1629, Fire Season, Likely Illusion Week
Context
Mellia is staying with Silor, at the Cinder Fox house. Session S.5-W-17.
Events
It is evening. It is now official that Varanis has a tame Wolf Pirate. Jengharl, arriving to be in Wilmskirk so his father can be in the Cinder Fox tula, has gone to his room in disgust. Silor comes to Mellia to ask, “White Lady, do you have anything to sooth a pained son?”
Mellia asks, “Which son? I may be able to help Venlar. Jengharl is going to be harder to help.”
“Venlar is soothed merely by your presence. He seems fine today, if a little taken by a new song he is writing. Jengharl is the patient.”
Mellia sighs. “I can tell Jengharl that Pallya will be bound by a Humakti Oath. I can remind your son that adding to the dead will not cure anything. None of this will do any good if he doesn’t listen. I wish Irillo was here.”
“I think perhaps I’ll let Venlar or Habela try.” His oldest daughter is helping keep the house for the week. “Truth Week seems to be a time for unfortunate arguments and rigid points of view.”
“Annoying, isn’t it? Tell Habela to bring snacks with her. That’s one of Irillo’s tricks.”
“Oh, yes. Feed someone and put them into your debt. I should do that more. Tell me, are you hungry?”
Mellia laughs. “I don’t get hungry all the time now. I could nibble something, true. Thank you, Father.”
“I’ll have something fetched.” Silor does just that, before sitting down to join Mellia. “This pea paste is really good.” He is suprised. “And apparently it is also not a vegetable, which might be important in the near future. Yamia may be bringing home a Humakti friend, and the care and feeding of warriors is a tricky business.”
Mellia tries the paste. “This is very good! Humakti can be very hard to feed. Somehow Berra always managed to eat.”
“She made it more difficult again lately, as I recalls. No eggs or bird-meat. I think she has mushrooms, fruit, and cheese left to go.”
“Poor Berra. That’s getting pretty bad. I have never heard of someone being forbidden to eat cheese and I nearly lived on mushrooms when I studied with the trolls.”
“Cheese would be interesting. Which god? Goddess? Ernalda, perhaps? Cow-daughter Uralda?” Silor muses. “Would they give such commands?”
“I don’t think so, but my daughter tells me that the tribes of Prax are forbidden to eat their tribal animals. By the way, how is my daughter doing with your herds?”
“Ah. I thought that was a preference. Raided food tastes better. We all know that. Jengharl has not… complained about her, but he would be the man to ask. Perhaps if Habela fails I’ll have some light conversation.”
Mellia nods. “I may go ask him. Children grow so quickly. Soon she will ask Eiritha Herd-Mother to accept her.”
Silor sighs. “My family gets older, and expands, and grows. Part of the problem, of course, is that I call Varanis my child now. Jeng’s expected to do the same, and that was unexpected to him. He’d have handled it well but for the Dog Pirate.”
“I can understand Jengharl being upset. Maybe I should tell him about the Healer of Wildrock Woods.”
“If you think so. Habela’s a good friend to him, however – and perhaps all he needs is time.” Silor shrugs. “It is the Orlanthi way to show emotion.”
Mellia nods again. “I don’t know if it’s wise to tell Jengharl that story, for all he needs to remember the moral. Varanis was quite shocked when I told her.”
“He probably feels … would probably feel a little awkward about feeling persuaded.” Silor shrugs it off. “Habela, or… I don’t know. I could check how Aelna is.” For all he shrugged it off, he is back into it instantly.
Mellia replies, “That sounds like a good idea, Father. If you do that, please give her my best wishes.”
“Oh, I came here with an errand, now I think of it. Little Friend Thenaya wants to know if you have enough cushions and blankets. I think that means that she wants me to show care for you, but she could just be nesting.” The big man looks fond.
Mellia beams. “I have plenty of both. I might need another blanket for Dark Season.” She sighs. “I hope the king doesn’t suddenly decide she needs to see me.”
“Farinst is doing a splendid job of keeping him busy,” Silor opines. “So much was ruled on in his absence and we are now making sure that it was all correct. The King’s rather surprised by it, but whatever Farnist is up to, he’s… up to it. An open, honest face, and a mind like a skirmish line, that one.”
Mellia chuckles. “I meant Kallyr, but I am glad Farinst is managing Vamastal. Have you seen his muscles?”
Silor taps his forehead with his fingertips to show his mind is weak. “I think he oils them. Vamastal, not Farinst. He is a lot less impressive now that it is not Sartar’s Day, but it was a high peak, and even the foothills are mighty.”
“Ah, so his abdominal muscles no longer look like storm clouds? I fear he’s gone on too many hero quests.”
“It was his third or fourth which gave him his grey skin and his outlook.” Silor considers what to mop up next, having eaten much of what he ordered to be brought. “He can see the future, they say. He does not put it quite like that. Given my family’s luck with soothsayers, I try to stay away.”
“I quite agree with you,” says Mellia. “I can do without big omens at the birth of the twins.”
Silor grimaces. “You’ve got a blessing on you. Time it for a day that is to do with peace and harmony, if you can. I’m sure the Ernaldans would love to explain how wrong I am, but I’m certain you can do that.
Mellia giggles. She eats one last pickle and gets up. “I shall look into that. Good luck, Father.”
Silor reaches for one more clearwine grape himself, an expensive treat that is courtesy of neighbours who heard about the raiding.
