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A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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<blockquote data-quote="ellinor" data-source="post: 4764566" data-attributes="member: 14561"><p><strong>1x04</strong></p><p></p><p>It was a considerable understatement to say that as Jan Kormick strode into the hall, his stark white robes were conspicuous. Even more conspicuous were the two warhammers he wore by his side. But most conspicuous of all was the enormous silver holy symbol around his neck: the symbol of the Justicars. The hall became noticeably quieter as several partygoers stopped to stare. </p><p></p><p>Kormick picked up a canapé and poured himself a glass of punch. </p><p></p><p>After some time, a woman in a black robe and a silver clasp in the shape of a Justicar’s symbol approached Kormick, penetrating the ring of empty space that had formed around him.</p><p></p><p>“I am Intransigent the Just di Vitanni”, said the woman. </p><p></p><p>“Aah, Kettenek’s justice be upon you, brother*,” said Kormick, his mouth still half full of canapé.</p><p></p><p>“And upon you,” she nodded. “And how are you known?”</p><p></p><p>Kormick took a slug of punch. “They call me Kormick the Compromiser.” </p><p></p><p>“Kormick the Com. . .” Intransigent looked lost. “I am afraid I do not understand.”</p><p></p><p>“Aah, there is much not to understand, my friend,” said Kormick. “You see, I am here on a brief visit from Dar Und. Justice is new to Dar Und, and we are still only learning the ways of Kettenek. Our justice is as a flower, growing from rock.”</p><p></p><p>Intransigent squinted. “A what? Doing what?”</p><p></p><p>“You know the way a seed can find its way into a seemingly barren crag of rock and sprout forth with life? It takes advantage of the tiny crevices where the rock doesn’t hold together well and flourishes there. Such is the growth of Justice in Dar Und. Sometimes the pressure of the expanding roots can even split the rock asunder.”</p><p></p><p>Intransigent gaped at Kormick. “Church dogma,” she said, “holds that <strong>Justice</strong> is a rock.”</p><p></p><p>Kormick shrugged. “Kormick the Compromiser, you see?”</p><p></p><p>Intransigent tipped her head. “I do not wonder why brothers Rigid the Just and Feldspar the Just wished to leave their posts in Dar Und.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, Rigid and Feldspar. Good men, good men,” Kormick replied. “But they really don’t understand Dar Und . . . ”</p><p></p><p>###</p><p></p><p>Tavi jumped slightly as a hand draped over his neck and shoulders and voice like velvet appeared near his ear. “Hi, Tavi.”</p><p></p><p>Rose was only a few feet away, chatting amiably with a group of their peers from the other noble houses. </p><p></p><p>The hand on Tavi’s shoulder belonged to Dianora di Infusino, Savina’s older sister. The arm attached to it belonged to her, too, as did the <strong>truly</strong> impressive amount of décolletage she was displaying. </p><p></p><p>She swung around to face him, leaving one hand by his ear. “It’s good to see you. You know, we haven’t seen nearly enough of each other lately.” She tossed her hair gently. “Really. I mean, you and I, Pol Henna’s two most <em>eligible</em> singles, and we haven’t even had so much as a picnic.”</p><p></p><p>Tavi forced his eyes up to her face. “That’s true . . . ” he managed, as non-committally as he could.</p><p></p><p>“What do you say, after this lovely affair quiets down, we find a nice place to visit?” She suggested. “After all,” she added “one does not buy fruit at market without sampling it first; it wouldn’t make sense to take a different approach to marriage, would it?”</p><p></p><p>Tavi swallowed surreptitiously. “I . . . can’t say I had ever thought about it in quite that way.” </p><p></p><p>She smiled at him and sashayed away with a sidelong nod, trailing one hand along Tavi’s left arm.</p><p></p><p>Phoebe plunked herself down on Tavi’s wrist. <em><span style="color: Magenta">Bored now</span></em>.</p><p></p><p>###</p><p></p><p>As Twiggy paused to clean her glasses, a small brown mouse poked its nose up from its hiding place in her bosom. <span style="color: Sienna">It is <em>very</em> loud in here</span>, it thought at her.</p><p></p><p><em>Yes, Acorn, it is. Best stay down where it’s quieter.