One Fine Day|Naurorod

[lattsyrck]

It was a comfortable day in early Autumn; Animals were running around and storing reserves for the winter as were any humans in the area. Fire clans roved about gathering and trapping as needed, sewing up leathers and furs for the eventual winter season, making any repairs while they could, and soaking up the Day’s warm rays while it lasted. Through the forests of Naurorod there lay a settled clan to the south of the Mountain and north of Athrug. The Pyre clans had plenty of members who did not make permanent homesteads or settlements or towns, or what have you; this clan, however, did.

---

Prisca was a young girl of ten and seven years. With thick auburn locks, curly by the norm and decorated by a handful of thin braids giving her a wild look, and bright blue eyes, she stood five feet and six inches high in a fit frame. She was not much into make-ups but she lightly lined her eyes with kohl because she liked the dramatic look. Enjoying crimsons mostly, she wore a loose tunic top of the color, which fell mid thigh, with black leggings beneath. Also, she had a dyed-to-black leather belt around her waist; she wore knee high boots and gloves of the same material (the gloves to protect her hands from splinters from the basket she carried). The gloves were fitted and covered her wrists and up her forearm about and inch and a half or so. The underside of her left wrist bore her fire elemental sign it was just covered by the glove.

Never having gone on a Force Quest, Prisca was recently thinking on the matter. Though the world was dangerous and she was unsure if she could really go it alone, she had tentatively begun to breach the subject with her father. Coming of age for women in clan Lhach Linnod was barely noticed since most women just married young and had children. Age sixteen was when suitors would show interest and a girl was usually married by the time she was eighteen. Prisca had been asked, of course, but she plead that she was thinking still. She was not so sure she wanted to marry yet.

Being a part of this clan, and being hunters as they were, she did have some skill as to fighting and such. Even as a woman she had been taught to fight with daggers, just in case, and some archery. By no means was she surpassing certain men in the clan, but she did surpass some women at least. There were only a couple women in the clan who cared about learning to fight well and maybe even never marry.

In any case, she did not think she could traverse the world alone nor would she want to, it would be far too dull. None of her girl-friends wanted to go on a Force Quest or travel even, but to stay in the clan and marry. Some of her male-friends would be good companions, but she knew the implications and her father would not likely approve. Her older brother, who was 21, had not yet gone on a Force quest either so she thought maybe they could go together but she had only just begun to think on these things. Then again, if she was to get to know the world staying with a family member was slightly binding. Implications aside, she thought a good friend of hers would be nice (whether her brother came too or not)

Currently, Prisca walked down the main street of town in the middle of the day, the sun warming her considerably, as she carried some produce back home from the market. School-age children ran about as classes (simplistic as they were) were let out for lunch and men sat around smoking pipes and chatting while they took breaks from their various jobs.

Prisca’s home sat at the end of the main street that ran through the middle of town. Stone homes all with flat stone roofs, since they were of the fire element and wood burns too easily (even though they could control their powers, stone seemed better since they were settled anyway), though they had wooden beams on the houses for structure. Outside her house was a small garden of flowers and herbs her mother kept, and there her mother hunched pulling weeds and tending her garden before she was to go prepare a light lunch.

Her older brother was out with her father catching animals to trade in town and her younger siblings were in classes. Being past school age, Prisca helped around the house (like going to other homes or the market to trade) or practiced certain skills in the back yard, or tended the two horses they had that resided in one of the shared stables. She was getting to that point in her life where she wanted…more.

Prisca wanted to see cites and meet other elementals. In classes as a child she had learned their history and about the wars and all that had gone on as was recorded since the beginning. All she knew was the fire clan, mostly staying in this town and once having gone with her father and older brother to a neighboring settled clan. Nomad clans came through town and they lived near the City of Death, Athrug, so they had seen war-time troubles, too.

When the fire clans were called to burn the Clear City down…her father and brother went, some older women who were unmarried or widowed did too. Her father would not let her go, though. “Too dangerous” he said. Nonetheless, she wanted to see the world and know what was out there. Thus, as she walked home with the basket of produce, her mind was completely elsewhere...

