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 Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 9:26 am
J'aro stood still and silent for a moment, while his emotions sorted themselves out. No one wanted to be treated like yesterday's left over "wherry surprise" (or even today's -- he had a bad feeling about that "surprise" part). Being a whiterider was... As a person, whiteriders had to be at least a little arrogant or they'd never make it. You had to be proud to become one, but being proud to be one? He couldn't do that. He didn't think anyone should.
"And I would dig you out and give you a well-deserved pat on the back," J'aro informed him, still feeling the sting of his last conversation with Brambel. He knew Bekar wouldn't want his leader spoken of with contempt, but at times he was a selfish man that couldn't bite his tongue. "Besides, Bekar... I may have a big title, but every man should be equal, shouldn't they? That's why I wanted a white to begin with, remember? So that everyone, no matter their color or rank, can be equal. As far as I'm concerned..."
J'aro startled himself a little with that speech. He hadn't forgotten his purpose after all. Why was it this Bekar's imperfections always brought to light his virtues? Maybe that was how love really worked.
Maybe.
"As far as I'm concerned, in a fight I'm just another man. This wasn't like some of the others where I've been attacked without retaliation. This was normal, two-way fight. Like children."
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Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 10:08 am
J'aro's unconscious echoing of Beksk almost made Bekar laugh. Almost. He still felt - no, knew - that it was wrong for someone to disrespect the whitemaster so, but he could hardly argue J'aro's point. It was frustrating. It seemed just like J'aro, really, to take the discussion from some idiot assaulting him to a speech about equality. Uncomfortable as he was with the rivalry and bickering that often went on between the different factions of the Islands (it got in the way of doing their jobs, dammit!), Bekar could hardly disagree.
Still.
"All right, fair enough." Bekar said grudgingly. "Point taken."
Bekar was was no woman. He wasn't opposed to fighting ... when it served a purpose. So while he wasn't about to harp at J'aro like a woman, he was still displeased. "How about this. I don't like you being hit because you're mine." He frowned. "I wouldn't like my friends getting attacked by some idiot outsiders, and you're more than a friend." At his side Beksk snorted, obviously a bit impatient with this conversation. Bekar's voice softened a bit, losing its challenging tone. "Take it easy. You need your energy for handling Rajanth."
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Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:58 am
It was cheesy, but J'aro's heart melted. Brambel would have had a stroke listening to this nonsense; ranted and raved about how they were (supposed to be) men and did they seriously think men talked this way? For Farnath's sake, his wife didn't say these things! She was more of a man! (She had more facial hair, too, if you asked the Whermaster's opinion.)
(Or if you didn't. He'd never miss a chance to say it whether the observation was welcomed or not.)
"I know," J'aro murmured. There was distress in his voice he hadn't meant it to have, but when his little act fell down, it fell all the way down. Keeping up with his charade was exhausting. Necessary, but exhausting. "I should go get her." And he paused. "These outsiders have a lot of potential, so don't judge them too quickly."
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Posted: Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:12 pm
It was obvious that he'd gotten through to J'aro, or at least managed to calm the man somewhat. Somehow. Bekar was greatly relieved. Talking seemed to be necessary if one wanted to maintain a relationship for more than a couple of weeks, but it was damned exhausting. And a bit embarrassing, too. If anyone had been around to see other than J'aro, he would have cringed like a kicked puppy.
Well. Enough of that.
He nodded at J'aro's comment. Bekar was inclined to judge outsiders harshly, but he supposed for J'aro's sake he would give it a shot. "All right. As long as they don't step on our toes." Our meaning all of the guards, be they whiteriders or wherhandlers, and the rest of the folk of the islands. Outsiders ... pfft. Of course it was necessary to have new blood now and then, but on the whole they seemed to be a miserable lot, more concerned about their personal comfort than about the important business of the Islands.
"So. What are we going to do about these tunnelsnakes?" Bekar asked briskly, changing the subject. He would put this messy business of J'aro being imprisoned and fighting behind him for now, until he was forced to deal with it again. Or until he found out who that particular outsider was.
I wouldn't mind an outsider with a gold wher, Beksk said wistfully. There are not enough. That would be even better than eating tunnelsnakes.
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