Closed Learning How to Shoot like a Inartan (Kovac)

[Iosha]

Time Stamp: 48th of Fall, 512AV Location: Inclement Weather and Fletcher's Corner Who: Kovac Looking at the line to get into the club, Iosha makes her way past the bouncer, and starts heading to back of the line. Suddenly she feels a hand on her shoulder, and she turns around and notices a red hair man smiling at her. He lets his hand drop and says in broken common, “Where you going...um..silver lady. This line is for the men..pretty woman like yourself can just go inside, drink, and dance.” She smiles at the clubs employee and looks back at the line. It did consist mostly of men, and she figured it must be some kind of ladies night tonight. The man looks at her and smirks, “Come with me pretty lady.” He feels a hand on the small of her back as he ushers her to front door. The man walks up to the bouncer, and starts talking to him in Nari. She just sits there fidgeting with her bow as the large Inartan bouncer glares at her. Feeling uncomfortable, Iosha starts eying the ground hoping his gaze would turn to someone else. Feeling the familiar man hand on her arm, Iosha looks up at the helpful employee. Still smiling, he say to her in the same broken common, “You can go inside to dance, but no weapons other than the...knife.” Iosha figures he means the dagger, and she pulls off her bow and quiver from her shoulders, and she hands it to the man. She unbuckles her scabbard from her belt, and hands it to the man. Once, he takes her weapons, and Iosha asks in common, “They will be returned to me when I leave the club?” The employee smiles and nods to her, “Yes.. yes when you leave. You will have you items.” Nodding to him, Iosha walks past him and heads into the club. The first thing Iosha heard as she opened the door was the sound of bass drums ringing in her ears, and the lovely sound of a female singer projecting over the upbeat music. She had no clue what she was saying since the song was in Nari, but the combination of the beat and the melody gave Iosha the urge to dance the rest of the night. Iosha resisted the urge and made her way through the crowd. She was looking for someone named Kovac. Aidara describe him as a handsome man who shares the racial traits of the Vantha and the Inarten. She figures he would stand out in the in a crowd of gingers sense he had black hair with a hint of burgundy highlights scattered through it. Iosha known many Vantha during her stay in Avanthal, so hopefully she notices him rather quickly in the crowd. She walks around the outside of the dance floor looking for the man Aidara described, but he seems to be no where on the floor. Deciding to ask for help, she makes her way to the bar. Taking a seat at the bar, Iosha looks around for a bartender. She notices a woman behind the bar preparing a tray of drinks and one of male bartender walking towards her. Once the bartender make it to her, he gives her a smile and say to her loudly, so she can hear him over the music, “Wow, I don't see Konti very often what would you like to drink, beautiful?” Iosha raises her eyebrow for a moment when he calls her beautiful. She always considered her plain compared to other Konti sisters, but she gives him a smile for his complement. She says politely, “I'll have a glass of blush wine.” Nodding to her, he turns around and grabs a bottle of wine and a glass. He takes a small napkin and sets it down in front of her, and he uncorks the bottle and pours her glass. He puts the glass on her napkin, and puts the bottle of wine under the bar. Smiling he asks quickly, “Anything else I can get you?” Iosha sets down a pinion on the counter and takes her glass. After taking a sip, she looks at the bartender, and asks him, “I am looking for a man named Kovac. Do you know where he might be?” The bartender laughs and says to her, “More than likely he is wooing a small group of ladies in the green room down the hallway to your left.” Iosha raises her eyebrow, and asks him, “You have a green room?” The bartender nods and says, “Yep, it mostly used by the band members,but it is also a place for people to unwind from the madness of the main room. A lot of people use it for a quiet place to talk. Well you two have fun, I need to get back to work.” He picks up the pinion, gives her a smile, and walks away. Taking her glass with her, Iosha makes her way down the dimly lite hallway. She notice more than a few club goers use the hallway for a place to rest and talk peace, but still enjoy the music and the entertainment of the main floor. Making her way through the hallway, Iosha had to jump over a couple making out in the middle on the floor. At first, she tried to say something for them to move, but when he started to remove her vanati. She figures it would be best just to jump over them. Before she continues down the hall, she overhears the man say to the woman, “Man these mushrooms are awesome! I just saw a silver naked mermaid jump over us. It was great! Oh no she is gone now...” Iosha stops and smirks and listens some more to couple. The woman giggles uncontrollably and says to the man, “Well if you don't get my shirt off soon, I suggest you go looking for her. Now hurry before I start to come down.” Iosha makes a face and laughs out loud at the situation, and she continues down the hallway. When Iosha comes to the door painted green, she figure this must be the green room. She opens the door, and makes her way inside the room. The bartenders was definitely right about it being quiet and relaxing. She can barely hear the bass through the door. Looking around the room, she sees couples and groups of friends talking around the many scattered couches and chairs around the room. When she hears the pleasant sound of a lute, her eyes look to the origin of the music, and she sees a handsome man sitting in a cushion chair playing for about five or six women. Walking closer, she can definitely tell this is the man matched Aidara description of Kovac. She walks closer and takes seat slightly away from the other giggling ladies listening to his song. Taking a seat next to his audience, she leans back in her cushioned chair and sips her wine waiting for Kovac's performance to end.

