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 Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 4:10 pm
His lids fell to half mast, not sleeping but thinking. He tilted his head back pushing a strand of hair away from his eyes to look at the heads of Tri-no's family. Jyses lips twitched in a odd smile looking at the drows long gone.
"Is that so? Perhaps I will visit one of the hot springs before I go." It was on the bottom of his list though. And he doubt the Goddess had anything to do with with springs healing properties if they even had healing properties. Why did women have to stall?
....Okay, the family was freaks. Really how could inflicting pain on yourself or having pain inflicted by others on ones self make them closer to the Goddess. Even though she was a b***h.
"Quite unique," he said softly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:32 am
Tri-no caught a hint of Kai's reaction and mentally composed herself. His reaction was what many had when they heard of Baen'duis' practices. It didn't particularly surprise her. They were the unenlightened masses. It was not her job to enlighten them, really, only to prove them wrong. For the moment, however, she had the impression that she had made a mistake with Kai. She was not as good a judge of character as she would like to be, being relatively inexperienced. She had lived in Llurth Dreir all her life, and had never set foot outside the city, nor had any interest in doing so. It occurred to her, now, that her family might be more different than she had imagined. Not wrong, but definitely an aberration.
"Of course, no whip could ever compare to the tongue-lashing my mother gives when she's angry," she said with a somewhat forced smile. "The woman is quite terrifying. I suspect it's a maternal thing."
Her behavior that afternoon had been very odd, she decided. Inviting a stranger back to the house, and then telling him about the family had probably been a serious lapse in judgment, and the head of the family would likely chastise her for it if she found out. Perhaps rightly so. Chastisement, too, was painful in this family, even for females. It might be best if she took Kai elsewhere.
She was still very reluctant to part with him on bad terms, remembering that he was training to be an assassin, and so she said, "You know, I find I'm parched. I know of a lovely place which serves orghees which are to die for."
Orghees were a local type of fermented drink akin to champagne, but the mineral water with which they were made was carbonated and bubbly. They tended to be pleasant things to sip with light fingerfoods. They were not particularly high in alcohol content, but they were pleasant enough. The place Tri-no was thinking of also served very good yaltreth, which was like vodka, but made with the mineral water from the hot springs and generally served warm. Not everyone liked it straight, but it could be cooled and flavored with ice chips which were generally an improvement on the slightly sulfuric taste, if one wasn't accustomed to it.
"Naturally, I'll buy, since you're a guest," she added.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 6:36 pm
It was easy to see that Tri-no had caught a hint of his revulsion at the thought of baring ones back willing to a lash. If he was to be punished he would take it stoically but he would to find pleasure in such an act. If he reminded still not crying out he would find pleasure in defiance. “Mother tongues tend to lash worse then actual leather and leave a mark much longer then simple cuts,” he said soothing. “I get a bit of the same thrill at times when I accomplish a task after a long grueling work.”
Though his mentor tried to keep him from working hard enough to faint but still even breathless, and in pain having finished a difficult task and seeing praise in his mentor’s eyes did give him a warm feeling of accomplishment and pride. A flicker of a smile crossed his lips remembering when he finally managed to scale the wall with his off hand and the other bounded. It had hurt like a b***h but he had managed.
He shook his head, eyes calm. “As much as I would enjoy going for an orghees,” he paused, wondering if he fumbled the pronunciation before going on, “I must be going back to my mentor soon. It is best not to keep him waiting, perhaps if you still wish to treat me,” an amuse lit colored his voice, the mere thought of a women buying him drink was a laugh,” it would be best to get one on the go.” Where he could see at all times and make sure it was not poisoned or cursed.
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Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:39 pm
She could tell he didn't quite understand, but he was at least making an effort, which she appreciated, and which was why she decided not to be affronted at his suggestion that they take their drinks without the usual relaxation and finger food. He was probably a mite concerned that she would try to have him poisoned, or something. Not that the restauranteur who owned the place she frequented would ever have anything to do with such matters. Her establishment remained open and popular because the proprietress held herself above political scheming and served everyone equally.
"On the go," Tri-no mused. "I'm not sure one can properly enjoy an orghee 'on the go.' At least, I've never tried it that way. It will be an adventure. Do you think your mentor would like one?"
Occasionally, as now, she surprised herself with charitable inclinations. It was a habit she meant to quash as soon as she could manage it, since no proper head of house had charitable inclinations, but the habit kept rearing its head at inopportune moments. Not that she begrudged Kai or his mentor a drink. Orghees were not terribly expensive, and they were definitely a part of the local flavor which one ought to enjoy while on a visit, so it did no real harm. She'd probably spend less this way than if she'd actually gone shopping, as she'd said she would do when she left in the morning.
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 5:03 am
Kai silently chocked back laughter at his elderly, calm tutor joining him and Tri-no for an orghee and still managed to keep his face from twitching. He felt a bit proud of himself. He smoothed his sleeves gently. “He would prefer to keep to his teas I believe. He also says the same things about tea. Such pleasure should be enjoyed in relaxation with cakes.” His mentor often said he needed to slow down.
Men would accompany them to the shop but would not approach unless some danger caused him to intervene. The Matron would not be pleased if her assassins ended up dead before they could kill and fill her coffers. Some reason that didn’t include bodily harm.
“Perhaps, it would be best if we parted company at the shop and you can enjoy your orghess properly with out rush. It might seem inappropriate if it seems you are breaking a routine for a male, if I may be so bold.” This should get him out of accepting the drink with out seeming rude.
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Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 8:16 am
Tri-no nodded when Kai mentioned his mentor's preference for tea. Tea was the main drink of choice in her household, too. She was one of the only ones who enjoyed the fermented drinks offered in various establishments around Llurth Dreir. The others had their teas and tisanes imported, sometimes at great expense, from foreign parts, and occasionally even from Above. Her cousin, Shri, was particularly fond of a tea made from rosehips, though no one knew exactly what a rosehip was.
"I've never been fond of tea, myself," she said. "But I live surrounded by tea-drinkers, who concur with your mentor's opinion. Particularly with regard to the cakes."
Tri-no quite enjoyed the cakes, but found that they went much better with honey and orghee than with tea. Honey was one of the delicacies from Above to which Tri-no was utterly addicted. She had it with her breakfast and spread it on her cakes. Were it not for concentrated effort, she would grow quite fat on it. As it was, she knew she could stand to lose some weight, but she wouldn't give up her honey cakes to do so.
"An astute observation," she remarked. "It would be out of character, if not out of propriety, for me not to enjoy my orghee in a leisurely manner. You must promise me that you will try one before you leave my city. They really are wonderful, and you'll never find them so inexpensive as they are here."
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:09 pm
"I like tea..well some teas," he certainly did not enjoy the teas Men prepared for him. Orange spiced was good. Well most spiced teas where enjoyable. Leaf teas such as his mentor preferred were…a bit gritty. Almond cakes also made the experience enjoyable.
“I’m sure I’ll be able to talk my mentor in to properly enjoy a drink before we have to leave. Till then,” he nodded. “Good day Tri-no.” He turned and slid away smoothly out the door. “Perhaps, we will meet again under less hurried..circumstances.”
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