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 Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:36 am
"Golly, Ms. Lorelei, you are persistent" He smiled and shook his head. "Everything's ok now so you don't have to worry!" He said, pulling out wood bowls and turned to see Vanna's foot for himself. "Hmm, a pretty bad wound...well, was...how did she get it?" He asked, hoping it wasn't by the edge of a blade.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:39 am
"Oh, I just don't like being a burden - if I can help, I want to." The months of staying with Voltaire had taught her that. And... and... how did he remember her name? She was so embarrassed! She couldn't just ask his name now. Hm.
At the mention of Vanna's foot, her expression darkened.
"... One of the children. Aisrhan - the snake girl. Have you seen her? Such a darling girl... but prone to mood swings. She was apparently jealous of Vanna because of a prophecy or something - she lashed out and bit her."
Vanna squirmed uncomfortably at the mention of the attack. To take her mind off of it, she tried to look up at Ash. But as he was on top of her head... she kept looking up and up and up, and then abruptly fell backwards, giggling.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:43 am
"A snake girl? I have only seen a few of the others in this caravan but because I'm pretty much an outsider compared to you all, I don't really try to see everyone. I've seen you talk with everyone plenty of times and well...I just don't think its right for me." He frowned some, going back to his soup which began to bubble in the pot. He was born of gypsy parents, but never knew them. Why would he want to?...What was he thinking, of course her had to know them sometime. He would perhaps find them on his journey like the TellBook had said. Perhaps one day....
Ash was squeaking as he fought to be on top and with a quick scuttle, he was on Vanna's chest, circling around for a spot to stay balanced.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:46 am
She laughed a little. "I barely know anybody, to tell you the truth. In fact... I... ah... don't even remember your name." She ducked her head at the admission, blushing. "And to think, you know mine, even with how few times we've met...
"But no - I barely knew Silver and Ais, except that when I first came here, when I was a runaway without home or family, I stayed in her wagon for a few nights. Many of the other gypsies... I do not know.
"I'm as much an outsider as you are - I've just had more time to accidently run into people."
Vanna giggled more, kicking her feet in amusement, watching Ash circle 'round and 'round.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:50 am
"Its been a bit incredible to think the people I've been raised to fear are nothing shorter than normal. Everyone here acts a little strange now and then but they're no different from the farmers I grew up with. Can I ask you...will we be going back to the north sometime? I...I kinda have to see someone?" He asked. The TellBook said something which puzzled him....something about his friend, Illyana. Was she alright? Was she safe since the day he ran from the lumber farm. He could only be left in wonder of that as well.
Ash squeaked from the rumbling of Vanna's body and quickly jumped away, going underneath her blanket as a lump began to roll around as if lost.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:54 am
"I agree with you. As a noble merchant's daughter... I was taught the same thing. I understand completely."
She pursed her lips, thinking. "I would very much like to go back up north now than keep heading south - you remember why, from that round fire discussion we had all that time ago? But I assume that we will. I think we are going to stop in Tempranillo, restock from all the amazing merchants there, expose the children to city life for a short time, then head back up towards the Sheulan.
"I haven't been here very long, so I do not know if we follow the same route every time. I joined when we were last encamped in the Sheulan."
Vanna sat up, squeaking and looking around. Where had mousey gone? Mousey! She searched around frantically, then saw the moving lump. Carefully, oh so carefully, she reached over to the edge of the blanket and lifted it up, peering under it.
"Cuuuute?" she called.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:57 am
"Tempranillo?" He looked down again. That's what the Tellbook had written about where I could learn about my parents? Maybe Illyana is there...somehow I have to know! He thought and smiled at Lorelei. "Can I show you something? Its a gift I got at that meeting...here" He said, going inside of his wagon with great care and left just the same, showing her the TellBook. "Can you tell me where Ms. Valelldia got this from?" He asked, hoping she might have answers.
Ash was getting found every time he had wandered but this time, he entered the last place she'd look...or so he thought....he had crawled up her pantleg.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:06 am
Lorelei looked it over, hands gentle on the binding. Books... she'd been so long without any but her own journal. She wished she could give DeArca an answer, but...
"I'm sorry, I don't know... You'd be better off asking Oqaia or another of the born gypsies. They know more of magick items than I." Reverently stroking the cover one last time, she handed it back to him.
Vanna had been a little perplexed as to why her mother had dressed her in breeches. It hadn't occurred to the little girl that she'd been out and about crawling all day - she would have ruined her dresses and knees. Still, they had seemed nice...
Well, until something had started moving in them!
Yelping, she squirmed, giggling and kicking her legs.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:08 am
DeArca heard little Vanna's wailing and turned as he saw a lump in her pants. "Ash, get out of there..." He said, reaching over as he trapped the lump. He then slid his hand, causing Ash to be forced out of the open end as he grabbed him. "I'm sorry that he did that...I'd better put him in his box before he gets wild" He said.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:10 am
Vanna giggled all the more - that tickled! She squirmed and laughed and looked at Ash, sticking her tongue out at him. Beaten! Hehe.
Lorelei shook her head a little, laughing quietly, and drew Vanna onto her lap.
"I think it's about time you started to calm down. You've been tramping around all day - don't you want a nap?"
Vanna shook her head but yawned, snuggling up against her mother.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:18 am
"So...what item was she born from?" He asked, not really having anything to bring up a real conversation with. All they had were their Fortunettes to discuss...
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:24 am
Lorelei looked up from her sleepy daughter.
"Zils - finger cymbals." She stroked Vanna's hair, cradling the girl lovingly. Sighing, Vanna snuggled closer and closed all three of her eyes.
"I guess we'll only need food enough for two, hm?" she offered, glancing at the soup. Hopefully it hadn't been cooking too long.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:26 am
DeArca nodded some and with a ladle, he took large dips of soup and placed them in the bowl. He held it out to Lorelei, being very careful not to spill it since it was so hot. He looked down some at his soup and began to stir it around with his spoon. "Lorelei...do you ever wonder...if...well, if this magic is truly real?" He asked.
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:29 am
Lorelei blew on the soup gingerly.
"... real? What do you mean? How could it not be...? I've seen and felt a small bird change into a real, live child. How could I distrust that reality?" Lorelei looked thoughtful. "I never really thought much about magic before coming here - but I knew of its existence. Most of it is subtle. The way a storyteller draws listeners in, the way a musician weaves tales together without words.
"Gypsies, I've found - or, at least, the ones I know - are just more sensitive to that natural power in their day to day lives. And then there are people like Valelldia and Oqaia who have been given permission to tap into that power to glimpse futures.
"At least... that's what I think happens."
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Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 11:31 am
"It can glimpse futures...but can it change pasts?" He asked, looking into her eyes, just waiting for her response.
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