[Kender Bard]

Diana was an oddity – a fire type girl that also had the water type element, for her parents were as unlikely a union as could ever be found in Naurorod. Her parents said that made her unique, rare, and precious. Unfortunately many of her peers had less flattering remarks for such a combination… Her twin brother, Daniel, didn’t seem to have any problems with the same situation though. For some reason, he charmed all the ladies and made friends as easy as breathing.

Where did he get it from? Diana would question herself on that often. Even now, as she strolled home, books in arms for her studies later, she pondered it. It’s not fair that he got the lion’s share of sociability. I don’t ask for much, but being able to make at least one friend would be nice…

Diana sighed and blew a lock of her reddish brown hair out of her eyes and tried to pay attention to where she was going. The last time she’d wandered around with her head in the clouds she’d tripped over a loose cobblestone and dropped some fresh parchment scrolls in the mud. She shuddered at the memory – if there was anything Diana hated more than her social awkwardness, it had to be dirt.

Daniel says that maybe if I stopped cleaning every object my hands fell on I might make more friends. She’d taken his advice to heart, but couldn’t help herself. Her fingers would twitch in the presence of muck and the next thing she knew she’d be hunting for a cleaning rag. Oh well, at least the house was always spotless…

Diana brought herself back to reality just in time – she was a few paces away from running into a lady carrying produce. Catching herself, she stumbled over her feet and wound up doing an impromptu juggling act as she tried desperately to keep the books from touching the ground – to no avail. One of the books, a leather bound blue book with flowing script that read ‘Gardening for Young Girls’ clattered to the ground and slid near Prisca’s foot. Diana bit her lip in worry – these were books she’d had a relative send all the way to Naurorod from Mentis as a yearly gift. “S-s-sorry,” she stammered to the other girl.

[lattsyrck]

At the sudden clattering of books onto the cobblestones Prisca looked up suddenly and stopped in her tracks. With a smile of empathy towards the young girl, for she had clutzy moments as well, Prisca set her basket down and bent to help the girl pick her things up.

She went first to the blue book and picked it up for the girl. Glad that the girl had not fallen from her stumble and only had dropped some things. Falling on cobblestone was awfully painful.

"Gardening for young girls..." Prisca said aloud softly, her voice had a smoky quality to its sound.

Prisca thought it was neat that the girl had books. Most books in town were written a long time ago, battered, and such. It was hard to get books since they rarely travelled out to a city that sold books. Requests took a while but were worth it. Prisca had no books of her own, though her mother had some, and she thought it interesting this girl had some.

"Hmm, I am Prisca, pleasure to meet you." Smiling softly and looking up at the girl.

The girl looked younger than her, carrying books and all. Since coming of age was 16, kids usually ended school around then. They could do more studying with a personal tutor, perhaps a scholar moved to town or something of that sort, or they could learn the family business, or whatever else.

"You like to garden?" Prisca asked handing the book over to the girl.

[Kender Bard]

I wonder if she’s laughing at me on the inside… Diana thought miserably, but the unbidden image of her twin giving her a nagging, pitying look hardened her resolve. No, Diana, don’t think like that. You have to assume people are being kind to you if they act like it! Smiling, shakily, Diana took back the book that had fallen and started to rub the cover meticulously with a corner of her sleeve, fussing and worrying over it like a mother hen with her chick.

“I’m Diana,” she said sofly, trying to will her voice to a conversational volume instead of the whisper she generally took with strangers. Her body met her half way, causing her to remain soft spoken but at least be audible. When she heard the other girl’s question, a touch of the tension flew from her and excitement bubbled up within her. Maybe she really does just want to be friendly! “Oh, aye. It’s hard work but that’s never stopped me from doing anything before. I adore the colors and smells, and the butterflies that come to visit certain types of flowers. Despite all the dirt…” She cleared her throat, having almost squeaked on the word. “…Despite the dirt, I think the reward is worth it.”

Cautiously, hopefully, she inquired, “Do you enjoy flowers and gardening and such as well?” Wouldn’t that be an interesting surprise to find another green thumb amongst the Fire types!

