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 Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:05 am
There was commotion in the market. People were gathered around a display of fold-up tables and two elaborately decorated wooden caravans, horse-drawn. Even the brightly coloured fruit, vegetables, flowers and trinkets laid out on the tables and around them, seemed foreign. The air was sweet and energetic, and the last notes of a song could be heard, dying out.
"Knocking on your door, but it seems like you're not home. Can you hear me?"
Suddenly, the crowd scattered at one point, letting through a young woman, not much older than Ani-Stacia. She had pale green eyes and straight black hair. Her eyes seemed afraid and helpless. She halted in her tracks about three feet away from her, meeting her gaze for a brief moment. Then, she toppled over, slowly and controlled, exposing another girl that had jumped on her back. This one was smaller with light, freckled skin and copper hair. The both of them fell to the ground, rolling over and balancing one on the other's back as if playing a game. All the while, they were smiling affectionately, inwardly at some thought only they could perceive. Soon, their crowd shifted to observe the duo and their dance became evident. [link] Their movements were in synch and their differences in flexibility and balance were minor. Long hair was everywhere. Their masks were, for convenience's sake, tied around their ankles as anklets.
After their dance, they stood and walked, as if they hadn't performed at all, back to their stalls. The younger girl was greeted by a tan-skinned woman with red dreadlocks, in a hug.
"I'm going to take some things to the university. Don't get into trouble, Lavvy," the dark-haired girl kissed her dance partner's forehead, grabbed a leaf basket filled with leafy things, and pushed her way past the crowd. 
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 8:54 am
She fidgeted with her hair, running her fingers through it over and over nervously. Her mother swatted at her hand. "Stop that, Geneviene. It's irritating." Her mother poured herself another drink, massaging her temples with a delicate, pale hand. Stacia made a sour face. Only her parents would stubbornly refuse to call her by her chosen name, opting to use the name she was bestowed at birth. She stared out the window, thinking mutinous thoughts. She was just on the verge of jumping up from her seat and fleeing when the door opened. "May I present Mr. and Mrs. Tannem, and their son Aidan," the butler said, sweeping open the door. Stacia's grip tightened on the arms of her chair. There would be no escaping now.
Three well-dressed people entered. She had met them before, but never their son to whom she had been betrothed; he was always abroad, studying sorcery. The parents were all smiles, greeting her mother and father warmly as they all retreated to the other side of the room and began conversing on the sofas. She remained at the table, stubbornly refusing to join them. That's when she noticed Aidan standing in the doorway, watching her. He hadn't moved either.
He was handsome, immaculately groomed, sharply dressed... She decided she didn't like him. He started toward her hesitantly. She panicked. She quickly jumped up, flashed a quick and strained smile at him, and stood behind the chair where her father sat; he smiled up at her. Slowly, Aidan joined them. "Geneviene, darling, would you show Aidan the terrace? It's right over the orchards, and I know he's been dying to see them for himself." Mrs. Tannem nodded enthusiastically, recounting her letters to him about the orchards, but Stacia wasn't listening. She was silently arguing with her mother through their stares and slight jerks of the head. Stacia shook her head no and blushed when she realized that Aidan had caught this. "You're too kind, Mrs. Natesa. But perhaps another time? Your daughter seems to be a little tired," he said politely. Her face burned more and her mother stared her down fiercely. "No, don't be silly," she said, feigning enthusiasm. "I'll show you. It's right this way." With one last glare to her mother, she led the way out onto the terrace.
That was the first time she had ever met Aidan Tannem. With a smug smile, she realized that deciding to finish out her education at a formal school in Th'ardrod would mean not seeing him for at least five months.
The two girls jumped up; the applause startled her back to reality. It had been so beautiful, so mesmerizing. She wondered how it was possible. As the two girls parted ways, Stacia approached the table, pretending to examine their exotic fruits. She smiled up at the younger girl who had stayed behind, picking up a random red fruit in front of her that she'd never seen before. "Is this any good," she asked. "I mean, do you like it? I've never had one."
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:24 am
"That's a pomegranate. It has red seed-like packets of juice inside, neatly packed into rows. I think you Th'ardrodeans would appreciate the orderliness. Would you like to try one? We have more than enough to sell." The girl smiled at her, sweetly, giving off a calming and secure energy.
"Giving away free food again, Lavender? It's not good for business." The owner of the voice stood with his chest puffed and his hands on his sides. He was shirtless and had artistic tattoos swirling around his muscled arms and across his chest. Around his neck hung a simple chain with a cluster of dolphin teeth. It was his mask. [link]
"Come now, Ryan. Oonagh always taught us to share freely," she laughed at his playful posture and threw a bright yellow lemon at him. He caught it, his muscles flexing with the movement.
