Rystil Arden said:
"I do not know any more. I am the proverbial sand-mole out of the burrow in this place...In my land, what has occurred is not a crime at all...one wonders how they procreate here if such is a crime...In any case, I will follow your lead on the matter."
Oirhandir walked with Elise and Lasair behind Sunny and the guards. He spoke his thoughts to the women, staying just in earshot of Sunny.
"Well, I still don't know if a crime occurred at all. Violate (and at this word he lowered his voice so that passers-by wouldn't hear)
is a word that conjures up specific meanings for different people. The problem is that for different people, it conjures up different specific meanings. Some of them are crimes in all places, some are crimes in some places but not others, and some are not crimes at all but merely disreputable behavior. We must find out the laws in this place, for they may not be precisely the same as in the next village over."
He paused, reflecting on how dissimilar different tribes of men were from each other, compared to tribes of elves. How much he had learned of men and their ways in a few short years since leaving his home! The elf continued:
"We must also determine the facts. We can take some things for granted from our companion's (and here he pointed with his chin at Sunny)
words. Yet our young wizard has his own biases, and sees things a certain way. It would be wise to compare his words with those of his accuser, as what feelings were in the heart may be as important as what deeds were done with other parts of the body."
Again he paused, realizing that his words may have conjured up a specific meaning for Lasair, one he was sure she would envision in detail without the slightest sense of shame, such as were the ways of here people. Not that it could be helped, and the reflection only emphasized upon him the mayor's need for discretion and his pain at having that comfort ripped from him.
"Lasair", he began again in a somewhat pained voice,
"you have caused the mayor and our host great embarrassment and anguish. I'm sure you meant no harm, and were merely ignorant of the customs of this place. But you would do well to apologize to him, and perhaps briefly explain your ignorance. If you do that, you won't owe him any ('What was that word that she uses?', he wondered, '
Zihvash?, er,
Zij?')
Zij. Just try to remember that when someone asks for privacy, they usually think they have a need for it even if that need isn't obvious to you."
His voice settled, he concluded:
"Anyway, let's just try to find out what each of them believe to be true, and work from there. There may be a way for everyone to be satisfied with the outcome, depending on what they desire and what they are willing to settle for." He looked up at Sunny to see if he'd been listening to the conversation behind him.
OOC: OOC threads and sblocks are fair game, Bront!
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