[Kovac]

Kovac had been trying to spread his wings, as it were, though the cliche made him gag. He preferred to think he was coming into his own, becoming more socially involved after years of angst-driven not-niceness. Part of this campaign, inspired no doubt by his friends Chemar and Aidara, was to share his music. Kovac was an amateur at best with the lute, but he was learning to write his own music. Though he rarely played on stage at the Weather, only in off hours when hardly anyone was around, Kovac found he could try out his songs in front of a small audience in the green room during the busier nights. The room was typical for an Inartan club. The people of Wind Reach knew nothing of personal space, and even while involved in casual conversation they would get so close you thinkg they were going to suck face. On the other hand, many were, for inhibition was something else they lacked. But Kovac was half Inartan, raised Inartan, and he was as comfortable with it as any ginger in the room, including the red-heads who crowded him as he strummed. Even as he played, the half-blood noted the new arrival, how could he not? She was the opposite of an Inarta in about every way, from her almost platinum hair to the westerner's clothes to the subtle cast of green-blue on her skin...scales. Was she a Konti!? Kovac's tempo slowed before he realized he had been distracted. With an apologetic smile to his audience, he picked up the tempo, finishing the tune out with a flourish. "Excuse me." He asked of the small group as he rose to find his bottle. Retrieving the wine from a side table, he returned to his seat. Thankfully, the girls had moved on to fawn over someone else, or to twitter amongst themselves. He took a swallow from the bottle, his gaze drawn again to the Konti sitting nearby. He had only really heard of them. This one was much more attractive than the descriptions he had heard of the women of Mura. Someone had told him they were covered in scales, had gills like a fish and webbed hands and feet. This woman did not fit the mental image he had for a Konti reference. "Hi. Uh, I'm Kovac." He spoke in rough Common, not sure if Konti's knew how to speak Nari. That sounded intelligent, he chastised himself.

[Iosha]

