Varekai & Balormengro - Anezka, Leshya'e and Veshengo

[Anezka Vujo]

The water was so cool and clear that the animals that moved the caravan eyed it with longing eyes. They'd stopped only hours before- and these mules, horses and oxen were far from abused- on the contrary, they were as part of this gypsy family. When the caravan had stopped, the gypsies had rubbed down their beloved animals with cool cloths, and untethered them from their wagons so they could lap from the sweet waters of the Pythos, or chew at the clover that sprang up on the water's edge. So the longing in the animals eyes was simply memory of that sweet water. But they plodded on- so intent were their owners to reach the mountains while the weather was warm.

It was said the waters were sweet because of the denizens that lived there- the Filor, the blue-gilled mer-swifts. The tales wouldn't be too untrue, either- for whenever a Filor came to the surface, any land-dweller close enough would be sure to remark on the honeyed, heady smell that came from their shell-pink and translucent blue scales. This sweet enzyme they secreted had often been mimicked by the land-dwellers in the form of perfumes or bridal bouquets... but not even the sweetest fascimile could come close to the heavenly odor of the Filor.

Twinket burst from the water. She had been watching this particular caravan for a day, following them down the gentle stream of the Pythos. She had stayed in the confines of the water as they travelled west, hoping that they would stay close to the river long enough for her to come to her trading spot- that place near the water where she had her goods stored. (For it wouldn't do her much good to keep her goods underwater, where they may be ruined.) It was this Filor's good fortune, however, that these gypsies travelled all the way to Rock High Point with her. As soon as she cleared the clear blue water, her small papery lungs inflated with a suck of air. They were small, and had been unused for several weeks, so she needed several more breaths before they worked properly and took over for her gills. Even when she did, however, her voice was gentle and small- so much more dainty than the singing trill she used beneath the waves.

"Fine gypsies," Twinket said, seeing that the caravan had stopped at the sight of her. "Do you have time for some trading with a Filor? I may have some wares of interest, friends." With that, removed several rocks from a shallow pit she'd dug so many moons ago, and pulled forth a waterskin bag, which she opened on the shore after she pulled herself up onto the rocks.

Leshya'e pulled her wagon to a stop and Anezka jumped down, heading towards Twinket with severe fascination. "Oh my! Mum, come look...see what she has...look at this...and this...oh, and these..." Leshya'e reached back and grabbed her leather pouch of couplets and followed Anezka who had picked up both the bottle of perfume and queen firos pendant. "Ah, I see you know what you like right away...how much for these?" Leshya'e smiled at Twinket as she looked at the items herself to find if there was anything she fancied.

Twinket gave Leshya'e and her daughter the price for the objects she was interested in. She also gave the girl a knowing smile, recognizing the spectral energy proto-wings that hovered- half in the meij, and half in this world.

"One day, you will seek the TriRune?" She asked conversationally while the women made up their minds.

Leshya'e nodded and smiled, agreeing with no difficulty or haggling to the prices of the pendant and perfume, looking into her pouch and beginning to count out her gold. Anezka looked at Twinket and tilted her head to the side, "Seek the TriRune? What is that?...Should I seek him...her...it?" She looked back at her mother, who was too busy admiring the other items to pay any mind to Anezka's conversation with the mer-woman.

The Filor girl beamed a smile at the two women, nodding at Ely first.

"I've always been fond of the doll, too. If I wasn't afraid of it being damaged in the water, I would have kept it!" Then she turned to Leshya'e as well, including her in her next question. "So will you be deciding on those items, then?"

While they decided, she lowered her already soft voice and put her pink and blue hand out to Anezka.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you didn't know! ...Were your wings curse-given? If so, I'm very sorry to bring it up. The TriRune doesn't allow curse-givens to fly. But otherwise, if you can complete a TriRune, you can..." she looked at the women, surprised the magical girl hadn't been told, "well... you learn to fly!"

Anezka's eyes went wide, "Fly? Fly!? Mum, did you hear that?...Did you hear what she said?" Leshya'e turned and looked at Anezka, nodding in disbelief, "I...I had no idea...I..." She looked at Twinket, "How can she do that? How would she go about doing...whatever it is that you speak of?"