</em></p><p></p><p>Acorn poked up again, briefly. <span style="color: Sienna">And who is going to clean up all of this mess? Look! There is mud over there, and empty cups there, and crumbs <em>everywhere</em>. Don’t these people realize we have to live here? </span></p><p></p><p><em>The servants will have a late night tonight. And we will, too. You should be sure to rest up. </em></p><p></p><p><span style="color: sienna">All right, Chelesta</span>, he said, using Twiggy’s given name. <span style="color: sienna">But I don’t know how anyone could be expected to rest with all this noise . . . </span></p><p></p><p>Their internal dialog was interrupted by the approach of an imposing man, whom Twiggy recognized as Rose’s uncle (Giovanna’s brother), Marco di Vittani. </p><p></p><p>He sneered. “You. Halfbreed.”</p><p></p><p>“Signor di Vittani,” Twiggy replied, “are you speaking to me?”</p><p></p><p>“Who else would I be speaking to? Your rat?” </p><p></p><p><span style="color: sienna">I’m not a rat!</span></p><p></p><p><em>I know, Acorn—</em></p><p></p><p><span style="color: sienna">Chelesta, tell him I am <em>not</em> a rat.</span></p><p></p><p><em>Not now, Acorn—</em></p><p></p><p>Marco stepped in closer to Twiggy, close enough for her to smell the wine on his breath. “I know your secret,” he whispered to her.</p><p></p><p>Twiggy’s stomach clenched. But rather than let it show, she put on an airy smile and breezily said, “Oh, do you?” </p><p></p><p>Marco was taken aback. Whatever reaction he’d been expecting, that wasn’t it. “Wh . . . yes. And I wouldn’t be so cavalier about it if I were you.”</p><p></p><p>Twiggy tipped her head. “Signor di Vittani, I’m quite sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I can’t imagine what you could want from me.”</p><p></p><p>“What I want?” Marco humphed. “It’s more like what <strong>you</strong> want, if you want your precious di Raprezzi family to stay in power.” He paused. “I’m not stupid, you know.”</p><p></p><p>In point of fact, Marco di Vittani was infamously stupid; Twiggy, fortunately, knew better than to bring that up. “I would never dream of suggesting that you were.” </p><p></p><p>“Well,” Marco insisted, “you’d better watch yourself. Because I can hurt you any time I want.” He stepped even closer to Twiggy, sneering down at her. “Funny. I didn’t think your father had the stomach to give it to a pointy-ear. But then, I guess he can stomach giving it to my sister . . . ” He turned on his heel and stalked off.</p><p></p><p>Twiggy stared after him as he left.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: sienna">Chelesta, I think he thinks that Dante is your father,</span> Acorn said.</p><p></p><p><em>I think so too, Acorn.</em></p><p></p><p><span style="color: sienna">But that’s not your secret. It isn’t even true.</span></p><p></p><p>Twiggy smiled. <em>I know, Acorn. I know . . .</em></p><p></p><p>###</p><p></p><p>Not one to break his word, Tavi crossed the floor to find Bianca for her promised dance, but his aunt, Mariela di Raprezzi (Dante’s sister) stopped him, not too far from where Rose stood talking to Twiggy. </p><p></p><p>“Tavi! If you have a moment, I want to chat with you.”</p><p></p><p>Tavi stopped. <span style="color: Magenta">Oh, come ON! It’s almost like so much keeps happening, we’re never gonna get to DO anything.</span></p><p></p><p>“Tavi,” Mariela continued, putting her arm around him, “I’d like you to consider marrying my daughter Mercedes . . .”</p><p></p><p><em>Oh, gods no . . .</em> Tavi thought.</p><p></p><p>“I’m sure you can see why it would be a good match. It would put an end to all the pressure on you to find a bride, it will surely be good for you children’s arcane powers, and – I have to be honest – I really would like to see Mercedes gain some more status in the family. And we already know that . . .”</p><p></p><p>Acorn had been eavesdropping. He looked up at Twiggy, whiskers twitching. <span style="color: Sienna">Did you hear that? <em>She</em> wants <em>him</em> to marry . . .</span></p><p></p><p>So had Twiggy. <em>Yes, Acorn. Although it should not be so much of a surprise. The family has a long tradition of marrying inside, to maintain arcane strength, and secrecy. It’s only recently that . . . ooh, listen.</em></p><p></p><p>Tavi replied. “You know as well as anyone that any decisions about my marrying will be made by your mother.”</p><p></p><p>“I do.” Mariela patted him on the shoulder. “But a gentle suggestion from you wouldn’t go amiss.”</p><p></p><p>“Um . . .” Tavi began to excuse himself, just in time to see Bianca walk out the door. The party was beginning to wind down.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: Magenta">Darn it! Now we’re never even going to get a chance to dance,</span> Phoebe thought.