"Wait up!" Ameiko laughs, doing her best to keep up. She is naturally nimble, but not nearly as acrobatic as Maeve.
Maeve giggles at Ame's cry, but she does slow up even more, following the directions given to her even if it means stopping to hop up on a bench or the like to get her bearings, being even shorter than many of the people around her here.
Harlan continues to reply in Tien while sticking out his belly.
"You...challenge me...to a COOK OFF!? Very well, fetch me a goat!"
"Yeah, well I wouldn't use the term wisdom when the two of them get together. They act like children ... oblivious to danger and somehow expecting that things will just work out ..." Parity snarls and then relaxes, "Bah, doesn't matter, nothing to be done about it here. Feel free to come with me. I doubt I'll be great company."
------------------
"An army you say? Interesting ..." Parity files that away to remind himself to mention it to the group later.
"I'm glad to hear bloodsport is frowned upon. You don't sound as if you relish battle? Has their been one recently you've been able to show your prowess?"
As Maeve slows up, Ameiko keeps the pace. "The locals must think we're on something. Where are you leading me?"
Koya gives Heng a pondering glance. "Is something on your mind, Heng?"
The master chef sighs, shaking his head. "I don't have time for games," he scoffs, not even pausing in his orchestration of the preparations. "But, if you wish to be helpful, then get to work, or get out of the way."
***
Shalelu defers to Parity's mood and falls in behind, following silently.
The guard grunts, "I relish the chance to prove my mettle, as any other man should. Nothing recently... Winter is a quiet season, but in the spring it always gets busy. When the caravans roll the bandits and brigands appear, like gnats from the bogs."
Maeve grins broadly over her shoulder at Ameiko. "Oh, I'm sure they just think I'm on something. As for where we're going...well, somewhere I bet you'll see something amazing." Apparently Maeve doesn't want to say more, because she gets moving again.
Parity cocks his head quizzically, "Relish? Really? I don't mind a good fight and Pharasma knows I've dealt violence, but I can't say that I ever look forward to putting my life at risk. You climb rocks without a rope, too?"
Ameiko shakes her head and continues to follow.
***
The man's demeanor grows cold. "I mean we all seek to show our worth. For a warrior, that is through battle."
The boy's directions lead Maeve and Ameiko to a wide open space at the intersection of several streets and a main avenue. The entire place is filled with tents as vendors and craftsmen hock their wares. As it is still late winter, most of the foodstuffs are cured meats and hard breads.
At the bazaar's center, a clearing holds a performance contest. A huge, muscled man, his skin covered in runic tattoos, and bare-chested despite the chilly air, stands stock still before a stack of ten planks. A large pile of shattered planks lies at his side. The crowd watches in quiet anticipation, though you can see people exchanging bets.
With a great kiai shout, the hulk flashes into motion, driving his fist down through the entire stack with one, direct punch. The plank halves clattered to the ground as the crowd raises up in cheers.
After finding herself a perch to watch from, Maeve stops and cocks her head at the strike. Although one plank is relatively simple, ten would be nigh-impossible even for Heng - Maeve could, herself, probably manage three, four on a good day. Well, so she thinks anyway. Regardless, she starts clapping, then looks down to Ameiko when it's done with a hopeful smile.
"Better?" Maeve is just barely managing to conceal a hint of hopeful desperation now.
Parity shrugs, noting the change in demeanor, "Don't mean you any insult, just trying to understand a culture very different from mine. I would think the measure of a truly great warrior is one that is so respected, that he no longer needs to fight. That should be what we aspire to. The reward for successful battle is nothing but peace."
|
Koya gives Heng a pondering glance. "Is something on your mind, Heng?"
"Hmm?", Heng shifts his attention back to Koya grinning somewhat sheepishly. "Oh, I am sorry, Tata. You can always tell when I am lost in my thoughts, you would make a good meditation teacher."
"I was thinking about my father. I always swore that someday I would travel to Tian and find out where he was from and why he came all the way to Avistan simply to hide away in the mountains as a hermit. Now I am here, but my answers will have to wait. I have given my word to see Ameiko through her quest first."
"There is no point to dwelling on this though. We should be present and we should be wary. We are in a strange land and we have enemies here. We can only hope that it will take some time for them to locate us. I would like to be back on the road soon. The more we tarry, the more likely we will be found. Shall we return to the palace?"
*******
As Heng and Koya make their way back to the palace, they find the the way blocked by a crowd. Heng becomes alerted as he hears a martial kiai and a crash. He pushes through the crowd with Koya in tow and is relieved to see it is merely a contest of strength. He watches the strong man closely intrigued by his tattoos and martial style.
Ameiko glances at Maeve, smiling. "Oh, I wasn't disappointed before. But that was really cool!"