Closing her eyes, Iosha just lets the music wrap around her. She loved the sound of the lute since it was the instrument of her late mother. As she listens to the music, she pictures her mother snow white hair covering her face as she strums her lute. Playing children songs for her only child. Grandmother would always be on the couch holding little Iosha as her mother plays her song. Io was her mother's nickname for her little girl, and she would always try teach her daughter to say her name in Nari. Iosha loved her mothers music and singing, and she would always finish with songs from Wind Reach in memory of the man, she choose as mate, Kursha the Endal. These little memories felt like a life time ago, but for five minutes, she forgot her mother was dead. When the song stops Iosha puts the glass between her legs and claps loudly for the amateur performer. Kovac had only a few mistakes, but they were hardly noticeable. She was curious why he slowed down his song because the song he played seem to have a up beat tempo to it. She shrugs and thinks to herself, “Maybe it is some musician secret to draw the audiences attention....Oh wait! He coming this way! Fix your hair Io its a mess!” Realizing she was slouching in her chair, Iosha sits up quickly almost losing her drink in the process. Reaching out to grab her glass, before it hits the ground Iosha grabs it with both hands, but looking down at the glass with a small pout on her lips, she sees now empty glass. She slowly looks up at him with a weak grin and she thinks to herself, “Great I can hear him now. Ha! I will never teach such a clumsy girl how to shoot a Inartan bow if she can't even hold onto a drink....Go home Konti and splash around in water some more. You foolish girl! Hahahaha.” Her heart sinks at the thought, but she realizes her thought process was plain crazy to think that before she even talk to him. He would reject her as a student. Iosha nervously sits back in her chair and takes a sip from the empty glass without looking at him. Realizing she making a complete fool of herself, her face blushing into her glass. She looks up from her glass, gives Kovac a stupid grin, and says to him “Hi Kovac my name is Io you can call me Iosha...Wait its supposed to be the other way around. My name is Iosha call me Io.” Her mind is just silent for a moment in shock at her lack of elegance, and finally she congratulates herself in her head, “Great job Iosha...Hands down your “best” introduction ever!”

[Kovac]

His move to retrieve the wine bottle served to stall things for a moment. He wanted to get up the nerve to talk to the strange woman. He glanced back at her. The Konti seemed to glow amidst the red-headed, dark clad Inartans. Kovac wondered if she had a normal voice, or if she sounded like a fish...if fish made a sound. Grasping his bottle in his hand, the half-blood made his way back to his seat, next to her. The Konti did prove to lack the grace Kovac had always imagined the magical women of Mura would possess. This one bobbled her glass, spilling her wine onto the floor. His lips tightened as he stifled a laugh, though the corners of his mouth curled upwards. Alright, she was like a real person, she goofed up. Kovac found comfort in the fact. He gave her credit though, The foreign woman regained her composure quickly, raising the now empty glass to her lips. Then she spoke. She had a nice voice, very feminine and not at all like a fish, though she still seemed a bit flustered, The Avora chalked it up to the spilled wine. He looked at the empty wine glass in her hand. Oh...the perfect in...wine. "Io, or Iosha, or...its nice to meet you." Kovack offered a grin, extending his wine bottle out to her, offering to fill her glass. "Looks like you are empty there." If she accepted, he would give her a generous serving. Kovac hooked his foot around the chair his chair, turning it towards Io as he pulled it closer. Taking a seat, he took a drink from the bottle, his eyes on her. Kovac found her attractive, surprised at how the shimmering scales he could see along the sides of her neck and at the back of her hands seemed to compliment the Konti, rather than appear freakish. Platinum hair, dark violet eyes, she was so different Kovac found himself staring at her. His foot knocked over the lute he had leaned against a small table, and it made a horrible sound as it hit the floor. "Oh...Pe..." He held his curse. reaching down to pick it up, he leaned it instead against his chair.

[Iosha]