"Well," he started, meeting Stacia's eyes. "For a pretty lady like you, we'd give you a whole crate." He winked at her and bit into the lemon, regretting it almost instantly. His nose wrinkled because of the sour fruit and he gave a little throat-clearing cough which changed into an embarrassed chuckle.
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 9:49 am
She hadn't been at the school for more than a few months, but already she missed her friends. She kept telling herself that it was better than staying home with the tutors and being forced to see Aidan. Though, she hadn't seen him more than a handful of times since she'd met him five years ago, she conceded. After meeting him, he returned to school for two years and she was left blissfully alone. However, in the last year, the visits had increased. Still, in her eyes that was bad enough; she shuddered to think how often she'd have to see him if she had decided to stay.
She had just finished packing and was waiting in the middle of the long entrance hall of her home, examining herself in the mirror; her parents had already said their goodbyes and gone out for the night. A knock at the door. She picked up her bags, expecting that it was time for her to go, but to her surprise - and annoyance - it was Tannem. "You didn't tell me you were leaving," he said simply, removing his mask and holding it at his side. "No," Stacia said simply. "I don't like all the fuss, Tannem."
"Leo."
"Tannem." His eyes showed a flicker of emotion - pain? Irritation? She looked past him, out the open door. The carriage pulled into the drive. "Well, goodbye then," she said quickly.
"Don't forget to write to me," he called after her.
"I won't," she called back, meaning that she wouldn't be writing him.
She realized she had been staring at the fruit for a few seconds longer than necessary. Quickly, she pretended that she was choosing the best ones. She picked up two in addition to the one she was already holding. "Sorry. How much is that, then?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:20 am
"10 silver." It was reasonable, considering the seasonal fruit only grew in certain parts of the kingdom. She placed the three pomegranates into a thin linen bag and added an apricot to the bundle before taking the money from her.
"It's a gift," she smiled. In the brief moment that their fingers touched during the exchange, a pulse of warm energy transferred over into her, giving her a sense of "everything will be alright." If she met Lavender's eyes now, that feeling would be mirrored in them, alluding the assumption that she hadn't missed a thing since they met.
Before Stacia could react, Ryan grabbed her free hand and opened her palm, turning it up towards him. With a thin pen, he drew an intricate pattern on the inside of her hand and her fingers [link]. From him, too, radiated an emotional strength that seemed almost unreal.
"Now, now, Ryan." The woman that hugged Lavender earlier now approached them with a kind smile, but eyes that held an air of authority. "Two minstrels and one girl," she shook her head, still smiling. "Don't you have a stall to attend to, Ryan?"
"Yes, ma'am," he gave Stacia one last seemingly shy, crooked smile before leaving for his table of aromatic soy candles and vials of essential oils.
Oonagh nodded as if to approve of his obedience, and bowed her head to the young lady before strolling off.
"You should come by As'arden some time. He'd like that," there was a twinkle in Lavender's eye that not only made her feel accepted as she was, but also invited her to stay.
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:31 am
"Thank you," she murmured quietly, implying that she meant it to both of them. She looked away from her hand. "I'm Ani-Stacia. You can call me- " She cut herself off, hesitating. "You can call me Ani, if you like," she decided, shyly looking back down at the fruit. She never let people call her that, only her closest friend. But I'm alone here. I might as well make new friends, she decided. There's nothing wrong with that. It's not as if we're at war with As'arden...
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 10:44 am
"Lavender. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ani," she smiled brightly. "You have a lovely mask. It's a hawk, isn't it?" The remark reminded her of her own. Her heart skipped a beat and she glanced down, quickly, to make sure it was still wrapped around her ankle. Unclasping it, she brought it to her hair. It shifted into a fawn-coloured hair band with which she tied her messy locks out of her face.
She stepped away from the paying area when another, older woman came along to take care of it. The woman, gray-haired, but healthy and seemingly in her late 30s, smiled and nodded at Lavender. She mouthed a thank you and joined Ani in front of the stall.
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:14 am
Stacia nodded. "Yes. A hawk," she said absentmindedly. Almost without thinking, she reached up and stroked the feathers. She pulled it down around her neck, and it warped into a small, leather necklace with a dark crystal bead and a feather. "I'm the only hawk in my family," she mused.
She stared at Lavender's headband, trying to guess the animal. From the color, she could guess it was probably some woodland animal. "May I ask what yours is," she inquired hesitantly, and then regretted it. Some were proud of their animals and displayed them readily. But to ask what one's animal is... that's personal, she chided herself. "Sorry; sometimes my curiosity gets the better of my manners."
