun along with him.

“Hope,” he said. You wish, ride? Destination nearby; if you want, get “Dainellas” and meet again? Or not, ride “Drelah?” Or walk?

There was still plenty of daylight left, and it didn’t seem fair for Shahar to ride while Hope walked. If she retrieved Dainellas, he could begin with the first items on their list of supplies. Or better yet, he could buy the next thing on the list and then they could both return to the pottery pavilion, which was closest to camp.

Spilt up, stay together, your choice. “Drelah,” pack horse, will carry much. Heavy burden. Can meet again, somewhere else; not far location.

He hoped she would understand the gist of what he meant; her Pavi had improved dramatically from when they had first found her, and there was a rhythm of communication between them that often left each party aware of the other’s thoughts. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it got them by.

[Hope Dawnwhisper]

Hope

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The smile continued and Hope inclined her head - the contest wasn’t a discussion for now. The moment that Shahar offered that she might get Dainellas, she nodded with enthusiasm. The mare had not received much attention from Hope recently, and she was also itching to get back onto the saddle again. “I like to ride.” Of course, Hope did not understand most of what Shahar said to her - it was rare that he was ever this talkative, and Hope didn’t think she’d ever heard him say as much as he did just now. It meant, however, that Hope found it much easier to get the gist of what her guardian was trying to say to her.

At his own continued perceived enthusiasm for both of them riding, Hope nodded once again. She didn't reply immediately, though, as she needed to think over how it would be the best use of the available time to get Dainellas and complete the shopping, hopefully by the time that the competition ended and the crowds began to move throughout the city again. Working it through in her mind, she knew that she had to get to the field where the yellow mare was paddocked, fiddle with the yvas (which always took her some time to fumble around before she was satisfied that she was ready to ride), and then return to Shahar. In total, she estimated just under half a chime of absence. Enough time for Shahar to do some shopping without her.

“I get Dainellas then meet you…” she glanced around, as if she might see the perfect rendez-vous point, “where?” Once she had received her answer, she nodded and parted company from the head of her Pavilion in search of the paddocks where Dainellas would be waiting. A quick detour allowed her to pick up the mare’s yvas, and then approached the mild-tempered creature who, upon recognising the captive, whiskered and approached. “Hello, Dainellas,” the girl greeted, “would you like to go for a ride today?”

Hope laughed at the horse’s snort of approval. “Well stay still for me then and I’ll get this cursed contraption on quicker so we can rejoin Shahar!” In all the many seasons since her guardian had shown her how to fix the yvas onto Dainellas, as well as how to ride upon it, Hope had still never fully gotten used to it. But she no longer needed supervision in fastening it. First, though, she rounded the mare and flung a thin sheet over her back before placing the yvas on top. Then came all the straps.. biggest first, which looped around the breast. “The rest of the world uses a saddle, only Endrykas uses yvas. The saddle is easier for man, so what’s so great about this?” she muttered to herself as she worked her way around the contraption.

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[Colt]

Hope seemed to be in emphatic agreement, displaying her emotions in Sign either consciously or unconsciously. She asked for directions, and Shahar paused. Perhaps it would be best if, instead of meeting somewhere else, she returned here and he conducted the pottery business while she was retrieving Dainellas.

“Here,” he said, indicating here with his hands. Meet again here. “If I am not here,” wait for me. He didn’t know if she would pick up the nuances of his second statement, but he trusted that, even if she hadn’t, she would figure it out when the time came. Besides, buying pottery wouldn’t take long.

Hope took her leave, and Shahar urged both Akaidras and Drelah into a fast walk. The Redstones were easy enough to find; there were four people lounging about outside with clay in their hands, and another on a pottery wheel coaxing spinning clay into the shape of an urn. They looked up as Shahar approached, intent to inquire on his shoulders. They could see well enough what he was here for.

Greetings, he signed. On of the crafters, a rather round woman with a vast mane of wild brown hair, handed off her clay and stood.

“What is it you need, friend?”

Shahar paused and summoned up the numbers in his mind. Drinking cups, seven. Bowls, four.

“That all?” I have that.

Yes.

“Want anything special about them?” Many options.

Strong, lasting.

She nodded. “Think I’ve got what you need.” Wait here.

She headed into the pavilion proper, and another potter motioned for intent to speak.

“That’ll hurt you five silvers, eight coppers,” he informed the hunter.

Understood.

After a bit of waiting, the woman emerged with a simple set of brown glazed bowls and cups. She approached Shahar and offered them for inspection. He picked up one of the cups and tested its weight, squeezing a bit. It felt stronger than the bowls the camp already possess, which was a good sign. He tested one of the bowls in her arms and discovered the same.

