New Arc's Eve
Posted: Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:21 am
93rd Trial of Zi'da during Arc 716
The dawn would bring with it a new arc. If she were at home, they would be celebrating by eating and drinking, sitting on the deck of the boat and sharing stories and songs. She smiled as she thought of that, walking to the tree she looked up at the late afternoon sky. It was clear, and bloody freezing. Vega picked a star she couldn't see, but which she knew was there even in the light and touched her index finger to her mouth, her forehead and her chest. "કએઝઝબ ૭ઌળમકઈએબ, ઊએમકઇળ" she whispered in the Rakahi language. She'd agreed to meet Arlo here, the irritating but quite handy young farm boy who she'd met a few trials before. In fairness, he'd been a good sport when they met and went hunting and he gave as good as he got in terms of banter. That was very much the Biqaj way of being and it was a welcome break from the sheer wall of polite that was here. She'd never met so many polite people.
It was unnerving.
So, they'd agreed to meet here at his tree, with the aim of collecting some wood and stuff before the real cold of Cylus dropped in. She'd purchased a few things in preparation and she had, of course, her bow slung at her back and her longsword buckled at her waist. Her clothing was the same as it had been before, with one noticeable exception. On her head was a warm, woolen hat with flaps which covered her ears and which tied beneath her chin. It was thick and warm and she had to admit that it did work. She wore it, unashamedly, under the hood of her cloak. She had a bag slung over her shoulder, as always, which contained all her belongings.
"Ibiti sarkin," Vega grinned at him, sitting in the tree and she had to readjust her previous assessment. He wasn't swinging his legs and he still looked twelve. "That means 'good trial' in Xanthea, I've been taught. I know that and thank you, so if you're fluent, don't go further. How are you?" She didn't mention the hat, not because she didn't want to but because, in fairness, she thought he'd earned the right to raise the topic himself, all things considered. "So, I brought a sack to carry things in. Did you bring rope and stuff, like you said?"
As he joined her on the floor, Vega said, calmly, "Catch," and flicked a silver coin to him, watching it spin. "It's the eve of the new arc. Biqaj tradition is that you gift somene younger than you something that shines, before the darkness falls. Silver is best, it's like our blood. So happy eve of the new arc, Arlo." Bright green eyes regarded him and she gestured to the forest. "એઠઠ ૧ઌ૮કઇ૮, ૭એળ શરઇ," she said, the Rakahi language clearly very different to the Xanthea word she had spoken early. "It means, 'all wishes, bar one.' That's what we wish each other. All your wishes next arc, bar one. Keep that for the arc after. Do you have traditions for the new arc?" Vega glanced and raised a slightly skeptical eyebrow.
It was unnerving.
So, they'd agreed to meet here at his tree, with the aim of collecting some wood and stuff before the real cold of Cylus dropped in. She'd purchased a few things in preparation and she had, of course, her bow slung at her back and her longsword buckled at her waist. Her clothing was the same as it had been before, with one noticeable exception. On her head was a warm, woolen hat with flaps which covered her ears and which tied beneath her chin. It was thick and warm and she had to admit that it did work. She wore it, unashamedly, under the hood of her cloak. She had a bag slung over her shoulder, as always, which contained all her belongings.
"Ibiti sarkin," Vega grinned at him, sitting in the tree and she had to readjust her previous assessment. He wasn't swinging his legs and he still looked twelve. "That means 'good trial' in Xanthea, I've been taught. I know that and thank you, so if you're fluent, don't go further. How are you?" She didn't mention the hat, not because she didn't want to but because, in fairness, she thought he'd earned the right to raise the topic himself, all things considered. "So, I brought a sack to carry things in. Did you bring rope and stuff, like you said?"
As he joined her on the floor, Vega said, calmly, "Catch," and flicked a silver coin to him, watching it spin. "It's the eve of the new arc. Biqaj tradition is that you gift somene younger than you something that shines, before the darkness falls. Silver is best, it's like our blood. So happy eve of the new arc, Arlo." Bright green eyes regarded him and she gestured to the forest. "એઠઠ ૧ઌ૮કઇ૮, ૭એળ શરઇ," she said, the Rakahi language clearly very different to the Xanthea word she had spoken early. "It means, 'all wishes, bar one.' That's what we wish each other. All your wishes next arc, bar one. Keep that for the arc after. Do you have traditions for the new arc?" Vega glanced and raised a slightly skeptical eyebrow.
Off Topic
કએઝઝબ ૭ઌળમકઈએબ, ઊએમકઇળ = "Happy birthday, father"
20gn for the bottle of whisky (she'll pull that out later) + 1 gn for the hat deducted from ledger + 1sn for traditional gift.
20gn for the bottle of whisky (she'll pull that out later) + 1 gn for the hat deducted from ledger + 1sn for traditional gift.