Flashback: A Chance Meeting (Ezieki)

[Selvagem]

The day the caraven entered Telgar Hold, Selvagem was just 12 turns of age, and had been apprenticed to the sabedoria Espirita for about a turn. She followed in the wake of the foremost wagon, having opted to walk instead of riding wagon-back for the chance to see the Hold. Martelo went sometimes to the Minor Holds or the cotholds to sell what he made, but never to the major ones. He was not a man who liked crowds, especially if the crowds consisted mostly of plantado. Selvagem, who had followed him since her birth, had inherited his dislike for big groups of people. Even that, however, could not overshadow her curiousity of the big Hold.

It was the size of it that struck her first, and its organized structure. Here there were buildings bigger than anything she had ever seen, fields wider than the length of the caraven strung out almost a mile, and more people than she hd ever thought could exist in any one place at any one time. She followed her wagon, peeking out shyly from behind two older Caminar boys every now and then, a small girl marked by her wide, wide eyes. The sight of the main building, the Lord Holder's abode, nearly took her breath away.

The Caminar set their stakes on an empty patch of land within Telgar Hold's boundaries, but far enough from the main settlement to allow breathing space between the two cultures. Along the side facing the Hold and its main buildings, stalls were set up and Caminar goods were rolled out of wagons for presentation to prospective buyers. The other side of the caraven was quieter, consisting mostly of the covered wagons where people slept, ate and generally saw to their personal matters. This was the private domain of the Caminar, as quiet as the public stalls were noisy, and every so often a Caminar man strolled through the wagons, keeping watch over the caraven's personal belongings.

Selvagem stood apart from it all. A small girl standing to one side of the last stall in the row, she set her bright, curious eyes on the distant abode of the Lord Holder, and stared unabashedly. Her bright green tunic, cut short and streamlined to fit her frame, glowed against the plainer green of the grass. Her hair was long, having lengthened within the turn she had studied under Espirita, and flowed over her shoulders in an unruly mass of red-brown steams. Her mentor had encouraged her to let it lengthen, and so she had, but she had little inkling of what to do with it now that it was long. Martelo, after all, had never seen fit to teach her about braiding or tying her hair. It had always been easier to just keep it short.

[neopanther]

Ezieki was fifteen, but the lesser age had nothing of a lesser ability to shirk responsibility. He wasn't as tall, he was about five foot four - still awaiting a growth-spurt, but he still had that regal and definitive and defiant air that settled about him.

He was - again - slipping from his lessons, Mifilil was a little too easy to escape, besides he had heard that the Caminar had arrived in Telgar, and it would be a marvellous opportunity to go shopping, after all the Caminar were renown to be fine trades-crafters. That was why his father disliked them so much. It was because they were talented. And as a result, his father would see no – to very little trade in the next few sevendays. Alas – that was not Ezieki’s problem.

He sauntered down to where the bustle and noise existed. His home existed near where the Lord holder kept his quarters, one of the wealthier houses of the hold was Ezieki’s home, and justifiably, in Ezieki’s pocket was a number of marks, but Ezieki was shrewd, and did not keep his purse on display, no. Rather it was left inside the loose cotton white tunic, embroidered finely with golden thread about the neck. He wore his hair half up, the top half restrained and left in a ponytail above the rest, loose bits of his bangs floated idly before of his face.


He gradually found the end of his path, the Caminar presence was ... prolific. They were there, and not to be missed, it was like an invasion. Passing down the road – he shifted through the bustling bodies to the wares displayed at the Caminar stalls, he looked and searched through the trinkets. A couple of the finer pieces catching his eye, one was a silver crafter feather, it looked so light, so delicate that it could float away in the breeze. He eyed it carefully – under high suspicion from the Caminar behind the stall. Ezieki returned him a filthy look, as though to say he would never buy a Caminar’s goods. Despite his interest in the feather, and a few other goods, he walked away from the first stall, back towards the way he came, that was when he noticed one, one standing away from the rest of her kind.