Koya smiles warmly, and takes one of Heng's calloused hands in her own. "We may never uncover the full mystery of your father, but we will find something of your past." She pauses a moment before giving a squeeze. "Thank you for taking me with you. I never want to do that journey again, but it was exactly what these old bones needed. Even after years and years on the road, I finally feel like a Varisian."
***
The man returns to his pre-strike stance as a couple of young apprentices clean up the boards. With slow and deliberate precision, he begins a meditative kata.
Heng cannot make out the meaning of the man's tattoos, but they are archaic Tien characters.
"What you say should be true, and there are many mystics who believe such things. But the world is full of the stupid and ignorant... someone will always break the peace."
Maeve grins and hops down from the low crate to give Ameiko a sudden hug. "You're welcome." A moment later, though, she's let go and blushing. "...I forgot to buy what I came out here for." She giggles to herself nervously.
Parity nods his head in assent, "True, it's why we must know how to fight, but it is worth aspiring for."
"I think we were after some crafting materials. Hey look, there's Koya and Heng!" Ameiko points and waves to the others at the edge of the clearing.
Harlan sighs as the cook refuses to compete with him.
"I'll have you know my black bean goat chili won the Loudest Outhouse Competition 3 years running back home. But I'll help."
"Are you sure that's how you use that knife? I've never seen meat cut like that before. You grow that herb where!"
After struggling with the strange methods of cooking Harlan buckles down and tries again.
"No no, this is all wrong. You don't have any paprika?"
Maeve grins and waves as well, starting to lead a snaking path through the crowd towards the pair.
The master chef gives Harlan only a few moments of his attention, and each of those are filled with disapproving looks. Shaking his head, he sighs and resumes his coordination for the night's feast.
***
Ready.
***
The man returns Heng's bow, but remains silent after he hears your question. In response, he gestures to his forehead, his chest, and the open sky. He refers to you, and then bows again.
Maeve cocks her head. "Not sure but I think he's saying that he learned from travels on the open road, or rather 'under the blue sky.'"
Maeve blushes. "Uhm...still have some shopping to do, but we'll meet you at the palace before then."
Harlan dejectedly helps around the kitchen, depressed that his lack of language skills and height have so badly hindered him.
As evening settles over the city, you dress and prepare for the upcoming feast. You gather in a small courtyard in the guest wing, preparing to enter the dining hall as a group. Sandru has come up from the caravan to join you. While waiting to be escorted, you fill the time with small talk, sharing your discoveries in the city and palace.
A Tian woman enters, walks delicately towards your group and bows low on her knees. She is strikingly beautiful, wearing a kimono-style dress that fits her figure snugly. Her white-powdered skin stands in stark contrast to the black of her hair and eyes. After a few moments of obescience, she stands and speaks.
Maeve finds herself unexpectedly caught up short by the woman's appearance, but recovers. She speaks in Tien, actually lowering herself to the ground as well. "Please relax, Miyaro. We're far from royalty, a simple bow will do."
Miyaro flashes a brief smile and bows again, more modestly. She gestures towards the door and starts to lead your party through the palace. "The Five Feasts of Hongal are a tradition dating back to the earliest ages, when these lands were dominated by five powerful tribes. On the rare occasions when the khans would meet in peace, each were required to host the others in a nightly feast. The khans would hold unique challenges or performances on each night, to highlight the strengths of their tribe. Over time they became expected, and thus became the Five Feasts of today."
"Tonight is the Feast of the Three, celebrating the Three Games of Hongal: mounted archery, bareback horse riding, and wrestling."
"I take it that we're expected to participate in the games, instead of just watch?" Maeve asks, leaning around Miyaro to catch her eye while they talk. "Is there any stigma for failing, or is this just for fun?"
Miyaro turns to Maeve. "Not exactly. The Prince will ask one of you to perform similar acts, to prove the worth of your lands. To refuse or to fail would be to your shame."
|
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"Your traditions are not our own. Is it required that a horse be ridden or will any mount do?" Heng asks as he glances at Harlan and the others.
"I am proficient in unarmed combat and will endeavor to do my best in the wrestling challenge. I do not think any of us have much experience in mounted archery though."
Miyaro bows low, holding it while she answers. "My master is not required of anything, of course. But you will need to ask the Prince, when he invites you to participate. This one does not have the answers you seek."
"I will not perform for anyone" Parity bites acidly. "You all do as you wish."
"I can ride. I don't know how good I am shooting from the back of Prugh though."
Ooh, because he was a gladiator.
Maeve hangs her head for a moment. "...none of us have held a bow in our lives, have we?"
"Well I have my crossbow, I just don't normally ride Prugh while shooting it."
Harlan smiles at Maeve.
How could she forget? Probably all that spinning around, bad for the brain.
"I can shoot a bow, but am not well trained at riding a horse."
It takes a moment of thought. "I'm not sure the crossbow actually counts in this case. Mal...I know it's rough, but you're probably our best bet for the mounted archery. We...might be able to impress them by having Prugh play along."
...if I can sell it.