</p><p></p><p>Tavi smiled to himself. <em>Don’t worry, Pheebs. That just means that the real excitement is about to get started…”</em></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 9px"><em>* “Brother” is, of course, the correct form of address for any Justicar, male or female. Members of any sects devoted to the male gods (Kettenek and Ehkt) are addressed by male pronouns, regardless of actual gender, just as members of any sect devoted to the female gods (Alirria and Sedellus) are addressed by female pronouns. </em></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ellinor, post: 4764566, member: 14561"] [b]1x04[/b] It was a considerable understatement to say that as Jan Kormick strode into the hall, his stark white robes were conspicuous. Even more conspicuous were the two warhammers he wore by his side. But most conspicuous of all was the enormous silver holy symbol around his neck: the symbol of the Justicars. The hall became noticeably quieter as several partygoers stopped to stare. Kormick picked up a canapé and poured himself a glass of punch. After some time, a woman in a black robe and a silver clasp in the shape of a Justicar’s symbol approached Kormick, penetrating the ring of empty space that had formed around him. “I am Intransigent the Just di Vitanni”, said the woman. “Aah, Kettenek’s justice be upon you, brother*,” said Kormick, his mouth still half full of canapé. “And upon you,” she nodded. “And how are you known?” Kormick took a slug of punch. “They call me Kormick the Compromiser.” “Kormick the Com. . .” Intransigent looked lost. “I am afraid I do not understand.” “Aah, there is much not to understand, my friend,” said Kormick. “You see, I am here on a brief visit from Dar Und. Justice is new to Dar Und, and we are still only learning the ways of Kettenek. Our justice is as a flower, growing from rock.” Intransigent squinted. “A what? Doing what?” “You know the way a seed can find its way into a seemingly barren crag of rock and sprout forth with life? It takes advantage of the tiny crevices where the rock doesn’t hold together well and flourishes there. Such is the growth of Justice in Dar Und. Sometimes the pressure of the expanding roots can even split the rock asunder.” Intransigent gaped at Kormick. “Church dogma,” she said, “holds that [b]Justice[/b] is a rock.” Kormick shrugged. “Kormick the Compromiser, you see?” Intransigent tipped her head. “I do not wonder why brothers Rigid the Just and Feldspar the Just wished to leave their posts in Dar Und.” “Yes, Rigid and Feldspar. Good men, good men,” Kormick replied. “But they really don’t understand Dar Und . . . ” ### Tavi jumped slightly as a hand draped over his neck and shoulders and voice like velvet appeared near his ear. “Hi, Tavi.” Rose was only a few feet away, chatting amiably with a group of their peers from the other noble houses. The hand on Tavi’s shoulder belonged to Dianora di Infusino, Savina’s older sister. The arm attached to it belonged to her, too, as did the [b]truly[/b] impressive amount of décolletage she was displaying. She swung around to face him, leaving one hand by his ear. “It’s good to see you. You know, we haven’t seen nearly enough of each other lately.” She tossed her hair gently. “Really. I mean, you and I, Pol Henna’s two most [i]eligible[/i] singles, and we haven’t even had so much as a picnic.” Tavi forced his eyes up to her face. “That’s true . . . ” he managed, as non-committally as he could. “What do you say, after this lovely affair quiets down, we find a nice place to visit?” She suggested. “After all,” she added “one does not buy fruit at market without sampling it first; it wouldn’t make sense to take a different approach to marriage, would it?” Tavi swallowed surreptitiously. “I . . . can’t say I had ever thought about it in quite that way.” She smiled at him and sashayed away with a sidelong nod, trailing one hand along Tavi’s left arm. Phoebe plunked herself down on Tavi’s wrist. [i][COLOR="Magenta"]Bored now[/COLOR][/i]. ### As Twiggy paused to clean her glasses, a small brown mouse poked its nose up from its hiding place in her bosom. [COLOR="Sienna"]It is [i]very[/i] loud in here[/COLOR], it thought at her. [i]Yes, Acorn, it is. Best stay down where it’s quieter.