[lattsyrck]

Rising up while slipping her arm through the handle of her basket again, Prisca smiled and nodded as Diana introduced herself. She truly listened to what the girl had to say about her love of gardening and why. She was not so sure what was wrong with dirt, as it washed off, but she totally followed everything else.

“Do you enjoy flowers and gardening and such as well?”

Prisca tilted her head to one side, considering for half a second before straightening and shaking her head a bit.

"Not particularly, my mother does though, so I suppose I understand a little about the matter."

With a smile she added, "My mother sure did try to get me to like it!"

Prisca did wonder, really, how a young girl picked up the interest in gardening. Being a borderline tom-boy, she had a hard time understanding this. That was mostly due to the fact that she always looked up to her older brother since he was four years older than her.

She actually admired her brother because, though 21, he was a rebel of sorts for not marrying yet. When younger he had courted a girl for a while, but she had died of an illness a month before they were to be married. Lucas, thus, had not tried again yet and accepted the social awkwardness. For being strong and resolute, Prisca admired.

Taking her mind back to the present, she focused her bright blue eyes on Diana. Licking her lips she added, "Does your mother garden?"

[Kender Bard]

A warmth flooded Diana’s brown eyes as she gushed, “Oh yes. Not nearly as much as me, but she insists on keeping fresh flowers around the house – not that Father objects. She sometimes laments not being able to grow certain types of flowers that require fast amounts of water, such as certain species that can be found in Ronduin.” Catching herself, Diana idly wondered why she was suddenly so open with this young lady – perhaps it was because Prisca had not yet gotten that scornful type of smile that some of the other peers would gain while Diana talked. Feeling rather optimistic, she went out on a limb.

“Many people I talk to are deathly afraid of going to Ronduin,” she said slowly, picking her words with care. “I’m not entirely sure why. For that matter, most Fire types don’t appear inclined to travel beyond the borders of Naurorod… What do you think?” Ask questions her brother had told her. You’ll get people to open up and find out whether or not it’s worth trying to befriend them. Well, that sound advice was worth trying now.

[lattsyrck]

Prisca listened with real intrigue about flowers that cannot grow here. She had never stopped to consider that, honestly. Even though she was not mainly interested in horticulture, she did enjoy learning new things and she appreciated Diana having a real interest.

The girls that Prisca had as peers, or friends even, were rather dull at times. Such and such man would be a good husband, so and so seamstress is doing the gown, and so on. They all did what tradition would have of them. Prisca...not so much.

For that matter, most Fire types don’t appear inclined to travel beyond the borders of Naurorod… What do you think?

Prisca looked up, as if questioning fate about such a question coming up. It could not be coincidence that the thoughts she was thinking before running into this girl that she did not yet know, probably due to the slight age difference, would then come up a short while later, could it?

"Fancy you should mention travel, actually. Honestly I do want to see the world and even go on a Force Quest if I could...but mostly I just want to travel. A Force Quest would be a, er, 'respected' reason to go."

Prisca wondered how much was too much to say to someone you just met. Deciding that she neither cared nor saw it as an issue, she decided to continue.

"My mother, bless her heart, thinks the world to dangerous for girls. My father mostly agrees as he seems to think I should choose a suitor and marry and bear children and stay here all the rest of my uneventful days..."

Realizing she was ranting about a recent argument between her and her parents, something Lucas tried to get in on her side for but often gave up not wanting to argue, Prisca paused. Why should she unload her problems on Diana? It was bad enough the girl did not seem to have friends just because of her interests, let alone for Prisca to whine about her silly problems.

"I digress...So you would like to visit Ronduin, for the different flowers and such? I have no fear of the other elementals..." except the clears i guess..., she thought. "

[Kender Bard]

Diana bit her lip as she considered the question. It seemed to her that Prisca was chafing under the tradition of Clan Lhach Linnod, and she could almost sympathise. Diana did not exactly crave adventure so much as she enjoyed expanding her knowledge on things – and there was only so much one could learn in the relatively backwards culture of Fires. She knew that her brother had intimated perhaps going on a trip someday, but he didn’t seem too eager; Daniel wasn’t the type to do anything in a hurry really.

