|
You and the others are still in the forest. You try to compose your thoughts to answer Tudiya's question and for a moment imagine an epic piece of verse, "El all-knowing, seeing all, El All-father..." but you stammer after a few words. You are a child and today has been an emotional roller-coaster which would be rough even on an adult. Your mother gives you an encouraging smile, as does the enormous man in front of you and you try again. "El is the coming storm. He is the leader of the sky-giants" you say "king and father of them all. He rules the world. His spear is Smattas and he makes thunder when he fights." Your mother translates, several of the other men laugh but Tudiya does not, he gives them a stern look, they stop laughing. Tudiya motions for you to continue, which you do. "Maranal is a giant who blesses Smattas with lightning and heals sick people. Labaras was a land giant and built the Big Village Baitel. His sons built other big villages like Zepath." Your mother translates, the other outsiders seem surprised, Tudiya remains silent. His eyes are penetrating and you could almost swear he could see right through you. He asks your mother a question but you don't understand it, you don't understand your mother's answer either, but she used the word "truth". Tudiya motions for you to continue. You continue "The giants never fight because they all work for El though sometimes they trick each other or argue. There are lots of monsters that El and his giants protect us from just like you protected me and my mother today. When you are in trouble you should ask El to save you and he will." Tudiya says something and your mother bows her head to him and then speaks to you "You did very good, sweetling, the King says he is humbled by your words and that you are lucky to have-" Tudiya raises a hand and cuts her off, he speaks and you suddenly understand him perfectly, the tone of his voice has not changed at all but you suddenly feel it, as if his voice was a thing with weight. "El has truly blessed you child, to have a mother teach you to be a man when she was surrounded by animals for many years." Your mother beams. Wait. No one seems surprised at Tudiya speaking your tongue, not even your mother, did you just understand his? Did something else occur? No one gives any indication that anything strange has occurred, but something surely just has. What just happened? Tudiya says something else in the outsiders language and then walks away. Your mother again interprets. "He says sweetling that we will come back with him and live in Zepath, we will go to a city sweetling, just like in the stories. He also says that first he will give you your Upsherin. Um. That he will cut your hair and give you your new name, so that we can live with them. Its just like a story sweetling and everything will be good from now on, the king only cuts the hair of his own sons, it is a great honor." Tudiya has walked a bit away. He is now on his knees and has his hands raised towards the sky, open. He seems to be praying. Several of the other outsiders join him, as well as the boy. You have a few minutes to speak alone with your mother and ask her questions, though when you finish, you... OPTION A Nod, let Tudiya cut your hair, give you a new name but say nothing to him. OPTION B Thank Tudiya and tell him you are honored. OPTION C Thank him, let him cut your hair but protest about being given a new name. Tudiya did not seem to indicate you had any say in the matter, but you are going to disagree anyway. OPTION D Thank him, let him give you a new name but object to cutting your hair. OPTION E Refuse to let him cut your hair or give you a new name. OPTION F Something else. Specify what.
|
|
| ← # ? May 29, 2013 23:55 |
|