A Caminar. A female Caminar, possibly two, or three turns his junior, she wore a vivid green tunic, it done little for her under-developed figure, but it stood as a nice colour contrast against her hair, black, but not just base black, as the sun shone upon it, it was a deep rich red. He smirked and walked by her, stopped, and took a seat on the floor.


“Is it standard practice, taught to all Caminar to suspect us?” he asked, his eyes turned up at her, his voice was warm, his eyes mischievous as ever.

[Selvagem]

Selvagem was caught up in her study of the Lord Holder's house, and hardly noticed the hold boy examining her. The small girl had been examining the stonework, admiring the whirls of pattern, the design of the sturdy windows and doors, the tasteful blend of colours, even if they were a tad mild to a Caminar's eyes. She was wondering, wistfully, what it would be like to live in a stone house all her days, never feeling the wind at night or the raw earth of the fields beneath your feet.

The thought made her shudder. She had stayed in such a hut once, a small abandoned cothold that Martelo had sheltered in when his daughter fell ill as a 5-turn-old. She had been claustrophobic even then, and Martelo always joked that she had recovered with exceptional speed out of her yearning to get out of that place. She smiled, list in the memory, and then startled as Ezieki dropped down beside her just then.

She turnd to look him straight in the eye, the wonder of the big houses still on her face. A quick glance at the rest of him suggested he was a person of some means: he was well-dressed, and very obviously not Caminar. She looked back to his eyes as he spoke.

“Is it standard practice, taught to all Caminar to suspect us?”

Selvagem listened gravely, slowly turning the words over in her mind. In her turn with Espirita she had learnt more of the common language of Pern than she had ever learnt in her entire life, but understanding still came slowly at times. The words she felt, implied an insult, yet she sensed no malice in Ezieki's tone. With a small smile, the girl dropped down to sit cross-legged beside him, her voice halting as she framed speech.

"I...do not suspect you."

She glanced at him, not certain she had spoken the right words. He was an interesting boy: few plantado would speak openly to a Caminar, and she wanted to hear him speak more of his own language. It was not as pleasent to listen to as Noestacan , but it had all the draw of a strange world she had never seen before.

[neopanther]

He smirked, as he suspected, she was a great deal less attached to the Caminar – for now. He could hear the words he was familiar with tainted, warped with the strengths of her mother tongue. It made his language seem very drab.

“Ah, now, that is interesting.” He smirked, pleased as she took up a seat beside him, he extended his hand in greeting towards her. “I am Ezieki,” He smiled warmly, “I’m of Telgar, a little boring perhaps in comparison to your broad colourful horizon.” He said, almost envying her for her ability to roam freely. Caminar were unique in t he fashion, they had the complete freedom of the land. Though, he knew the Caminar, as a rule, did not have the freedom of prejudice. Most found the Caminar incredibly odd, and difficult to deal with, a mindset Ezieki had been given, and perhaps a reason as to why he reacted in such a manner with the stall holder. His wares had been fine though.
“so, tell me then,” He begun, his wind tangling tendrils of thoughts before one became a bright thread enough for him to follow completely. “How is it, that you are not holding me suspect, where as others of your ...” He paused, ‘kind’ sounded derogatory, he did not wish to rile her, “companions, find me immensely suspicious.” He asked, he turned his gaze to focus on only her.

[Selvagem]

Selvagem wondered, watching the boy beside her, if all plantado were alike in way they wore their smiles: smirking rather than smiling, and absolutely simpering wherever they were or whatever they did. The few other times she had encountered plantado, she had been with her father, and they invariably walked away carrying her father's goods with those smug looks. She had asked Martelo about it, and his explanation was that they had thought they had gotten good bargains on his goods. The old stonecrafter knew better though: those had been simple trinkets, so easy to make that Selvagem herself could have done them within an hour, if Martelo would let her. Maybe all plantado were fools, she thought, as she kept her own grin pleasent for Ezieki. They wore those smirks and thought themselves smart when they hardly knew better.