“I think I’d like to go to Ronduin perhaps,” she said slowly. “There’s plenty there I could learn. But really, I think I’d be content to visit any area. I suppose I’m blessed to not have conventional parents. My father is very open minded and my mother quite… calm about almost anything that arises.”

Glancing at a shadow, she suddenly realized that her family might wonder where she was. But at the same time, she didn’t want to stop having such an enlightening conversation with this nice lady. Tilting her head inquiringly, Diana asked, “If you’re not in a hurry, would you like to come meet my parents? Or maybe we could continue talking in my mother’s garden. If not, I understand. It’s just that one of the things my mother will fret over is if I’m late. She and my brother are a couple of worriers about family.”

[lattsyrck]

Listening to Diana talk about wanting to go out just to learn was hitting nearer to home than she knew. Prisca did not truly care about a Force Quest, she believed and did not wish to seek something she would not find.

It was more for travel and insight and meeting people. She currently felt no love, in the marriage sense, for anyone here so maybe she could find love out there. A force quest was the reason she gave for wanting to go.

Lucas, her brother, knew her better but respected her enough to not share the thought with her parents. Prisca had considered being perfectly frank about it, and then decided against it. With three younger siblings she did not want to influence them wrong. She felt strongly for her desires but she also respected this clan and its choice of lifestyle. It worked for them and had for many, many years. Nothing wrong with that. Yet, she did wish her parents were more open to new ideas.

“If you’re not in a hurry, would you like to come meet my parents? Or maybe we could continue talking in my mother’s garden. If not, I understand. It’s just that one of the things my mother will fret over is if I’m late. She and my brother are a couple of worriers about family.”

Nodding with a familiarity on the matter, her brother was protective of her in many ways, Prisca smiled and adusted the basket to the crook of her elbow better. She looked up at the sky, judging the hour by the light, and decided it was fine. Her mother did not really need her around the house as much as she claimed.

"That would be fun, I would love to!"

Over the years the clan had grown large, to this point being possible to actually not know people in town. Prisca thought it interesting, in this regard, to go and meet new people since she was around the same people day in and day out. New thoughts and faces and voices was always welcome.

[Kender Bard]

Some small part of Diana had wondered why she’d readily asked Prisca to come to her home. Really, she’d been acting odd all around. Was it just a spur of the moment thing or something… bigger? Etaf’s touch? Well, no matter – questions of that nature were better left to her mother; she wasn’t about to take up arms in the philosophy and religious sector. If she’d enjoyed things like that, she’d already have applied to be a priestess.

Nevertheless she felt a flush of pleasure that her new – dare she say, friend? – was going to come with her. Leading the way, she wound down the rest of the street and came to stop before a small, modest home with a beautiful patch of backyard that had been carefully cultivated over the years. Coming inside, she did her usual cleanliness issue – taking off her shoes after rigorously rubbing the soles clean on the little dirt mat by the door that she made out of horsehair and straw, then brushing herself down of any loose dust. Yes, it was odd, but perhaps this could stand in as the first test of Prisca’s patience. At least she wouldn’t ask Prisca to do the same.

That done, she went to a table and set her books down, fussing over them like the prized possessions that they were. Calling out, “Mother, I’m home!” she waited for an answer. When none came she shrugged and said to Prisca, “Mother must have stepped out. Daniel, my brother, is probably in his room loafing about or sleeping, and my father is at work right now. But that’s okay – I can make you a snack if you’re hungry. Go ahead and make yourself comfy in the garden out back. There’s even a padded seat out there as well as the wooden bench.”

[lattsyrck]

Prisca admired the home as she entered and found some similarities between their mums as far as decor and gardening. Setting her basket just by the door inside, Prisca bent and slipped her boots off. She was not bothered by Diana's habits for cleanliness for 'to each his own' was a motto in her home.

As Diana went to set her books down and such, Prisca followed quietly looking around as she did so. After discovering her parents were not home, Prisca could have figured as much. It did not matter, she had some time.

"Oh...ummm" Prisca was not sure if she was hungry yet for she ate a late breakfast.

"I am not really hungry yet...though, if you want to snack I never refuse food."

Speaking lightly and with a smile, Prisca shrugged a bit. Since she was an active girl, running and swimming and training, she had a quick metabolism so she did not mind eating whenever.

