1629, Fire Season, Stasis Week, Waterday
Context
After the judgement is passed, Nayale found herself reporting to Ornkarth again. When she’s done, she goes in search of Berra. Session SO5.11.
Events
The young Humakti scowls at anyone who so much as glances her way.
Berra is in her tent. She may be coming to terms with her renewed status as a pauper, or she may just be reserving her strength. Anyone who knows her will be aware of how little she uses the tent, which would add to the mystery if only Nayale had travelled with her before. A folded boarhide is big enough to shelter her, and usually does, but the tent has been pitched since their arrival here.
Nayale claps outside the tent.
There is a pause, and movement, and then Berra asks, “Who?”
“Nayale.”
“Stand back. Coming out.” Berra pulls at a couple of ties, glances out and around, and then steps out, standing as she comes. “Sup?” The Wyter Priest is wearing simple palely dyed clothes, and two swords.
“I’ve just come from talking to him.” The unique blend of distaste, confusion, and frustration in the final word leave little doubt as to who she means.
“And now you need to go puke in the…” Berra relents and does not finish her question. “Alright. And?”
“I think he’s going to report on all this to whoever he answers to. He’ll find an excuse or make one and then he’ll go to Fazzur or something.”
“Uhuh.” Berra tilts her head. “He doesn’t report to many people, but yeah, probably. So what?”
“We should know what he says and to whom.”
Berra narrows her eyes, and says nothing more, but is obviously thinking that through.
Nayale shifts impatiently from one foot to the other. Her shoulders are tight.
“So, you’re saying, I think, that you want to go with him? And show your face to his allies?” Berra might be half guessing.
She nods. “Sort of. I don’t want to, but I could go with him. See what he does and who he talks to and then report back to you. He’d be willing to have me, I think. He wants to try to convince me about the Lunar way or something. It won’t work. Too many … no. He won’t sway me, but it would amuse him to try.” It comes out in a rush, as if saying it quickly will make it easier.
Berra gives Nayale a flat look. “You’d only get to talk to the people he cared to have you talk to, and you wouldn’t learn anything he didn’t let you learn. And you’d have to keep talking to him, without me to talk to about what he was saying.”
“Not saying it’d be easy,” Nayale argues. “But shouldn’t we make an effort to keep track of him?”
“What wouldn’t we be doing, if we did that?” Berra seems to have that answer ready already, like it’s a stock thing to ask.
The younger Humakti considers her answer. “If by we, you mean you and me, then you wouldn’t be teaching me in person or having to…” She pauses, then skips over whatever point she was about to make. “I wouldn’t be guarding the caravan or Lord Irillo. So, he’d have to let me go from his service.”
“And I’d be down a rider, and we’ll be lacking flexibility where we go.”
“But… I’m extra anyway. You weren’t planning on me being here,” Nayale argues.
“Alright, but I wasn’t planning on coming across…” Berra looks around, and continues a little lower, “…a conspiracy with the Demivierge of Rhigos in it. We’d be going home now if it wasn’t for that.”
“But am I actually useful to you? So far, I have embarrassed you in front the Grazelanders and caused you to have to pay an enormous fine and been one more person for you to look after! Maybe if I go with him, I can actually do something that matters for you.”
Berra blinks. “Uh, the fine was me.” She seems genuinely amazed by that.
“But,” Nayale starts to argue, then bites her lip.1Berra fails Insight Human[/footnote]
“Spit it out…” Berra suggests.
After a long hesitation, Nayale says, “I presented testimony against you.”
Berra gives Nayale the same flat look as before, but this time with raised brows. “Was it the truth you said?”
“Yes, but…”
“So it should be out? And I stepped forward and did the same?” Berra’s expression intensifies.
“But… you wouldn’t have known what happened if it weren’t for me. No one would have,” Nayale protests.
“Ornkarth was there. At least, enough to say where I was getting taken off to.” Berra shrugs. “And I was pretty sure I’d killed people in the ford. And – and this is important, it was the truth.”
“It’s not fair that you have to pay so much! It was Lunar magic. And if I hadn’t stepped in, then some Lunars would have been killed by the magic they were transporting to hurt others!”
“Yeah, well. I’ll get to take more ransoms. I’ve got that money because of the war, pretty much – fought people, been rewarded. Done big things. Right now I’ve got a big chunk of iron with me because I travelled with a caravan as an escort, and I wouldn’t have that unless the Lunars had invaded. I’d probably be a Vingan in a village guard and nobody’s have heard my name. We can’t help what didn’t happen.”
Nayale drops Berra’s gaze. “I’ll go where you tell me, Lady Berra. And,” she looks at her mentor again, “I will serve you, the Hero, and Humakt better. If following Ornkarth is not the way to do that, then so be it.”
“It’s really not. The way to do it is to stick with me, right now. I’ll send you away if I have to – you’re my best galloper by far. But, another thing – you said something about me looking after you? Being another person for me to look after?”
“Yes?”
“What’s wrong with that? I’m your commander? It’s my job to do that.”
Nayale’s brows furrow as she considers the question. “I serve you, Lady Berra. You’re the priest for the Hero I worship and you should be served by people who make your tasks easier, not add to your burdens.” Then she says something that comes out a bit stilted, as if she’s repeating a thing she’s been told. “It is my duty to support my superiors.”
“So, yeah, but it’s my duty to look after you, too. It’s not a burden, unless you’re saying duty is?” Berra gives Nayale a look of genuine confusion.
The young Humakti looks troubled. “But Orn…” She cuts herself off with a quick shake of her head. “Duty is not a burden. It’s a prayer of sorts. I’m glad I serve you, Lady Berra. You are wise. Thank you.”
Berra gives yet another variety of flat look. “He’s shown you silver again, hasn’t he? There’s some truth in what he says, but you don’t have to try to support me quite so hard. I can ask for help, and if you have suggestions you can make them, but you don’t have to do everything.”
A flush creeps into Nayale’s cheeks. “As you say, Lady.”
“Never tell me I’m being burdened by looking after people,” Berra says gently. “Now, have you eaten? Did you come straight here?”
“I ate, then came here. Irillo always has something around for the morning meal.”
Berra nods. “I haven’t. I should go deal with that. Meantime, how about you think about the thing I didn’t mention yet – have you really embarrassed me in front of anyone, or did you just think you did because you want to do better?”
This question flummoxes the young Narri. She stares at Berra with no answer forthcoming. Thankfully, an immediate answer is not expected anyway.
Berra smiles, almost happily. “You meditate on that, maybe just chew it over. Ask other people if you have to – but not Ornkarth.” She breaks eye contact then, to look down at her swords and check the straps are all in good order before she sets off.
Nayale takes up position by the now empty tent, guarding it as she thinks.
- 1
