Streams of Life Chapter 2
#2 of Streams of Life
Re-uploaded after the recent data crash. Chapter Two of Streams of Life. The next few chapters should be written quicker now that I have a better idea of how to get to where I wanted to go with this story. In fact I can say that chapter three should be posted in a day or two, I'm around 9 pages into it currently and its looking to be around 13-15 total. This chapter like the first has only been proofed by myself so there are bound to be some spelling and grammatical mistakes, but nothing too major. Feel free to comment of the work, the style, voice or anything else. Thanks for reading and enjoy.
The midday sun had long ago invaded my room by the time that I was awoken by a knock at the door. "Master Tal, it is nearly time for you to meet the Gre'nahk elders" A voice said, my still fuzzy head trying to awaken and decide who it belonged to.
"What is the hour Kendall" I said as the sleep starting to clear from my head. "Perhaps a half or quarter till noon, Sir. Master Alos instructed me to let you sleep as you would unless you were to miss your appointment. If I have let you sleep too long I apologize, I was counting the stock of dyes from the northern lands."
" Mmmm" I replied with a sort of sluggish annoyance of both being woken up and second being woken up so late. Yes i think waking up is the problem here, as I turned over and determined to sleep again. Or so i thought i would before a louder and more forceful knock was at the door.
"Master, Tal you can't go back to sleep your father said he had your word to attend to the Gre'nahk today." Kendall I hate you right now i thought to myself. He wasn't a bad kid. He was eager to learn and listened intently to my father, which is likely why my father took him as one of his apprentices. Be that as it might be, I had no desire to be reminded of distasteful things by a young teen.
I slid from bed and said "Fine you can return to your duties now." I heard footsteps indicating he trusted me enough to be up to return to work. I'm too young to be annoyed by teens I thought as I poured water into my wash basin and cleaned my face. I selected a pair of simple lightweight black slacks with a matching long collared shirt with shimmering shell buttons and a bright red 5 button vest. The tips of the long collar overlapping an inch or so over the vest. I put on a similar black leather belt adorned with silver inlays. Attaching to it a fine Charing blueish silver dagger and my coin pouch looped through the belt with its chains to secure it from pick pockets.
The outfit was simple, bold, and showed wealth and power without being ornate and overbearing. It was a respectable outfit while it did not do justice to my father's standing I very rarely wore anything more exquisite than this. The outfit in itself was a careful statement saying " Yes I have wealth but no I am not showing it." I thought it balanced well the difference between offending the Gre'nahk by wearing something too simple and making myself look as a pompous southern lordling. The outfit should send them the message that I both respect and resent the meeting. The bold clashing between red and black and the simpler attire should clearly indicate my displeasure and resistance to the arrangement.
My father is almost certain to have warned them of this by now however, so they should be expecting something of this kind and an off putting attitude from myself. They should realize at this point that I am the only obstacle left to making the agreement be fulfilled and will likely be more accommodating to me than they normally would be. I should be able to exploit that and back them into leaving me alone with the female where i can upon my return say i find her unacceptable and without witnesses their position would be greatly weakened in countering my claims, the female's word counts as very little in Gre'nahk society. So as long as I can avoid having other around when I am with her my word would be absolute. At the least it would force them to increase the dowery considerably for me to take her and at best they would have to present another female to seal the agreement. Which would mean at least 2 weeks before they could return to Green Briar with another if they even had more options.
I merely have to observe her find minute faults that either by human or Gre'nahk standards, exploit them in addition to my already know displeasure for subservience and I should be able to get out of this. At least that about all I can hope for at this juncture, I am still less than clear as to the exact details of the agreement. But I cannot let my future be decided by other, I will get out of this. The question at hand is whether I shall escape with my reputation intact.
I set out towards the town hall where the caravan was lodged in the back rooms where guests of the town were housed. I carried a slight scowl and a defiant air as I made my way there, not wanting to converse with anyone to change the air of my mood before I arrived.
"Ah Tal'keelis Alos," A Gre'nahk elder called out to be the moment I rounded the corner of the town hall to the back courtyard. There were two Gre'nahk guards in light leather armor with ornate halberds that their guards favored. From what I understood Gre'nahk fight with pole weapons and daggers. Using their agility to swing the weapons at impossible angles to disarm or set off balance foes then switching to small daggers to strike vital areas once inside a foes defences. Behind them were two elaborately dressed Gre'nahk with sunflower patterned gold and red robes, that appeared to be altered with small gold spun cords running down the arms and and attaches from the collars moving diagonally around the robes as well. The glint of the gold catching the light in different places every time the Gre'nahk moved. It was a fabulous effect really. It accented every movement and made it hard to keep eye contact, such a distracting thing ment to both show off and and set others off their guard. But still the gold set well with their natural fur color, it seemed as a bolder version of it. The two themselves besides wearing similar robes, looked much the same with the elder have a slightly dulling fur around his muzzle. Twin white two tined horns, shoulder length hair that flowed freely beneath them, and deep set green eyes. Pure bred Shifting Sand clan Gre'nahk to the core. Behind them mostly hidden from my current view was the female of the same ilk.