Very good, pleased. He retrieved five silvers from his purse, and, not particularly interested in counting out eight coppers, simply added a sixth. He showed the woman the money, and she nodded in thanks and set the pottery on the travois. The money changed hands, and the two of them parted ways.

He made sure to tie the pottery down securely so that it wouldn’t jostle and buck, which took more time than he would have liked. When the task was done, he moved back towards the rendezvous point to wait for Hope.

[Hope Dawnwhisper]

Hope

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Once the breast strap was secured to Hope’s satisfaction, the young woman took a step back to stare at the rest, trying to remember which would fit which buckle. The issue was that each of the remaining once could easily fit inside any of the buckles left; they were all the same size. Trying to think back to her lessons, back to Shahar’s teachings as well as her own experiences of making mistakes, she decided that she would follow the seams, and work out from that which direction of travel each loop should take. Warning the horse to remain still, Hope reached under and threaded the strap through her hand, allowing it to go taught naturally and using that as its direction of travel.

Smiling to herself, she pulled it up and pushed it through the buckle. It was Dainellas’ startles jump and snort that old Hope that she had pulled it too tight and a quick apology as she loosened it was all the mare needed. “At least it wasn’t your hoof this time.” Hope muttered under her breath, remembering back to when she had carelessly du a hoof-pick in too deeply, causing the horse substantial pain and discomfort. Luckily they yellow mare had a deep vat of patience and forgiveness, which was definitely needed around one such as the ex-slave.

Fastening the final buckle in place, Hope stepped back to admire her work, surprised at how quickly it had gone. “I think that’s good, wouldn’t you agree, Dainellas?” The horse whinnied in approval and stamped her foot to the ground, clearly eager to go. The girl giggled and approached the mare. Now for the tricky bit - mounting. Dainellas wasn’t a big horse, not compared with Akaidras, or some of the other Drykas; Striders, at least… but Hope wasn’t a big girl, and the yvas was not as simple as a normal saddle. It took three attempts before Hope was sitting comfortably in the seat.

Allowing Dainellas a bit of exercise, she guided the horse through a longer route than the one that she had originally taken to reach the paddock. Thankfully, most of the city remained emptied as people were still competing in, or spectating, the Archery, and Hope carefully avoided that area of the city. Upon returning to their meeting-point, however, Hope could not see her guardian. “Must be done with close jobs…” she reverted to the local language, lest a passer by be offended by the more crude tongue of her homeland, but she frowned, wondering what she was supposed to do. Turning the horse, she wandered around the vicinity, craning her head to try to spot the Drykas, but she did not see him emerging from any tents. five chimes later, she found herself returning to the same spot, where she saw him waiting. Colour flushed her cheeks, “Sorry. Not know where the wait is. Sorry.”

OOCAww, wonder if she'll ever get over her apologetic nature :3

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[Colt]

Shahar returned to the agreed upon location, then dismounted to check the state of the pottery. They had held up perfectly during the trip. Shahar was pleased. There was nothing more to do but settle in to wait.

Hope returned in short order, securely atop Dainellas. She blushed when she saw him, uttering a confused apology that had Shahar tilting his head in bemusement.

No need apology, here you found me. “It’s alright.” Reassurance. He seemed to use reassurance quite a bit towards Hope.

Turning back to Akaidras, Shahar took hold of his strider’s mane and leaped back into the yvas.

“More,” he said. This way. Coaxing the stallion into a slow walk, Shahar clicked for Drelah to follow.

What was next? Garthos Supply was not far, and specialized in the movement of general tools of all sorts from the pavilions that made them into the hands of those that needed them. It would surely have many of the items they needed.

With the course decided, Shahar brought Akaidras abreast of Dainellas so he could talk to Hope.

“Archery,” he said. No, she might not know that one. “Bow?” He mimed shooting an arrow, like he had seen his bondmate do. “Khida, Ru… Naiya, you? You go, see?” Frustration with self, insufficient words. Shooting bow, you go to see?

[Tribal]

G R A D E S

Shahar Dawnwhisper

Experience

• Planning: 1
• Organisation: 1
• Rhetoric: 1
• Socialisation: 1
• Riding, Horse: 1
• Acting: 1
• Animal Husbandry: 1

Lore

• Hope's understanding of Pavi is improving slowly
• Observation: Checking pottery for quality

Notes

Short and sweet! Enjoy the rewards.