"And if she doesn't want to murder someone for her freedom? If that is a price she isn't willing to pay?"
"Er ... er það vandamálið?" asks the thrall.
"That's why I asked her if she wanted my assistance."
"And that would weigh less on her how? You don't have to wield the knife to carry the guilt of the blood."
Hrithik nods to Sandru. "Sometime in the next few days, I hoped to be able to use the lab for an alchemy day, if I can be spared and that won't bother Ms. Kelda. Not for alcohol, I'm afraid," he adds with a smile.
"Shouldn't be a problem," says Sandru. "I'll put it on the roster."
"Onerous?"
She shrugs. "Not really."
"And that would weigh less on her how? You don't have to wield the knife to carry the guilt of the blood."
Alaric, frustrated: "No, if she didn't want the monster dead, she could merely say, 'don't kill him' and I'll listen to her. She has the right to choose. So I'm offering her that choice now."
"Er ... er það vandamálið?" asks the thrall.
Mel turns briefly to the woman, and with much more calmness than the rest of her body suggests, says "Ekki fyrir þig. Maðurinn er ekki sammála þrælkun og vill hjálpa frjáls þú. Ég veit ekki hvort þú vilt vera ánægð með aðferðum sínum."
"... hans aðferðir?" she asks.
Alaric, frustrated: "No, if she didn't want the monster dead, she could merely say, 'don't kill him' and I'll listen to her. She has the right to choose. So I'm offering her that choice now."
She nods, and continues to speak to the woman, "Hann vill vita ef þú vilt hjálpa honum að myrða herra þíns þannig að þú getur verið frjáls."
She turns back to Alaric, "I gave her the choice." She seems... upset.
She shrugs. "Not really."
Rhost leans forward a bit and looks off to the side. "And after?"
"Thank you," Rhost says, and looks inside the bag.
What's in the bag?!
a good supply of pine nuts from the Grungir forest.
Rhost leans forward a bit and looks off to the side. "And after?"
There is a long pause. Finally, she says, "No plans yet."
She nods, and continues to speak to the woman, "Hann vill vita ef þú vilt hjálpa honum að myrða herra þíns þannig að þú getur verið frjáls."
She turns back to Alaric, "I gave her the choice." She seems... upset.
The woman's jaw drops.
"Þú verður að segja honum að hann má ekki tala með þessum hætti!" she says urgently, glancing to both sides. "Ég skil hann er útlendingur og þekkir ekki þess sem hann segir, en menn konungs er sama! Þeir munu skera ykkur niður eins og sauðir ef þeir heyra hann segja slíkt!"
Hrithik leans back in his chair, hands over his face, utterly exasperated and defeated and not knowing where to start. After a moment, he sits back normally, hands at his sides.
"I will defer to you," he finally says, in Elven.
Looking around the restaurant, he says, "It is the custom of masters to pay for their servants, because clearly the servant cannot pay for themselves. I would rather pay my fair share of the meal and the tip."
[...]
Looking at Liothonae, Hrithik says, "At our first Big Meeting within an hour of returning from Brinewall, I tried to permanently berth us into the same wagon. You said nothing, retaining your current berth with Ms. Shalelu, at a meeting where you directly sat next to Ms. Shalelu. When I sought you out to dance badly together, you demurred, but were there sitting next to Ms. Shalelu. When I try to read what you mean to her, I get nothing but a blank wall beyond the fact that she cares for you very, very much, and statements that she will always be there for you."Hrithik's gaze at Liothonae is deadly serious. "At your request, and your logic of not undermining what we have, I have kept my interests in others to nothing more than flirtation, and given you veto rights, as my primary partner, over the progress of any other relationship I might conceive to expand the circle of my love. I must admit that I do not believe I am being accorded the reciprocal respect and rights."
Hrithik sets his jaw, and continues, "I know that you regularly sleep in the same wagon as Ms. Shalelu. I suspect that you regularly scout and spend more time with her, and that she uses her position and authority and yearlong bond with you to spend even more. I believe that interest is not platonic, and that you are not keeping it at arm's length as I keep my interest in Lady Ameiko at arm's length. I further believe that you had no intention of mentioning any of this honestly to me anytime soon."
Hrithik takes a deep breath, and finishes, "I believe you are expanding the circle of your love without including me in the decision, while wishing to be included in any deliberation of if and how I expand mine. I find that unloving, and unfair."
Calmly and levelly, yet with eyes smoldering, Lio says, "Instead of addressing any of my concerns, you fling jealous accusations at me? Is this your attempt to deflect my anger and turn it into some sort of guilt, so you can be the aggrieved party and have to admit no wrong doing?" She looks at him searching for something. "You wish to play and toy with my emotions, rather than allow both of us to grow as a couple. Why is it, that having been abused makes you think it is ok to abuse others in turn?"
