Post by Rosie on Mar 12, 2012 23:08:50 GMT 10
Title: Acceptance
Rating: PG
Prompt: #61, Odd One Out
Summary: Sarai asks Kalasin if she ever feels isolated in Carthak
--
"Does it ever bother you? Being luarin?"
Kalasin glanced up sharply. She had sensed that the other girl was not enjoying quiet reading time, as so much bubbled beneath her surface. That didn't, however, mean Kalasin appreciated the manner of the question. "Only when the sun burns my skin," she said, offering her most Buri-like wolfish smile.
Wolves evidently did not deter a Sarai in pursuit of information. "I mean, being marked out."
"I rather think the crown marks me out more," Kalasin said dryly, but she could see she'd gone too far. "My mother was from Sarain, and my father was adopted into, well, what I suppose you'd call our raka-equivalent race. I am well-used to comments."
Sarai digested this, her eyes bright.
Kalasin watched her for a moment, feeling years older, and almost maternal - though she figured that might have more to do with the secret growing inside her. "You remind me of my mother," she said quietly. "She had one foot in the ruling classes, one foot in the tribes. The rebels would have used her for their cause, until there was nothing left of her."
"I could have helped if they had trusted me," Sarai burst out, closing her book with a snap.
Once again, Kalasin wondered why Aly had scorned the bright, passionate girl. Of course, she didn't know all the details, but she, Roald, and Kaddar had belatedly cobbled together enough of the picture. "Sometimes schemers forget they deal with people and not chess pieces. Besides, your feet might not have led you here, and then what would we have done?"
"You would have been able to read in peace," Sarai said with a wry smile. Unable to help herself, she added, "I heard you were not pleased, when Zaimid first brought me here."
So, this was it. After leaving her family, the girl craved acceptance. A husband was one thing, but not even Zaimid could satisfy every need. Well, Kalasin had left her family behind, too, including two dearly missed sisters.
'Not pleased' was also somewhere far of the mark, and Kaddar had commented that Kalasin had probably put all Carthak off seeking Copper Islander brides in the near future. "I disliked the manner of your arrival - I thought you deserved more than a hasty temple wedding. However, I trust Zaimid with my life - with my husband's life, moreover - and his judgement is always sound. We shall figure out this new country together, you and I, for I think I could be here one hundred years and not know half its secrets. What do you say?"
Sarai's dark eyes lit up, and Kalasin recalled with a pang her first, lonely year in Carthak. She was a fool for not having sought Sarai out sooner. "I would like that."
Rating: PG
Prompt: #61, Odd One Out
Summary: Sarai asks Kalasin if she ever feels isolated in Carthak
--
"Does it ever bother you? Being luarin?"
Kalasin glanced up sharply. She had sensed that the other girl was not enjoying quiet reading time, as so much bubbled beneath her surface. That didn't, however, mean Kalasin appreciated the manner of the question. "Only when the sun burns my skin," she said, offering her most Buri-like wolfish smile.
Wolves evidently did not deter a Sarai in pursuit of information. "I mean, being marked out."
"I rather think the crown marks me out more," Kalasin said dryly, but she could see she'd gone too far. "My mother was from Sarain, and my father was adopted into, well, what I suppose you'd call our raka-equivalent race. I am well-used to comments."
Sarai digested this, her eyes bright.
Kalasin watched her for a moment, feeling years older, and almost maternal - though she figured that might have more to do with the secret growing inside her. "You remind me of my mother," she said quietly. "She had one foot in the ruling classes, one foot in the tribes. The rebels would have used her for their cause, until there was nothing left of her."
"I could have helped if they had trusted me," Sarai burst out, closing her book with a snap.
Once again, Kalasin wondered why Aly had scorned the bright, passionate girl. Of course, she didn't know all the details, but she, Roald, and Kaddar had belatedly cobbled together enough of the picture. "Sometimes schemers forget they deal with people and not chess pieces. Besides, your feet might not have led you here, and then what would we have done?"
"You would have been able to read in peace," Sarai said with a wry smile. Unable to help herself, she added, "I heard you were not pleased, when Zaimid first brought me here."
So, this was it. After leaving her family, the girl craved acceptance. A husband was one thing, but not even Zaimid could satisfy every need. Well, Kalasin had left her family behind, too, including two dearly missed sisters.
'Not pleased' was also somewhere far of the mark, and Kaddar had commented that Kalasin had probably put all Carthak off seeking Copper Islander brides in the near future. "I disliked the manner of your arrival - I thought you deserved more than a hasty temple wedding. However, I trust Zaimid with my life - with my husband's life, moreover - and his judgement is always sound. We shall figure out this new country together, you and I, for I think I could be here one hundred years and not know half its secrets. What do you say?"
Sarai's dark eyes lit up, and Kalasin recalled with a pang her first, lonely year in Carthak. She was a fool for not having sought Sarai out sooner. "I would like that."
Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!