"Respected friends," I said as I quickly collected myself and moved into the courtyard. Built into the back of the town hall, it was formed by two wings of guest chambers on either side with and entrance to the town hall in the back at its center was a small fountain of water with a shining brass statue of the city's founder Ananias in the center. A courtyard like this was indeed a likely occurrence for a southern Lord to have in the wilds such things were generally shunned. Yet the council had decided some years ago that Green Briar was important enough to remind its guests of its greatness with such a statute. Even if that statue was out of sight of almost all who visited the city, since the town hall's rooms were reserved for political guest nearly exclusively.
"You seem to have my name but I have yet to receive yours, as such I am at a lost." I said putting on a diplomatic smile. "Indeed it is exactly as Master Alos has said you would show up a few minutes after midday dressed in black and red." The elder Gre'nahk said with a knowing smile his posture and how he carried his ears and tails implied he intended to try to be my superior in the negotiations at hand. His words and voice already betrayed that my father had spoken to him at length if he was even expecting my dress.
"If you have not a name I can pronounce I will just call you elder than." I said a bit more curtly than I had wanted, I must strike the balance of displeasure and respect or I will lose most my leverage in negotiations I had to remind myself.
"My apologies Young master Alos" the mid aged Gre'nahk said. "My father sometimes speaks his thoughts out loud at his age, we mean no disrespect. My father here is Silas and I am Ananias of the Shifting Sands clan. We are here today that we may introduce you to your intended wife my daughter Veira." Ananias said in a pleasant tone with not a hint of displeasure from my previous statement. His warm smile and more welcoming demeanor almost set me at ease if not for his last statement about Veira. It is interesting that he would say something that if he talked with my father he sould be sure such a thing would cause me displeasure. So if that is the case then he must be confidant that the agreement would be successful. Yet he purposefully reduced his standing in contrast to his dress to match mine or infact go below it. He is either trying to get me to let my guard down or is actually indifferent to status despite his robes. In times like these it is best to assume the former and risk hurting the later if it is the case, I stand to lose too much he catches me off guard.
"The pleasure of this meeting belongs to me, Silas and Ananias, respected elders of Hather. I am as you are aware; Tal'Keelis Alos. Please excuse me if I am impolite at times I am still young and learning. As you know our town has no nobility and little in the way of formalities." I said with my best fake restrained smile. Invoking both a fake smile and a sincere one behind it hoping they would take the latter as the true one, so I can better play my hand as being interested in the female but unable to truly express myself in front of others. If my father talked to them as I think this should play into my hands and give me an excuse to get the female alone. It would not be unusual of an embarrassed youth to wish to be unseen with a female outside his species.
"Do not worry Tal'Keelis we are all men of the Wilds and should not take up the destatestable Hawks' traditions of pomp and ceremony every time so much as a hand or finger is raised by that aged man." Silas spoke kindly to me with his venom directed towards the Hawk. A safe move on his part it would be hard to find any in favor of the Hawk and a play that would likely get many men of this town on his side easily. "Yet, with my granddaughter at stake and to be half of the binding between our towns we should perhaps turn our discussion towards the matters of the day. Silas spoke making sure to steer our conversation in the direction he wished and I wished for as well. So i just nodded in agreement and prepared myself for them to present me their offer.
"Come here my daughter" Ananias spoke. She came forward from behind the two guards that to this point had barely moved only glancing once at my dagger and then posture, determining me to be no threat. She came forward head down and eyes on the ground her tail behind her falling to the ground then rising again curving back towards her body before moving away from it again like a sort of sideways "S". I made it no father in my initial assessment because I could not believe the length of her tail. Most Gre'nahk have a tail that is ¾ or so their body length, it drops down to the ground and then rising back up a ways. But this female's had to be almost twice that, her tail rose again past its base to the small of her back before tipping out. The whole thing swaying slightly as she move to join her father and grandfather. Her father and I watching her as she approached.