Iosha should get used to humans fascination with her people, and Kovac is acting the same way most human males would react to seeing a Konti for the first time. She didn't mind, and honestly, she is flattered that a attractive man as him is taking a interest in her. Also she doesn't feel any sinister motives toward her other than the childlike wonder in his green eyes. As he sits their staring at her, she smiles slightly when he teases her about horrible introduction. Honestly, it is quite understandable his jest, but she might make him pay in the future. She gives him a playful smirk as he offers her some more wine. The bartender was right about Kovac. He is a ladies man since he knew the perfect time to offer her wine. Iosha extends her glass to him and thinks to herself, “If he gives me a corny pickup line, I am going to die laughing.” The her evil side of Iosha wants to her him too, so she can tell Aidara and Keah everything at the Infirmary tomorrow, but the her good side wants him to just act normal around her. On the other hand, this might be normal for Kovac. Suddenly, Iosha starting to realize that she is staring at him too. She decides to break the silence, and extends her glass to him, and says with a half grin, “Sure fill me up Kovac, but I am buying next time, and I think it is going to be a pitcher of ale too. I sort of acquired the taste when I traveling with a band of hunters through Taldera. I have been craving the taste ever since I left Avanthal." She thinks for a moment and continues, "Kovac...all my friends call me Io, so if you like call me Io too.” Iosha smiles at him hoping he will take up her offer. It would be a good way to get to know him before asking him to teach her how to use a bow. She knew the basics of shooting, but she wanted to refine her archery skills through a Inartan teacher. Unlike most Konti who never knew their father, Iosha's mother told her everything about her stay in Wind Reach, and how she meet her father. If she wants Kovac or any other Inartan to see her as a Inartan, she must be their equal and not just a pretty face if she wants to gain their respect. Suddenly, Iosha hears his instrument crashes to the floor, and she cringes and looks down at the floor. She looks back up, gives him a reassuring smile, and says to him, “You know Kovac. You have a lot of potential in your music. I am no music critic, but my mother was a bard from Mura, and she sang and played her lute for me every night when I was younger. She played mostly Inartan and Konti children songs. I guess the point. I am trying to make and taking a long time to say it is. I really don't think a little chipped varnish will hurt the quality of your music. I surprised you haven't took your music to the road. A Inartan bard could make a lot of money in Sylira. Do you sing too?” Even though Iosha is not a musician, she loves talking to other musicians about their art. It brings her closer to understanding her mothers love for the arts, and in turn brings her closer to her mother in the process.

[Kovac]

Kovac nodded when Io offered to get the next drink, and add some ale. "Deal...Io" He was not above letting a woman buy him a drink, or a pitcher, or anything for that matter, and it confirmed that the Konti was willing to be friendly. Also, he was happy to hear that her voice was nothing like a fish, rather pleasant in fact. His ears perked up when she mention that she had been in Avanthal, and the fact that her mother played the lute as well. Kovac was excited to find that he had some things in common with someone as vastly different as Iosha appeared to be. Kovac picked up the lute and brushed it off, checking it for damage. "I wouldn't care so much for a chip or scratch, but it belonged to my mother. She played too, she was a Vanthan from Avanthal. " The Avora's grin widened as he shared his connections to the music and place that Iosha knew. He took a swig from his bottle. "And thank you, but I mostly play for myself. Besides, I have everything I need here at Wind Reach, why would I want to go anywhere else?" His voice softened a bit. "Except maybe Avanthal." Kovac knew well his Inartan heritage, he was raised Inartan, and was a committed child of Wind Reach. But Kovac had always been different, a half breed, and though the other Inartans consider him one of them, they nevertheless often made it a point that he was different. Kovac knew little of his Vanthan blood, his mother dying after his birth. He held a curiosity about her people and their city. Kovac shook off his moody moment. There was a beautiful Konti sitting next to him, a fact that, in and of itself was quite interesting. In his understanding, Mura was very far away, as was Avanthal. "What would bring you all the way out to Skyinarta? Certainly not to hear me play!" He laughed.

[Iosha]

