Pleasant Conversations

Writers: AL, Avery
Date Posted: 22nd November 2008

Characters: Ishek, Briata
Description: Ishek and Briata walk and talk together.
Location: Garnet Valley Hold
Date: month 13, day 3 of Turn 4

Briata

"Would you care to walk with me a bit?" Briata turned her attention to
Ishek after her father excused himself from the table to take care of
some business and her step-mother had gone to attend to some personal
business, leaving the two alone. "I could show you around a bit more
if you like."

"I'd like that." Ishek answered. "Your hold appears to be quite the
prosperous one, and it's always nice to see a new place."

"We do well." Briata didn't want to boast too much. It wasn't seemly.
"If you like, I could show you the fields, or we could just walk around
and enjoy the pleasant weather."

"Wherever you'd like is fine." he told her. "What about your favorite
outdoor places? If you recall, I showed you one of mine on your last
visit to the Valley."

"Oh yes!" Briata laughed and clapped her hands together. "I should
definitely return the favour." She stood and held her hand out to the
man. "Shall I show you then?"

"Indeed." he said, taking her hand. "Are they nearby, or very far?"

"A little ways away." Briata admitted, then added with a humourous
tone, "But definitely within a half day's walk."

"We'll be back in time for another one of those fabulous dinners then?"
Ishek asked, rubbing his stomach exaggeratedly.

Another laugh escaped and it was accompanied by a nod. "Of course, of
course, we wouldn't want to miss dinner. We'll be back in plenty of
time."

"I suppose you know all the special places, having grown up here. Did
you like to go exploring much, or were you told to not wander so far
afield?" he wondered. He'd been allowed to roam once he'd reached his
teens, but he knew that his family had kept Miralani on a tighter
leash.

"Well, I'm allowed to roam within the territory." Briata led Ishek through the hallways of the hold. "I know every bit of the surrounding land as if it were a part of my own body. I know all the best hiding places as well."

"Did you hide much?" he asked. It was amazing how he could talk to her like a friend, even if she was almost half his age. She was so mature.

"More than I think my parents cared." Briata laughed softly. "I like exploring, finding new places. I often would pretend I was a harper who traveled around from hold to hold on exciting adventures."

"Did you want to actually be a harper, or did the idea of traveling interest you?" Ishek asked. "I once, with my wife, left and joined a trader caravan for a couple months. The life wasn't like the ballads and brief experiences made me think it would be, and we did have a responsibility at home." he admitted. "But I liked the chance to see a little more of the world."

"Oh, that does sound exciting." Briata wondered what it would be like to be part of a caravan. She had heard that traders were often a closely knit group. "I never really gave much thought to being a harper, it was more of the traveling that appealed to me, really. So tell me about your travels. What was it like?"

He thought about how to convey it to her. "It was long and hard and smelly. In a Hold, you have access to bathing areas, and on the road you don't. You wake up before dawn to pack up and tend the animals, and then you travel the road all day whether it's hot or cold until after dark. Everyone is responsible for something- I helped care for the beasts. When you're at a Hold to sell things, you need to be a shrewd bargainer. It requires not really trusting people and trying to get the best for youself, and sometimes it made me uncomfortable."

"But it wasn't always awful." he added. "There's rarely an actual harper or healer or other crafter, so you learn a lot from talented individuals. There was storytelling and singing around the fire, and anyone who had a talent or an interest could learn herb lore, or how to handle burns. Like the kind of learning you'd get as a parent, I guess. It could be more equal at times."

"Did you enjoy it then?" Briata pressed gently. She tried to imagine what it would be like. Certainly having access to bathing areas and such were certainly cleaner and more convenient. But what if she fell in love with a trader? Despite everything, she would think that living that kind of life would be worth being with the one you loved. "If you hadn't had other responsibilities, would you have stayed?"

"I'm not sure. My wife wasn't as fond of the life as I was. She enjoyed riding runners and even some honest farm work, but the long hours of traveling in the wagons and the constant meetings with strangers wore on her. I liked the way that everyone was important for their talents and the way that everyone contributed equally, but not the nomadic part of it. If only there was a stationary community like that. Holds can be regimented." he mused.

"I'm not sure if I would like the nomadic aspect of that life either." Briata mused after a moment. "I think I would hate being uprooted so often. I like having a place I can come back to and call home. I would enjoy the runners, though, and I don't mind farm work, though my experience is mostly with livestock." The girl paused a moment, then asked softly, "What was she like? Your wife?"

"Outspoken. Unconventional. I met her riding her runner unchaperoned one day, and that proved what life was like. She could sew and cook, but she never liked it. I think she would have been happier if she could have worked in the fields like just another farmer." he admitted. "I think, if women could still craft... I know that women aren't incapable of such things, no matter what others say." he added.

"My father would agree with you on that." Briata mused softly. "He's always encouraged me to do what I want, to go into a craft if I so desired. He was born and raised in the North and came down because there was more opportunity to have his own holding. He brought Northern views with him, though I'm content simply being a wife and mother."

"I think it's wonderful of you to have decided for yourself, rather then being forced into anything."

"I must say, I am rather grateful." Briata knew there were so many young women who were not in the sort of position she was. It was rather sad, really. "I know I'm privileged in that manner."

"I hope one day, things will change. I know that if I ever have a daughter, I'll give her her own choice."

"I think that's a wise and wonderful decision." Briata's smile brightened. "And I know she'll adore you for it!"

"I hope so." Ishek said. "What about your children? What would you offer them, or would it depend on your husband?"

"Well," Briata stated slowly, "I would hope that the man I marry would be like you, willing to let his daughters do what they wanted rather than forcing them into something they might not be ready to do. Having a choice, it's a freedom that I wish more women had. So yes, I would give my daughter's a choice and hope my husband would be in agreement with that."

"Well, I hope your husband listens to you." Ishek said. With a girl as clearly brilliant as Bri, though, how could her husband not? He'd have to be a fool not to notice how she made wise decisions. In that way, she reminded him of Shama- she knew her mind and she'd say it. She'd have wise thoughts, and an answer for everything, even if it was that she had no answer.

Last updated on the November 23rd 2008

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