"Ah, so you are a tail man then Tal'Keelis. Fortune has indeed shined on you as Veira has the longest and most exquisite tail in four, perhaps even five generations of the Shifting Sands clan." Silas spoke with a grin. I had been caught staring when I should of been feigning restrained indifference. Silas had clearly won back the point I scored with the introductions. I must be more cautious with him, unlike his son who seemed to have the same eyes as me in this negotiations, Silas is clearly here to barter and nothing more.
I wished it was just a ploy on my part to have my face become flush when he said that but either way it went well to show that I was interested in her. If i did not show enough interest they would never agree to leave us alone. I turned back to Silas to muster a response but before i could start he spoke again. " I think my grandmother's tail was longer if i remember right she could take her tail and wrap it five and a half times around her waist while Veira can manage five just barely. Of course most Gre'nahk girls can do that but twice and a girl from our clan might manage three on average. Because of how desirable my grandmother was she became the wife of a Vestige Chief and my father was born and raised in their village in a northern ravine. I Believe it is actually not too many days' travel from where your grandfather was from in the north western plains." He spoke both with an appraising eye as well as a rambling old man that perhaps he was, but I wouldn't discount it as a display to set me at ease. He set the words too easily and connected them to my grandfather who I cared deeply about. This man was beyond my ability.
"I'm Sorry" I said casting my eyes away for a moment before meeting those of Silas. "There's no need for that Tal'Keelis, she will be your wife and before that it is your right to inspect here to see that she is to your liking" I did indeed start my inspection of her again this time she had raised her head but still kept her eyes on the ground. I noticed her comely form hiding under thin robes her small horns poking just above her hair the horns appeared to be covered in a fine velvet, something I had never noticed before and it was clearly absent from the males both Silas and Ananias had average length white horns that clearly were devoid of any fine hair. I'm positive that no female I had ever seen had such horns, I think I may of found my first defect.
Her face was infact pretty for their kind from what I could tell at least, I don't pretend to be an expert on Gre'nahk beauty. Her golden coat was even throughout and shimmered naturally she appeared to have no oils or powders added to her fur, unusual for them especially for one being presented as she was. Her nose was pinkish like others of her clan and the lines for her maw curved well into her face. She was both slender as the robes she wore today were tighter and meant to show off her form more than those of yesterday and she clearly had a pair of healthy Gre'nahk breasts. Not too large to encumber her running but more than enough to catch a mans eye. Her robes today had a lower neckline that allowed some of the tuff of hair between her collarbone and breasts to be exposed. Something that again I didn't think the Gre'nahk did.
Then it struck me, that was a thing humans liked and me in particular liked natural women who don't need to adorn themselves, which then explains her lack of fur oils or powders. If my father could correctly guess what I would wear this day then he surely had taken notice of my tastes in women and past that along to aid in the agreement. The sneaky bastard, that makes them up a point on me since I actually am finding her to be attractive. One more point and I may lose this I have to get her alone now before Silas can trap me further
"Elder Silas, I admit she is overall pleasing to the eye to look upon," I said, no need to deny it i'm sure he had already caught me on that point. "But it would seem that she is uncomfortable in this situation. She is clearly done up more in the way of humans but her posture and eyes betray that she is strictly following Gre'nahk customs. As Green Briar is my home and I am the one to be her mate, she must be get used to following human ways. She has not said a word or even made eye contact with the one who is her intended, like this how would she be becoming as a mate for a human, most especially one of a merchant as myself who must constantly interact with people of all races. Additionally I must be able to speak with her to see if she is compatiable with me beyond her comely form aside from those hairy horns." I said as i put on a business face while trying to falsely conceal excitement at the prospect of being alone with her.
"Hmm," Silas spoke up as he mulled my words over or at least pretended to he obviously had expected me to make such a request. While Ananias seemed a bit shocked that I noticed and commented on her horns and Veira in turn had no change of expression to the whole thing, to which i was actually the most disappointed in. It seems like having others speak of her as a thing no longer even made her flinch, if it ever did at all. "Indeed, I believe such a request is normal within human courting customs but Veira is Gre'nahk and is already set to accept a husband as such there is no need for her to get to know you. She trusts our judgement and is excited to start a new life even if her natural shyness prevents her from showing it." Silas said warmly. A practiced response or something close to it but he made a mistake, my father overestimated how I would respond to her as a thing rather than a person, my words of rage yesterday are actually helping me now. Because with this next phrase he will be cornered to accept my request.
