View Flat HTML
View Metadata
Search Post
Ranara and her little daughter Azabel move to Urtho's Tower when the latter can say six words ("up", "mama", "milk", "no", "now", and "please") and hasn't started to walk yet. Ranara sets up to teach little children to read, ones who don't have evident Gifts yet - Ranara herself has Mindspeech, is all, with about a classroom's worth of range. Azabel sits in on classes, worn on her mother's back or later plopped in a corner with toys or, when she's only four, plopped in a corner with a book, younger than the other kids in the class. When Azabel has in fact sat through her mother's curriculum she is turned somewhat loose, to walk very carefully up and down and around the Tower, exploring.
smol bell in urtho's tower
+ Show First Post
small-and-alone
And a few minutes later, Ma'ar walks back over to her. Still holding Aala's hand.
"She's willing to come back with us," he says in Tantaran. "On the condition that she can sleep in my room and that I'll Gate her home again if she asks."
His expression is more sad and tired than pleased.
small-and-alone
"...Do I want to do what? I, uh, it's not about me, right - I can try to ask her what she wants to do but it's the same thing as before, I dunno if she'll understand the distinction..."
anticipating_night
"...do you want to let her sleep in your room as opposed to telling her that she can get one in the girls' section like a normal person."
small-and-alone
"I'd prefer that to her not getting proper training at all? And - I think the alternative is her not getting training at all - she's scared, right, she doesn't know anyone but me and she barely remembers me..." Shrug. "I think once we're actually at the Tower and it's been a bit, she'll be less scared, and then if I don't like it I can persuade her to get a proper room the normal way."
anticipating_night
"Okay, I guess." Seems weird but she didn't actually have a conversation with Aala about it and only has this secondhand.
Aala is clinging onto Ma'ar's hand and avoiding Aza's eyes, and does not look like she wants to have a conversation with Aza about this at ALL.
small-and-alone
Also it's now starting to rain on them in earnest.
Ma'ar sighs. "I guess we should go to bed."
small-and-alone
The wind picks up during the night and makes creaky howly noises against the canvas tents, but Aza and Ma'ar are cozy in their tentifact, and Ma'ar sleeps much better.
In the morning the cows look very wet and bedraggled and resentful of the change in their fortunes; they, of course, aren't aware that this will mean more grass to eat and less stagnant water in the watering-hole. The clanspeople are smiling and cheerful, shaking out their wet tents.
Azabel and Ma'ar get a sendoff from Ta'ana. She playfully waves her stick in Ma'ar's direction but doesn't actually whack him; she's smiling.
anticipating_night
What a hilarious joke! She'll just about die laughing! Aza unpacks all her remaining food and hands it to one of the friendlier midsize children who is willing to approach her. "Can you make sure Aala's ready so she doesn't hold us up dithering about going through the Gate, Ma'ar? And do you want to do it or should I?"
small-and-alone
"I can do the Gate. I'll go talk to Aala."
He does this. Some of the younger children are crowding around Aala, apparently upset about her departure.
anticipating_night
There isn't that much Mindspeech-based curriculum, she'll be back soon, but Aza can't exactly tell them so.
small-and-alone
A few minutes later Ma'ar rejoins her, holding Aala's hand. "Let's go."
He raises the Gate. The clanspeople are a bit more curious, this time; a couple of the men approach close enough to peer through at the Tower courtyard.
They cross and Ma'ar takes it down. "Here we are," he says to Aala, gently. And to Azabel in Tantaran: "Maybe you can help her practice the language, like you did with me? And she doesn't know how to read or write either."
Aala can't seem to figure out how to answer in proper Mindspeech, but she is easier to Mindspeak to than an un-Gifted person. She blinks a few times, and then turns to look at Azabel, her face lighting up.
anticipating_night
:Welcome to the tower! Ma'ar says you might want help with the language and reading?:
She bobs her head and then looks shyly down at the ground.
small-and-alone
"I should - tell the hertasi she's here, I guess? And get her actually set up as a student?"
Ma'ar is still kind of hazy on how his enrollment as a student...worked...
anticipating_night
"Do you want to do that part or shall I? You also speak the language and know how to read." She echoes translations to Aala.
small-and-alone
...Ma'ar feels vaguely like this is the sort of social interaction that has SUBTEXT, and he puzzles at it for a moment and then switches to Mindspeech. :Uh, do you have a preference? ...I mean, if you'd prefer I just do both things, that's fine, she's my relative not yours:
anticipating_night
:- no, I'm happy to help, I just am more used to hertasi than you and I was pointing out that doesn't have to delay her getting started on stuff. You can show her to your room, since you're sharing, and I'll meet you there?:
small-and-alone
Ma'ar isn't actually sure that he's less confused but he'll go along with it. :Sure. Thank you:
He turns to Aala and says a flurry of words in the Predain tongue and then takes her hand again.