But then Ezieki extended his hand in greeting, and as he did so his smile...changed. It became full and warm, full of colour, and Selvagem could not stop her own smile widening in return. And was that...envy, she had heard in his voice? She tilted her head at him, curious again: what plantado did not want to remain planted? Surely the wandering life was shunned by them as much as a stationary existence was deplored for the Caminar?

Well, not for this one, apparently. She took his hand a little shyly, the shyness of a small girl meeting someone unfamiliar.

"I am Selvagem," she had no trouble rendering her name into the common language, and felt proud of it: Espirita had spent a lot of time teaching her how to introduce herself, "I am...studying under Espirita, from this caravan. She's my sabedoria."

She released his hand and sat back as he continued to speak, and focused on listening to him. She thought on his words carefully, finding it somewhat hard to find words for him, especially under that intense (well, it felt intense for her) gaze he was spending on her.

"You give me no reason to," she said finally, "Perhaps the others were afraid of you...doing something."

Though the thought of her elders picking on this boy was not a pleasent one. But she knew a few who would take pleasure in baiting a plantado. Like that mean uncle from the jeweler's wagon, who scolded children for accidentally entering his wagon and did not let them play beside it. She hazarded to ask.

"It could have been the scary old mn. Who was it that was suspecting you?"

[neopanther]

He let his grin fade a little, gentle smile still in pllace, he relinquished her hand and looked to her eyes, so dark in comparison to any he had met before, well, holderfolk that was. "Selvagem?" He queried, unsure of his own pronunciation her name was cumbersome on his ignorant tongue. But her next word, from her own tongue made him guffaw slightly... Sa - sabo...? What?

"Sorry, what? What is that? That word you just used, Sa-be-da...do..." He floundered with his inability repeat the word. His brow furrowing with his own perplexion at how she managed the word wih fluency and grace, whilst he flailed about like a fish out of water.

It made his mind wander to the fact that this wasn't her own language, and she was obviously not used to speaking in this tongue, but atleast she could speak his. He had no clue on how to pronounce her words, "I apologise for my butchery off your language." He laughed, looked away for amoment, perhaps a little embarrassed by this, "But it must be easier to go from such a smooth and vivid language such as yours to such a drab, and ordinary tongue such as ours..." He hopped this would be recieved as a compliment, as it was meant.

"I am glad of that, I do not see a reason why someone should be suspicious of me." He told her with a brief smile, She continued, his attention was half there, half consumed by his thoughts, "Hmm? Oh, it was him." Ezieki nodded his head in the general direction of the closest stall holder, "I was looking at one ofthe trinkets he had down there, I rather liked one of them, a rather delicate silver feather. It was beautifully made. Even my father - though reluctant about it - will admit your crafters are generally as good as ours who hold high ranks." His smile showed his honesty, he had nothing to gain by lying. She wasns't a person he sought, or needed to impress, so he didn't try. She was just a Caminar Girl.

[Selvagem]

"Sa-bo-de-ria," Selvagem was patient - she was, to her own surprise, beginning to find herself comfortable with this holder boy, strange and estranged though his people were to her, "It means a woman who knows healing amongst us. Such women are valued, they save lives."

She smiled again at his apology, though part of her revelled in the fact that she knew something more than him. She was proud of her people, and it gratified her to feel more affluent with the tongue than a proud plantado was. Nonetheless, the gentler part of her recognized that she was being unkind to a plantado who was so rare he was worth more than a well-made pendent: he respected her and her people, unlike so many others who could only despise them. Her deep brown eyes, unreadable, somehow softened as she blushed.

"You are nice to say that - not many feel our language is...smooth, or vivid," she glanced at him shyly, "But I found yours interesting: not at all ordinary, but new and exciting."

She turned as he pointed out the man, and leaned back to get a better look around Ezieki. The Caminar girl made a face at the sight of the jeweller, and quickly ducked back into position so that he would not see her, "Yes, that is him. He is mean, all the children know that. Don't mind him. There are nicer people in the caraven, and they will show you the wares for a better price. Though Nuno is the best maker of fine...je-wel-lery, here, he also charges the most, and he get angry easily."