"First of all, what you are doing right now, is telling me that you are ceding the previous argument to me, you are 'letting' me win, because you think I am being irrational and thus cannot possibly convince you that I have valid points. Further, you will 'let' me win in the future, by telling me my wishes and desires are stupid and my opinions are wrong. You think I am at fault, possibly because I did not move in with you, when I had known you for all of two weeks at that point and you did not ask me if I wanted to move in with you. Instead of asking me, or speaking to me, you spent the great part of the evening we first came back from Brinewall, ignoring me for Ameiko, whom by the way, I also sat next to. Are you going to accuse me of having an illicit affair with her as well? ...And, since you were paying such close attention to where I sat, you might have also noticed that I did not speak a word to anyone that night, but Melinda, who was then overtaken by some of my worst memories. And I recall, you were there several days later, dealing with the fallout from that evening. So honestly, I do not understand why you are bringing it up again. You know where my head was that night, you know what happened. Yet now, it is convenient to bring up?"
"By accusing me of deception, you are trying to deflect attention away from your inconsistent arguments. You are trying to make me feel guilty, which by the way, is ridiculous. Likely because you have desires for others, and wish to act on them, and because you cannot just be honest and tell me that you want to sleep around with as many people as you can convince to sleep with you. You say you will wait for me to be comfortable with others before you pursue them, yet ignore that I am not comfortable. You press the point constantly, that you are interested in an open relationship. You hardly know yourself, having just had major upsets in your life, but you wish to know everyone around you. You speak of this circle of love, yet your idea of love is quantity. You tell me both Kalimac and Spivey interest you and you want to try to get to know them better. Then now you tell me you are keeping Ameiko at arms length to preserve my delicate sensibilities. Well which is it? You cannot both be trying to position yourself so you can sleep with others, and yet be restraining yourself for my sake." Her voice ends just as quiet as it began.
The woman's jaw drops.
"Þú verður að segja honum að hann má ekki tala með þessum hætti!" she says urgently, glancing to both sides. "Ég skil hann er útlendingur og þekkir ekki þess sem hann segir, en menn konungs er sama! Þeir munu skera ykkur niður eins og sauðir ef þeir heyra hann segja slíkt!"
Alaric keeps his attention focused on the woman. "Please tell her that I appreciate the concern, but I'm quite willing to die if it means freeing these people."
Alaric keeps his attention focused on the woman. "Please tell her that I appreciate the concern, but I'm quite willing to die if it means freeing these people."
Mels eyes shut, her shoulders drop slightly. To the woman she says, "Hann metur umhyggju fyrir velferð hans. Hins vegar er hann alveg tilbúinn" and her voice breaks on the next words, "að deyja ef niðurstaðan er allt í frelsið."
Mels eyes shut, her shoulders drop slightly. To the woman she says, "Hann metur umhyggju fyrir velferð hans. Hins vegar er hann alveg tilbúinn" and her voice breaks on the next words, "að deyja ef niðurstaðan er allt í frelsið."
The woman starts growing a little frantic. "Þetta ... Þetta er brjálæði! Segðu honum dauða hans mun ná neitt! Það væri, a tilgangslaus látbragði."
Zaiobe returns from talking with Hrithik and thunks down into her bunk, seeming a bit frazzled. She has a sheaf of papers.
Mel looks for a moment at Alaric, "So that's what I look like after one of those discussions? Okay, I understand the ... annoyance more now."
She turns to Zaiobe, "Would a hug help at all? Or talking? I'm good at both..."
There is a long pause. Finally, she says, "No plans yet."
"Considered Crowning the World?"
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Hrithik nods to the thrall, then looks at Melinda. "Not only would it be a pointless gesture to die without actually freeing the people here in a way their neighbors will recognize, attempting to murder the steadholder without even talking to him treats him like a creature rather than a person, makes everyone in the Caravan an accomplice to felony murder, and prevents us from accomplishing anything in this country."
Gazing at Melinda, he adds, "Do we work by consensus, or not? Because many of us did not sign up to murder those who may have inherited immoral wealth from their forebears but do not actually attack us. If you two wish to depart the Caravan, you may act without consulting us, of course."
Rhost looks pleased. "Ah, nuts!" he says. "Wonderful. Dinner in two nights."
Rhost gives Myriana a warm grin.
The woman starts growing a little frantic. "Þetta ... Þetta er brjálæði! Segðu honum dauða hans mun ná neitt! Það væri, a tilgangslaus látbragði."
Alaric actually seemed to be simmering down, but Hrithik's words threw gasoline on that fire.