After being directed out to the backyard, Prisca nodded a bit and went out there. The garden was a little more lush and grown than her family garden and she breathed deep, smelling the different herbs and plants. She chose the padded seat over the wooden one and soaked up the sun while she waited for Diana to join her.

[Kender Bard]

Since Prisca didn’t seem inclined to eat yet, she didn’t bother making any dainty finger foods for her guest as her mother might have; she wasn’t all that hungry as well either. While Prisca went outside, she snuck off to go peek into her brother’s room. The sound of resounding snores greeted her, and she was rewarded with a view of Daniel spread out at the oddest angle on his bed, limbs resting in crazy positions. Giggling, she tiptoed in and shook him. Daniel started with a snort and opened his eyes languidly to stare at Diana a moment before his sleepy mind registered her presence.

“Sis?” he sighed and yawned. “What is it?” Diana smiled and tussled his hair, which earned her a grumbling, weak shove.

“We have a guest,” she informed her twin. “So if you’re going to keep sleeping, try to keep your log-sawing down a couple notches in loudness okay?” Daniel grunted, to be taken as an agreement, and flopped over on his stomach, dragging a pillow over his head to muffle his snores. Diana shook her head in amusement and quietly walked out, closing the door behind her, and going out into the garden, grinning.

Settling on the wooden bench, she said, “My brother is such a lazy oaf. But I love him. Do you have siblings?”

[lattsyrck]

“My brother is such a lazy oaf. But I love him. Do you have siblings?”

With a giggle and nod of understanding, Prisca answered with a yes before elaborating. "Lucas is the oldest, he's 21. Sabina and Sofia are eleven and twins. My mum is trying to make them more into the girl-things than I am, like marriage and all. heh. And the youngest is Simeon and he's 7."

After a second of thought, Prisca decided to just go on and tell Diana about her parents as well. It was a good way to learn about a person, seeing what their parents did and all.

"Oh, my father, Griffin, is on the hunting team and sells furs and meats up at Hunter's Lodge and my mum, Azra, doesn't work at all, except at home. hee hee. How about you? Any other's besides your brother"

[Kender Bard]

Diana smiled and nod eagerly, explaining, "Aye, my parents had a son when they were very young and not yet married. It was quite the scandel! He's a good guy, though I almost never see him. Eragon is his name. The last I heard, he was at a monestary to the north, becomining a first class monk and trying to gain a second sign there."

She sighs in memory of her dear older brother. Despite having a rather shaky start here considering his legitimacy, he was rather obviously her father's favorite. His demeanor and looks seemed to take almost exclusively after him. Luckily, Daniel didn't seem to mind or care. Since the twins took after their mother, and she doted over them accordingly, he seemed quite content. Diana was too for that matter.

At that moment, a soft, almost sing-song voice fills the air, calling out, "Diana! Daniel! I'm home!" Before Diana could rise to make an introduction, a brunette in an odd dress of blues and oranges pratically floats into view, gliding with a liquid grace. Glancing at Prisca, then Diana, she smiles knowingly and bobs slightly in a little curtsey. "Greetings, miss. I'm Alenna, Diana's mother."

[lattsyrck]

Hearing about the abnormal circumstances in Diana's family made Prisca smile and nod. Unable to help it, Prisca was somewhat rebellious in nature but in a good way. She liked things that challenged the system and all. Furthermore, it was neat that Eragon was training to gain a second sigh. Prisca wondered at how hard that must be!

At the sing-song voice Prisca looked up. When Diana's mother walked in Prisca could not help but smile at her appearance; She did not smile in a mean way but in a happy way because it was apparent the joy in Diana's mum. Even though Prisca's own mother was joyful she never dressed in such a way or appeared so genuinely happy like Diana's mother.

"Oh hi, I'm Prisca Kurush...I'm glad to meet you, Alethia."

Prisca could not help but see how the love and joy in Alethia showed in her garden. It made sense that such a garden could only be tended with love. Diana must be the same way, though shy, and Prisca thought that was really awesome. She often found she was not as loving as she wished she was because she got caught up in the things going on around her or in her family.