She grinned, softly, "Is your father a...je-wel-ler?"

[neopanther]

He repeated the wor,d trying to get the syllables around his tongue. "Saboderia..." He paused, thinking it over , yes, it actually sounded correct. "Ah, so she would be like a healer?" He nodded, "Healers are valurable always." She was blushing now, her eyes softened too.

"I only ever speak the truth Selvagem" He said, his words softening slightly as she spoke her name, "our tongue are crass and harsh in comparison, I doubt I could ever gain fluency in your language." He smiled.

Listening, and looking as she identified the cruel one of them, "His works are fine, prices are high, but he is a mean man, I cannot see him being too profitable, jewellery sales needs charm" He smirked. She then asked to his father, "A jeweller? No, no, he trades, often blames the Caminar for their work being to fine, he imports and exports all different things frorm Telgar to the surrounding holds. He thinks the Caminar steel his trade intentionally." He laughed, his father rwas sslighhtly mad in that respect. Ezieki, so far, held no prejudice towards the Caminar, he could appreciate fineries where ever he found them in those instances.

"Do you wish to leave this area? It's a little overbearing." He paused, "I can show you around the hold, I daresay you've never seen the best parts of it." He said extending his hand in a friendly manner.

[Selvagem]

"Yes," Selvagem nodded, remembering what Espirita had said once about the Healers of the plantado society, "They are what your people call 'healers'. Though here they are always woman - a woman understands life, and can...birth."

The words were beginning to elude her again, complex words describing the nature of life and birth and the place of women in such things - hence their right to the healing arts. She frowned at her lack of language, but then Ezieki was commenting on how harsh the common tongue was compared to Noestacan, and Selvagem felt herself smile again.

"Maybe, but I can teach you," her eyes were eager, "And you can teach me too. I am also not very...fluent, in your words."

She turned with the older boy as he discussed Nuno, and a wry smile twisted her lips: despite what Ezieki speculated, Nuno did make quite a bit in marks still, mostly because his craft was good enough that buyers would risk his unpredictable temper to get his goods.

"Nuno still gets buyers," she shook her head, "But only because he can...make very good things. Your father...maybe he can buy from us and then sell elsewhere then? He can make marks from us. My father may be happy to help supply stone...goods. "

She paused as Ezieki offered her his hand, and astonishment shadowed her eyes. She had not expected anyone, lest of all a plantado, to extend such an offer to her. Her heart jumped at th chance, even as her mind strove to assert the dangers of wandering a Hold with a strange plantado boy.

"Is it safe?"

She realized what she said, too late to take the words back, and bit her lip, "I'm sorry, I mean, will your people mind?"

[neopanther]

His eyes softened, she might not speak his tongue very fluently, but she was honest because of it.
"Perhaps, but I doubt my father will ever trade with Caminar." Ezieki shrugged, "What can I say, he's rather set in his ways..." Ezieki said, he could not imagine his father trading with the caminar... afterall, there was an underlying grudge with most adult's of the hold, Ezieki was perhaps too young to know of it, but there was.

Safe? Did she mean for her to wander with him? For fear of what might be thought of her? He knew Caminar were as suspicious of Plantado as holders were with them. He smirked as she divulged as to her meaning of 'safe'.
"As long as you're with me, no one will say a word." He told her, afterall, he was the son of a rather wealthy man of Telgar. "Promise," He smiled, confidence and frirendliness beaming, quite obvious to all around. "Besides, ottherwise you'll never understand half of the words I say, if you cant relate them. I can only teach you by showing you. For I don't know you're tongue," He smiled, "But you're pretty good, I think kyou just ned more confidence in what you're saying, and perhaps become a little more acquainted with our accent." He smiled, "Not that yours isn't charming enough." He smiled. But her rich language, did make it rather difficult on occasisions to grasp quite what she meant.