[/i] Acorn poked up again, briefly. [COLOR="Sienna"]And who is going to clean up all of this mess? Look! There is mud over there, and empty cups there, and crumbs [i]everywhere[/i]. Don’t these people realize we have to live here? [/COLOR] [i]The servants will have a late night tonight. And we will, too. You should be sure to rest up. [/i] [COLOR="sienna"]All right, Chelesta[/COLOR], he said, using Twiggy’s given name. [COLOR="sienna"]But I don’t know how anyone could be expected to rest with all this noise . . . [/COLOR] Their internal dialog was interrupted by the approach of an imposing man, whom Twiggy recognized as Rose’s uncle (Giovanna’s brother), Marco di Vittani. He sneered. “You. Halfbreed.” “Signor di Vittani,” Twiggy replied, “are you speaking to me?” “Who else would I be speaking to? Your rat?” [COLOR="sienna"]I’m not a rat![/COLOR] [i]I know, Acorn—[/i] [COLOR="sienna"]Chelesta, tell him I am [i]not[/i] a rat.[/COLOR] [i]Not now, Acorn—[/i] Marco stepped in closer to Twiggy, close enough for her to smell the wine on his breath. “I know your secret,” he whispered to her. Twiggy’s stomach clenched. But rather than let it show, she put on an airy smile and breezily said, “Oh, do you?” Marco was taken aback. Whatever reaction he’d been expecting, that wasn’t it. “Wh . . . yes. And I wouldn’t be so cavalier about it if I were you.” Twiggy tipped her head. “Signor di Vittani, I’m quite sure I don’t know what you’re talking about. And I can’t imagine what you could want from me.” “What I want?” Marco humphed. “It’s more like what [b]you[/b] want, if you want your precious di Raprezzi family to stay in power.” He paused. “I’m not stupid, you know.” In point of fact, Marco di Vittani was infamously stupid; Twiggy, fortunately, knew better than to bring that up. “I would never dream of suggesting that you were.” “Well,” Marco insisted, “you’d better watch yourself. Because I can hurt you any time I want.” He stepped even closer to Twiggy, sneering down at her. “Funny. I didn’t think your father had the stomach to give it to a pointy-ear. But then, I guess he can stomach giving it to my sister . . . ” He turned on his heel and stalked off. Twiggy stared after him as he left. [COLOR="sienna"]Chelesta, I think he thinks that Dante is your father,[/COLOR] Acorn said. [i]I think so too, Acorn.[/i] [COLOR="sienna"]But that’s not your secret. It isn’t even true.[/COLOR] Twiggy smiled. [i]I know, Acorn. I know . . .[/i] ### Not one to break his word, Tavi crossed the floor to find Bianca for her promised dance, but his aunt, Mariela di Raprezzi (Dante’s sister) stopped him, not too far from where Rose stood talking to Twiggy. “Tavi! If you have a moment, I want to chat with you.” Tavi stopped. [COLOR="Magenta"]Oh, come ON! It’s almost like so much keeps happening, we’re never gonna get to DO anything.[/COLOR] “Tavi,” Mariela continued, putting her arm around him, “I’d like you to consider marrying my daughter Mercedes . . .” [i]Oh, gods no . . .[/i] Tavi thought. “I’m sure you can see why it would be a good match. It would put an end to all the pressure on you to find a bride, it will surely be good for you children’s arcane powers, and – I have to be honest – I really would like to see Mercedes gain some more status in the family. And we already know that . . .” Acorn had been eavesdropping. He looked up at Twiggy, whiskers twitching. [COLOR="Sienna"]Did you hear that? [i]She[/i] wants [i]him[/i] to marry . . .[/COLOR] So had Twiggy. [i]Yes, Acorn. Although it should not be so much of a surprise. The family has a long tradition of marrying inside, to maintain arcane strength, and secrecy. It’s only recently that . . . ooh, listen.[/i] Tavi replied. “You know as well as anyone that any decisions about my marrying will be made by your mother.” “I do.” Mariela patted him on the shoulder. “But a gentle suggestion from you wouldn’t go amiss.” “Um . . .” Tavi began to excuse himself, just in time to see Bianca walk out the door. The party was beginning to wind down. [COLOR="Magenta"]Darn it! Now we’re never even going to get a chance to dance,[/COLOR] Phoebe thought. Tavi smiled to himself. [i]Don’t worry, Pheebs. That just means that the real excitement is about to get started…”[/i] [size="1"][i]* “Brother” is, of course, the correct form of address for any Justicar, male or female. Members of any sects devoted to the male gods (Kettenek and Ehkt) are addressed by male pronouns, regardless of actual gender, just as members of any sect devoted to the female gods (Alirria and Sedellus) are addressed by female pronouns. [/i][/size] [/QUOTE]
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A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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