" I am sorry Elder Silas, but you seem to have misunderstood me, I trust you as elder of your clan and representative of Hather and have no doubt that Veira would be well prepared to become the mate of a human. However, even if she will be readily compatible with me, I have no way of knowing if the opposite would be true. You understand how much we humans value independence and freedom, perhaps most even among Wilders who all share that vale. How could I accept to spend the rest of my days with one who does not share those traits? And How could I determine whether she has these things if she is still espoused so closely to you. So I ask you to give me the day with her until sundown so that she may relax and we can speak more freely." I said while doing my best to show genuine concern, If I could not pull it off he would have no reason to release her to me, yet I was counting on the fact that his dealings with humans was about as limited as mine were with Gre'nahk.
"Unacceptable!" Ananias spoke up loudly having deferred the dealing thus far to his father. "A female Gre'nahk is never to be left alone with a male outside the family until she is mated lest her virtue be robbed from her and she be left valueless." He said looking fiercely at me. That was more than I expected of a resistance, while Silas had to this point been cunning and reserved with his words Ananias had in all his language physical and verbal seemed honest, too honest in fact, he clearly showed that he had no tact for these kinds of dealing as was likely here just because he was the father of Veira. Perfect for me, as now he has given me cause to treat with him over his father, this is a battle I can and will win.
I looked away at the fierceness of his voice and made my self small as a sign that I had been offended and was innocent of any thoughts after the manner that he accused me. Which in fact I was, I would not use this girl as a doll for my pleasure or any in such a state. " I apologize if my words were poorly chosen Elder Ananias, but again this is the difference between humans and Gre'nahk. I have already given much to coming to terms with an arranged marriage on such short notice, can you fairly say that you cannot give anything to human customs, even something so small as a few hours to speak with one another before a marriage arrangement is finalized? It is true that humans are rarely chaste before finding a mate but such things are mutual between men and women. As Veira understands well her value as a chaste virgin do you think she would so easily give her self up so soon before being married? Or that I would endanger so foolishly the peace between our town for a short tryst? I understand I am young being barely beyond 20 but please do not think so little of me." I pleaded my response, rushing the second half of my response to make it seems as a thoughtless heat of the moment saying, while i did not know that Gre'nahk females stayed chaste until they were married I knew well that they would not allow me to play with her beforehand and had already thought out this response.
"I am sorry to offend you young master Alos, and you worlds do have merit but please think of the feelings of a father in this." Ananias said. Oh but I am thinking of your lack of feelings in saying that Ananias I thought. A very average play of words on his part and easily countered. "Indeed it is because of those feeling of a father are so present that I must ask you to give us leave for the day, or she shall never be able to act naturally with one intended to be her mate." I countered.
"I could allow it if you take a guard with, even if you are honest and true as you seem, there are surely others who could prey upon her." Ananias set his reply to me, again easily countered.
"How could having an agent of her father with us at every moment be any different than you being there yourself. She would be far too self conscious. It must be alone, I give you my word I shall make no attempts to defile her." I spoke with defiance pressing my advantage my eyes bearing into him making him look away. This was already my victory.
" We have already spoken many words this day young master Alos, how can we..." Ananias did not have time to finish the sentence that would of been his grave, to question the word of a man of the Wilds is the same as saying he is completely untrustworthy, saying that to one you were about to make a deal with is far beyond an insult. Such accusations is a call to a fight.
"Tal'Keelis" Silas spoke, "You are beyond my son's ability to verbally treat with, you are no doubt your father's son. But you are still young and inexperienced and have misread me and my experiences." Silas started plainly. In every debate there comes a time to lay your cards on the table after watching his sons poor performance Silas has decided to lay his open, I think.
"I have traveled around the Wilds from a youth and encountered every race herein and dealt regularly with them. I can see through your eager fake smile and past the equally false one underneath. You resent this deal and look for cause to escape, your eye is set upon finding flaws rather than virtues in the one who your father and I would see you take as a wife. Yet your heart is uncertain about your course of action because Veira would infact make an excellent wife for you. Therefore, if you give me your word to accept all repercussions for anything that shall happen to Veira this day I shall allow you the time alone that you desire, upon this condition: That after being with her for the day, if you cannot honestly say that she is unacceptable you shall take her as your wife and allow the agreement to proceed." Silas spoke while Ananias looked on not believing what his father was suggesting yet not dare object to the clan head in this matter.
I had little choice but to accept his offer after Ananias had defamed my word Silas had taken and respected it as thus I owed him rebuking his own for my sake. Adding to that he clearly saw my intentions while speaking wise words about finding fault, lying and dressing up my words would not work with him. " I accept I shall return her to you here before the sun is set behind the walls." I said as I had little choice, yet somehow getting what I wanted all along seemed so hollow.
Still before I showed myself a hypocrite to my own beliefs needed to do one thing...... Smiling genuinely for the first time this day I asked, "Veira, would you care to spend the day with me?