"All it takes is for one person to say no."
The uncleric looks out at the fields, as though contemplating leaving the caravan. It's a moment of indecision. And he could be pushed in either direction.
Alaric actually seemed to be simmering down, but Hrithik's words threw gasoline on that fire.
"All it takes is for one person to say no."
The uncleric looks out at the fields, as though contemplating leaving the caravan. It's a moment of indecision. And he could be pushed in either direction.
Mel puts a hand on Alaric's arm,
Hrithik turns to call to Sandru, "Caravan Master! Do we have a policy about freeing thralls through murder rather than payment, when we remain unmolested?"
Sandru sighs and walks towards the small assembly.
"Hrithik," he says, "You're not helping. And the property rights of slaveowners over their slaves can be pissed on, as far as I'm concerned."
He turns to Alaric.
"Alaric. What the hell. You've got to know you can't make a real difference this way. Takes time, organization, knowing the people. Talk to me. What's up?"
Mel puts a hand on Alaric's arm
And the fire begins to die down.
The anger is still there, barely harnessed, but something softer has begun to drown it. Then, the tiniest nod. He turns around stiffly, every muscle locked in place, returns toward the caravan.
He pauses next to Sandru, but can't seem to talk. Then goes into his wagon. Shuts the door.
He pauses next to Sandru, but can't seem to talk. Then goes into his wagon. Shuts the door.
Mel's eyes follow Alaric, worried. But she turns to the woman with a soft smile, ignoring both Hrithik and the caravan master for the moment, "Því miður. Ekkert af því var að gera þitt. Hvað er nafn þitt?"
The anger is still there, barely harnessed, but something softer has begun to drown it. Then, the tiniest nod. He turns around stiffly, every muscle locked in place, returns toward the caravan.
He pauses next to Sandru, but can't seem to talk. Then goes into his wagon. Shuts the door.
Sandru watches him go. Then he says to Hrithik. "To answer your question, no, I don't think it's going to be our policy to go through the Land of the Linnorn Kings murdering every slaveholder we come across."
He starts to walk back towards the Caravan.
Mel's eyes follow Alaric, worried. But she turns to the woman with a soft smile, ignoring both Hrithik and the caravan master for the moment, "Því miður. Ekkert af því var að gera þitt. Hvað er nafn þitt?"
"Ég heiti Hege," she answers.
"Ég heiti Hege," she answers.
Mel offers a hand to the woman with a grateful smile, "Þakka þér fyrir orð þín, Hege. Vinsamlegast afsökun rudeness minn, en ég þarf að ..." and motions toward the damaged wagon. And Mel follows Alaric.
A short while after he enters the wagon, Mel steps in, closing the door behind her.
"Considered Crowning the World?"
She glances sidelong at Rhost. "Might," she says. "If invited."
Mel offers a hand to the woman with a grateful smile, "Þakka þér fyrir orð þín, Hege. Vinsamlegast afsökun rudeness minn, en ég þarf að ..." and motions toward the damaged wagon. And Mel follows Alaric.
Hege nods. "Ég skil. Þú verður að hafa hendur fullur með að eitt."
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Calmly and levelly, yet with eyes smoldering, Lio says, "Instead of addressing any of my concerns, you fling jealous accusations at me? Is this your attempt to deflect my anger and turn it into some sort of guilt, so you can be the aggrieved party and have to admit no wrong doing? You wish to play and toy with my emotions, rather than allow both of us to grow as a couple. Why is it, that having been abused makes you think it is ok to abuse others in turn?"
When the barb goes in, Hrithik looks much happier. His look for Liothonae becomes much warmer, much more passionate.
"First of all, what you are doing right now, is telling me that you are ceding the previous argument to me, you are 'letting' me win, because you think I am being irrational and thus cannot possibly convince you that I have valid points. Further, you will 'let' me win in the future, by telling me my wishes and desires are stupid and my opinions are wrong. You think I am at fault, possibly because I did not move in with you, when I had known you for all of two weeks at that point and you did not ask me if I wanted to move in with you. Instead of asking me, or speaking to me, you spent the great part of the evening we first came back from Brinewall, ignoring me for Ameiko, whom by the way, I also sat next to. Are you going to accuse me of having an illicit affair with her as well? ...And, since you were paying such close attention to where I sat, you might have also noticed that I did not speak a word to anyone that night, but Melinda, who was then overtaken by some of my worst memories. And I recall, you were there several days later, dealing with the fallout from that evening. So honestly, I do not understand why you are bringing it up again. You know where my head was that night, you know what happened. Yet now, it is convenient to bring up?"