Watching him examine the lute, Iosha can tell it has a lot of sentimental value to Kovac, and when he mentioned it was his mother's instrument. She can certainly relate on wanting to keep something of his parents safe. She cherished her father's bow, and if it was broken. She would go to great lengths to fix it. Even if he hadn't mentioned he was part Vantha, she easily could have spotted him in a crowd of ginger Inartans. Seeing his mood start to sour as he looks at the chipped lute, she ignores his question for her reason to come to Skyinarta and thinks of something to help brighten his mood. She leans back in her chair, and sips her wine. Watching his eyes waiting to see if they start changing colors. She runs a hand through her silver blond hair and says to him with a warm smile, “Kovac even if Avanthal is surrounded by snow and ice all year, I have to say your mother's people are one of the warmest people. I ever meet in my short life. They love to telling stories, Kovac. I remember working in the clinic, and I was depressed because I couldn't go swimming, and if I don't swim or even put my feet in the water for a long time. I get all moody and snap at everything. Watch out for me during winter if everything freezes in Wind Reach because I will certainly become one angry fish girl!” Iosha frowns slightly to herself, sticks her finger out at him, gives him a quick wink, and continues her story, “See I spent most of my young life harassing helpless marine creatures in the lagoon outside my Grandmother's house. You should of saw me back than Kovi because I was a terror of the lagoon. I used to ride the sea turtles after they finished laying their eggs. See, I would wait in the bushes as the turtles were laying their eggs, and I would wait till their done and in the surf before I would pounce.See Kovi the turtles might be slow and awkward on land, but they basically take flight underwater. You should see it when they get into the water they would panic, and try to swim in random and jerky directions to get me off them, but if you hold the turtle shell right above their head. You should be able to hold on to them. When they finally admit their defeat, You can ride on their back of their shell,and sort of guide them by putting weight on their direction your trying to turn. It is kind of like riding a horse, but it is a giant turtle.” At this point in the story, Iosha starts gesturing with hands trying to illustrate how the turtles are swimming through the water, and after she takes a deep breath, she continues her story, “Anywho, I would always ride them until they swim past the coral reef about a three miles out to sea. I would try to time it perfectly each morning to ride the turtles because if you miss this certain time there is no point and even going out to the reef.” She stops and pauses for a minute and gives him a wide grin, “You have to see it, Kovi when you make it to the reef at noon. The sunlight hits the coral just right, and the reef looks like a pastel forest of giant coral structures. If you look straight down from on top of one of these coral towers. You can see vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows of the sea anemones as they sway from side to side in the water.” At this point of the story, Iosha puts her arms in the air and starts swaying from side to side trying to give him a mental picture of what she saw. When she stops her illustration, she says to him, “See Kovi the reef turned into vibrant forest full of color and teeming with life. It was second most beautiful thing I saw in my life since I seen Morwen Ice Palace in Avanthal.” Feeling her mouth start to dry, she takes another sip of wine, and she puts the glass in her lap and continues her story, “Breath taking is the only way I can describe it, Kovi. When you come to the palace, the road leading up to the front gates are lined with large ice carving given to their beloved goddess by the artisans of the Seven Holds. When you open the large doors made of ice. You walk into a large room made of ice. If you look up you see a giant chandelier made of ice, and it is lite by a bright Stormgem, so the whole room is bath in a bright white glow. If you walk directly under the chandelier, the ground is bathed in a prismatic light. Kovi, you literally feel like your walking under a rainbow.” She smiles at him and continues, “The rest of the palace amazing the walls are lined with tapestries, more ice carving, and anything beautiful her Vantha followers gave her over the years. As I said the palace is breath taking, and it is hard to put into words what I saw there.” When Iosha is finished with her story, she looks up at him from her glass and says softly, “I lived there for two years of my life if it wasn't for the warmhearted people and the breathtaking beauty of the frozen city. I think I would left much sooner.” She gives him a warm smile, “Kovi, even it is one, two years or a few months of your life. You should try at least to visit Avanthal. Just to experience the beauty of the city, and you might learn things about your mother. You never knew. This is the reason I came to Wind Reach to learn about a father I never knew him growing up on the Isle of Mura. We Konti don't really get to know are paternal side, and I was luckier than most that my mother loved my father enough to tell me everything about him.” Taking another sip of her wine, she looks at him and says softly, “I am here in Wind Reach to learn about my father's people first hand, and the reason I came to see you is that I heard from Aidara in the Infirmary that you are a archery instructor, and you are pretty damn good with a bow. Kovac could you teach me how to shoot a bow like a Inartan?”