Twinket took the gold from Lorelei, feeling the clink of the couplets in her scaly palm, and smiling at the woman with the beautiful purple bird on her shoulder. She wanted to ask more about the fluttering creature, but the other child- she was obviously a Fortunette- had such a pressing question.

"Why, the Icarus Protectorate was the guild of fliers. Didn't you know? Many years ago, anyone who followed their teachings could fly. But then something happened to the Protectorate, and all that's left are their TriRunes- so called because they are scattered throughout the world in three parts each. These days as well, without the teachings or the Protectorate, even the runes can't do it all- those people with no air element, or no spirit of flying in their bones- they can't fly even with a rune. But you have the proto-wings. You would be able to fly with a full rune."

"Do you have one of the runes? Or know where I could find one? I'd so love you fly..." Anezka fidgeted in place and then spotted the TriRune amongst the other items twinket had, "Wait...is this it?" She tilted her head, then looked at it closer. "This must be it...I have a...feeling. How much is it?"

"That's the left corner," Twinket explained, showing the tip of the wing design that was etched into the ancient, grey rune. It was so small- it would fit in the girl's palm. "And it's 120 couplets. ...I found this one under Dark Bane Island. I've only ever seen one of the other corners. With another trader, long ago," she said, almost apologetically. She felt badly that this girl was likely to embark on a difficult quest. Her passion seemed to draw her to it, however- so there would be no stopping her with obstacles.

Leshya'e felt her heart sink, "Would you mind...taking a bit less. You see, I only have about 100 couplets on me to last me for a bit longer." She bit her lip, not having haggled in quite a long while, "My daughter, I know, would take great care of it...and it already means so much to her to be able to use her wings. Would you take, maybe...70 couplets for it?" Leshya'e crossed her fingers as she started low, hoping that she and the girl could maybe find a common price at around 85.

"70?" Twinket realized that this was a haggling price, and so she was not offended at the number, "That is awfully low for a TriRune. I've never, ever heard of one going for so little. I could perhaps let it free for 100 couplets?"

At Twinket's mention of the price and Lesh's response, Lorelei reached for her own purse - she could supply the last twenty couplets, and would do so gladly! She was opening her mouth to speak when Lesh began to haggle... and so said nothing, lowering her eyes.

Vanna sang softly, trying to cheer her mother up. A good deed in thought could be just as valid as one actually performed.

Anezka frowned at her mother and at Twinket. "100 is all I have...perhaps...80?...I can't risk myself being without gold during our travels. I wish I had something I could trade to make up the difference, but I fear that I have nothing that would be of any use to you." Leshya'e nervously rubbed the back of her neck, then put her hand on Anezka's back.

"I understand how difficult it is to be without gold when you're a traveller. ...Eighty is still very low, but..." she looked into the eyes of the expectant, beautiful rabbit-girl. "But I see how much she desires this. ...90, and it's yours."

Leshya'e sighed and nodded, "Thank you...Thank you so much..." She handed the couplets to Twinket and bowed to her, "Bless you, dear." Anezka face brightened up and she squeezed her fist around the rune, then held it to her heart, "I'll fly some day...I will...and when I do, I'll come back to find you, i promise!"

Twinket beamed, and oustretched her arms to the girl. "Oh... may I?" She beseeched the girl's mother, asking her with a gesture if she could hug the young one.

Leshay'e nodded and with the approval Anezka reached her arms out as well, embracing the lovely creature. "Thank you...Thank you so much...I'll never forget you..."

Twinket's gills whispered in the breeze. They were further back along her neck, and down close to her shoulders, made up of a webwork of coral pink slivers of dainty, frilly material that looked not unlike lace. That they moved now, while she was out of water, was a sign of affection.

"And I you, little one. I'm glad you've started your quest. If I ever find more runes, I will save them for you, and try to contact your caravan. I have friends who have already made it to the sky- who would be happy to help a fellow Protectorare."

Lorelei smiled and stood. Vanna flew over to Anezka and Twinket, chirping and singing and swooping and dancing through the air. Something in her movements gave off the impression that she was saying, 'One day, we can fly together!' along with a laugh and a smile.

Anezka smiled and finally pulled away, looking at her teary eyed mother. She turned and smiled back at the lovely Filor girl, then stood and walked back to Varekai with Leshay'e.