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:23 am
"Curiosity should never be chided. Question everything. It's healthy not to believe everything without sufficient information about them. I'm a deer, hence the freckles," she averted her gaze for a moment, embarrassed, but still smiling with a light heart. "You said you're not from here, are you attending the university?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:40 am
It was very out of the blue; he had blurted it out without thinking. "Call me Leo." Leo? Really? She looked away, eyes scanning the streets below. "No." She turned her back to him, admiring the view of the city. He came around to the other side and blocked her view, tilting his head in curiosity. "Why not?" Frowning, she faced forward. "Because Leo is a familiar name, is it not? We are strangers."
"But we're to be married. If we're going to spend our lives in wedded bliss, why not be familiar, Ani?" He reached out and smoothed the crease of her sleeve. "Because I don't like you," she said, turning and walking away. She could still feel where his finger tips had been, just above her elbow. She vowed she was going to burn that shirt.
She once more forced herself to focus, holding on to her mask-necklace for reassurance. "Do you study at the school?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 11:57 am
"No, but Sage wants to. Don't tell anyone, but she often sneaks into the university to steal a glimpse at some lectures. She's a healer. There aren't any schools for minstrels except community training. It must be fun, though, having a higher education?" Her sentence ended in a question rather than a statement. Lavender could tell something was bothering her, but she knew, in many cultures, it was inappropriate to force herself into the poor girl's life.
We should write. I can imagine Ryan turning up on my doorstep every time the mail is delivered. He's such an oddball. Maybe she could visit for a holiday or something - if the university would allow it. I wonder what she's thinking about... Lavender, you barely know her. You'll chase her away.
"You know," she started, pointing a slender index finger at Ani's hand. "That mandala Ryan painted on your hand is more than what it seems. It doesn't mean anything, per se, but - since he's a minstrel, specialising in visual art - he transfered a little bit of energy into the design. When you look at it, you will feel as though he was there, again, painting it." She hoped the knowledge was some comfort to her.
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:05 pm
Stacia could feel her insides squirming. "O-oh? Really? That was... nice." She was unsure how she felt about that. It brought back the question: Why had he done it? "A higher education," she echoed, staring at the design, tracing it with her finger. "It's useful. But it's not really fun, exactly. It's very strict. I have to follow the set curriculum for the capitol's standards, so there's a lot of studying involved." She caught herself too late. She'd mentioned the capitol. She hoped to cover it up by brushing over it. "I get this morning break, though. And lunch. But not much else. What are your studies like? I've never met a minstrel..."
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:15 pm
The capitol, Eridell? Lavender's smile fell into a thoughtful expression. But she doesn't seem hostile. Sage worries too much.
"Studying is good, and even better when made fun. Well, that's just me," she laughed, hoping she didn't offend anyone. "Our studies also involve a lot of theoretical work. We have to know about how the brain functions and then there are experimental theories involving chakra healing which, in turn, heals physical ailments. Then there's the fun part. Depending on your expertise, you practice most of the time: dancing, making music, art, writing prose and reciting it - all that. What are your studies like? Likewise, I've never met a sorcerer."
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:23 pm
Stacia sighed and crossed her arms. "A lot of books, reciting in languages, and practice. And so many lectures. The masters I study under are very strict. We spend most of our waking hours indoors and in class." She dug her heel into the soft ground, making a swirl pattern. "I wonder if they let people visit? Or I could write you sometime," she asked hopefully. She was afraid of rejection and really wanted at least one friend so far away from home. Perhaps that was how it was for Tannem? Perhaps he is just lonely? He did spend most of his time at school. So naturally coming back to the capitol might be a big change... She started to feel sympathy and stopped herself. Nope. Not happening. You hate him, remember? She looked up at Lavender. "Sorry. My mind isn't really focused today. It keeps wandering back home."
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Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2013 12:50 pm
"I thought you'd never ask," she said quietly, laughing and closing her eyes. "Do you have carrier-pigeon coups here?"
It keeps wandering back home... "Then he painted it on the wrong side of your hand," she frowned slightly and fiddled around in a small shoulder-bag that she had with her. She took out a small music box, wound it up and listened to it for a while before returning it and taking out another. "I think it's this one." She wound it up and held it to her ear. "Yes, here." Lavender handed it over to her. The wooden exterior was made of pine and faintly smelled of it too. "Do you meditate? Turn your palms downward when you do, instead of up. It might help ground your thoughts instead of being receptive. Ryan is cruel. I'm really sorry. We usually know our clients thoroughly before, well, painting on them." She felt genuinely sorry and somewhat guilty on her brother's behalf. "If it made you uneasy, the effects will wear off when you remove the paint. If that's not the only thing that made you uneasy - you really don't have to worry about returning the sentiment. We don't get to reach out beyond our 'coven' often enough to act normal around others." The embarrassed giggle made its reappearance.
"On another note, would you like to talk about what's bothering you?"
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