At the thought of Liothonae having an illicit love affair with Ameiko, Hrithik seems, if anything, even warmer and more passionately engaged.
"By accusing me of deception, you are trying to deflect attention away from your inconsistent arguments. You are trying to make me feel guilty, which by the way, is ridiculous. Likely because you have desires for others, and wish to act on them, and because you cannot just be honest and tell me that you want to sleep around with as many people as you can convince to sleep with you. You say you will wait for me to be comfortable with others before you pursue them, yet ignore that I am not comfortable. You press the point constantly, that you are interested in an open relationship. You hardly know yourself, having just had major upsets in your life, but you wish to know everyone around you. You speak of this circle of love, yet your idea of love is quantity. You tell me both Kalimac and Spivey interest you and you want to try to get to know them better. Then now you tell me you are keeping Ameiko at arms length to preserve my delicate sensibilities. Well which is it? You cannot both be trying to position yourself so you can sleep with others, and yet be restraining yourself for my sake."
Hrithik smiles very broadly, and shakes his head. He shifts languages to Thassilonian, which seems to have more bondage words than Elven for some reason, "Oh, but I can. I can flirt with others, or get to know them better platonically, and refuse to do anything further, such as, say, kissing them or giving them a shin massage. I can deny advances from them, and make it clear that my primary partner has not accepted me engaging in such behavior should it come up."
Hrithik looks directly into Liothonae's eyes, his gaze smoldering in a completely different way than hers. "I am keeping Ameiko, and Kalimac, and Spivey, and Tollin, and Rhost, and Shalelu at arm's length for you. But there is a great deal one can do at arm's length to deepen a relationship, and I have made no secret that I am doing that. With all of them. The road of love and beauty will lead where it leads in time: friendship, companionship, lovers, life-partners, or elsewhere still."
Hrithik's smile grows warmer, hungrier. "I have not ignored that you are uncomfortable. I have made it a bright red line in how I behave toward people I find morally inspiring and physically radiant. I would be aggressively pursuing several of them, rather than waving and talking professionally and dropping one double entendre in a week at worst, if I were ignoring your discomfort with me establishing amorous relations with anyone who is not you."
Hrithik leans in to the table, his voice huskier, "I defer to you because you establish it as a pattern in our relationship, one I will not take advantage of unequally. You defer to me all the time. You imply consent rather than explicitly giving it, which is a road of tears I promise you. You let me have my way rather than engaging my points all the time, and I enjoy receiving that no more than you do, as in my point about the flaws of normality. Turnabout is fair play. If you dislike receiving overly-deferential behavior, love would counsel not inflicting the behavior on me."
Hrithik's smile is almost feral, his foot on Liothonae's shin hungry in its own way. "Likewise, if you wish for restraint and honesty concerning me and those I admire, love would counsel restraint and honestry concerning those you admire. So, honestly, how much do you admire Ms. Shalelu, a woman I morally admire and deeply respect? How much do you restrain yourself concerning her? I will match any admission with anyone and everyone you care to name."
Diplomacy:
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Hrithik bows to Hege, and talks to her in Skald.
And Mel leaves the wagon walking swiftly back to the woman, she leans toward the woman and whispers,
Mel shakes her head once, in caution, and then goes back to the wagon.
Hrithik bows to Hege, and talks to her in Skald.
"Til að losa mig og fjölskyldu mína, myndi það kosta 590 stykki af gulli," Hege answers. She shrugs. "Við höfum vistað bara lítið, en ef einn af þeim börnum er tekið eins og hús þræl, það er tækifæri fyrir þessi einn."
<Well. I believe it is at least supposed to be a demonstration of how bad and inaccurate it would be without my contribution.>
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Hrithik bows to Hege, and talks to her in Skald."Til að losa mig og fjölskyldu mína, myndi það kosta 590 stykki af gulli," Hege answers. She shrugs. "Við höfum vistað bara lítið, en ef einn af þeim börnum er tekið eins og hús þræl, það er tækifæri fyrir þessi einn."
Hrithik nods to Hege and translates for the party. "Five hundred ninety gold to liberate Ms. Hege and her entire family, given their current savings. Quite likely more to free everyone in thrall to the steadholder."
Hrithik addresses Hege further in Skald, pulling a pouch from his alchemist's kit.
Diplomacy (information):
Perception: Mel to Alaric one-off.
Perception: Mel to Hege one-off.
She glances sidelong at Rhost. "Might," she says. "If invited."
"Mine sufficient?" Rhost focuses his gaze on Kelda's hands.
<He understood none of what he saw there. How could he? He was there for the space of an afternoon. And it is true that he knows he does not truly know, but I do not think he can fathom why I feel he is the last person who should be attempting to tell this story.>