When they reached their wagon, Anezka took an old sash of Shy's and wrapped it around her waist. Deciding that it looked good, she took it back off and began to cut a square piece from another fabric. Leshya'e then used the square to make a pocket for the rune, but sewed it tightly shut on all four edges. "I'll never lose it...ever..." Anezka wrapped the sash around her waist and nodded.  

[Leshyae]

The morning began like any other morning with Leshya'e waking and washing herself. Filling a pitcher with water, she headed back to Varekai to wake Anezka and get her cleaned and dressed for the day. Instead of finding her daughter laying in her bed, she found her sitting on the steps of the wagon looking down into her hands. "What've you got there, Ani?" Leshya'e tilted her head, then walked closer and looked into Anezka's hands. In the childs hands was a brightly colored, odd-looking egg. "Oh...my...where did you find that?" Anezka gestured to the inside of Varekai, but remained silent as she stared at her new most precious possesion.
Leshya'e cocked her eyebrow and then shrugged, walking into the wagon and pouring the pitcher of water into a basin. "Well, let's find a place to put it, then get you all washed up." Anezka nodded and handed the egg off to Leshya'e as she re-entered Varekai, "Actually, can I go clean up in the stream instead?" With a nod from her mother, Anezka headed to the nearby stream. Skipping there, she nearly stepped on a second ornate egg. "Whoa...hey now...whoa there..." Anezka's eyes went wide and she picked it up. After a few minutes she snapped out of her trance and ran back to her mother to show her the second egg and add it to her collection.  

[Leshyae]

The day was quite chilly when she awoke, so Anezka pulled on some wool tights before she went out to brush Alexander's mane. Wrapping her shawl around her shoulders, she pulled a stool up to the horse and began to comb through some knots. Alexander was happy to have company, neighing quietly and pawing at the dirt with his hoof. "Hopefully the day will warm up, Alex...I was hoping to maybe collect some fruits for Mum." Alexander nodded his headed and pawed more at the dirt, as if agreeing with Anezka's statement.
Finally combing his tail and mane free of knots, Anezka continued to brush him off. Alexander's eyes wandered around and took in his surroundings. In a blur of brown and beige, a small chipmunk ran by, spooking him and sending Ani flying off her stool and onto the ground. She managed to calm him down, then limped around to the front of the wagon. "Umm...Mum...Can you mend something for me?" She asked, looking down with a frown at a tear in both her skirt and her tights.
"Oh dear, you're not bleeding are you?" Leshya'e frowned and then nodded, "Well, fortunately I was already doing some mending and darning, so just take those things off and add them to the pile." Anezka nodded and went into the back of the wagon to change her clothing, "Are you using those new threads and needles?" A nod was the only response from the gypsy, since she was holding a needle in her lips. Placing her tights and skirt on the pile and then examining her knee, Anezka then watched what her mother was doing.
"So...how do you do that without pricking yourself?" Anezka chimed up. Leshya'e smiled and gave her daughter a one word answer, "Practice." She glanced at the pile of items that needed to be mended and chewed on her lip, then had a brilliant idea, "Would you care to learn how to sew?" Deciding that it was too chilly to do anything outside, Anezka nodded and moved closer to Leshya'e and prepared to be instructed.
She pulled two tunics from the pile, laying one on her lap and one on Anezka's. "Ok...this is the most difficult part, once you get past this, you'll be able to do near any type of sewing." Raising a needle a piece of thread, Shy proceeded to demonstrate how to thread a needle. Lucky enough for Anezka, her fingertips were rough like the pads of her feet were when she was a small rabbit, so she didn't bleed much when she pricked herself. Finally mastering it, the lesson continued on as Shy taught Ani a simple stitch, "Good job...yes...that's it...see, it's quite simple isn't it?"
"Yes...You're right...once you can get past threading it, it's not so hard...well...unless it's a bad hole like that one in my tights." Anezka frowned, "Sorry 'bout that one, I fell off the stool when I was brushing Alex." Leshya'e nodded, "It's alright...as long as you're all good, it's fine, and I can fix the tights. But now that you know how to sew, you can help me fix small things like ripped seams." Anezka smiled and nodded, lowering her head back down, continuing to diligently repair the tunic.