[Kovac]

Kovac listened intently as Iosha told her tales of Mura and Avanthal, places that held an almost mythical quality to the untraveled half-blood. He tried to imagine what she described in beautiful detail the coral reef around Mura and the ice palace of his mother's home. Kovac watched her with the wide-eyed look of an amazed child as he wondered if he would ever visit those places. He was part of those people in the ice city too...wasn't he? Half of the blood that pumped through his veins was Vanthan. Kovac too noticed that, though they had only just met, the woman had already given him a nickname. Maybe it was a Konti thing. 'Kovi' was a rather endearing name, and he did not oppose it, after all...he got to call her Io. The Avora hoped the endearments were an indication that they would become friends. In fact, Kovac found more and more in common with the exotic stranger. How odd that they both had Inartan fathers, and yet appeared to be almost different species? Regardless of her appearance, which he was coming to appreciate more and more, Iosha was very much a real person, and a very likeable one at that. She shared the Inarta's extroversion, and he wondered if the Konti had ever met a stranger. "Well,welcome to Wind Reach. I hate to tell you...but we will be snowed in during the winter, unless you can hitch a ride on a Wind Eagle. But I think you will find that the Tisuma Baths will give you the opportunity to get wet and stay warm at the same time." He gave her a wry grin, not able to keep himself from wondering if the rest of her was more woman or fish. He nodded at her request, more than happy to comply. Kovac raised his wine bottle as if to salute the Konti. "And Io, it would be an honor to show you the archery techniques of our fathers." He took another swig of wine. "I don't know when you wanted to start. But if, once we finish our drinks, you want to go shoot some, I am free." He smiled again at the woman from Mura. He knew just where to take her too.

[Iosha]

“Good, he seemed to not mind my little nickname for him,” Iosha thinks to herself in satisfaction. Iosha seemed happier to notice his mood has improved from her story of Avanthal. Looking at him with a hint of amusement in her eyes, she notices that he been staring at her like a child with a new toy. Iosha doesn't mind, but if he asks her to do a trick. She will probably start laughing. Iosha starts listening to him talk about how the city is snowed during the winter, and she makes a face disappointment and says to him, “Well I guess if I am snowed in all winter. It will give me plenty of time to practice shooting things with pointy sticks.” When he mentions the Tisuma Baths, Iosha eyes widen and says trying to hold her excitement down, “Kovi if they are heated baths, I might not ever leave! Maybe I'll have my patients visit me at the baths, so I don't have to ever leave the water. I doubt Aidara would approve, but I'll just have to convince her to move her practice to the baths too. Wow.. now cI am starting to ramble..” She blushes and says to him, “Yea, when I find these baths, you might have to find me there if you ever want to talk to me.” Being in a society of women, Iosha has little to no modesty when it comes to being naked around other women, so she would think nothing when it comes to swimming or undressing around other females, but when it comes to men, she is much more reserved in her behaviors and a lot more cautious with her feelings. It could be because of what Berial did to her, but even on Mura, she had a fascination with the male sailors coming into port. They were a mystery to her since males were rare on the island. Iosha would always ask her mother why the human or males of other races don't look like them. Her mother would always laugh and say to her, “You'll understand when you are older that half the fun is finding out the differences between males and females.” As a child she never understood what her mother meant, but when she was older, she eventually found out with Berial. Kovac seemed like a nice guy. He was handsome and charming, and he seemed to always have a mischievous smile on his face. She enjoyed the fact he wasn't to uptight. She could definitely be good friend with him over time. Iosha's grin widens when Kovac accepts her as a student and she says to him softy, “Lets do this Kovi after we finish these two glasses of wine. Let go back to the range, and you can show me the basics than after we'll come back here and relax over a pitcher of ale.” She gives him a grin, points her finger at him, and says to him, “Now when we are at the range, I want you to treat me like any other Inartan student. If I doing something wrong tell me, and if I horrible at something feel free to tell me I am horrible. I am not a delicate flower, so I won't wilt in the summer heat.” To Iosha skill with the bow is secondary to actually learning the techniques of her fathers people, but if she gets good with the bow, she might try her hand at hunting in the future. After saying what she had to say to him. She leans back and takes another sip of her wine. She looks up at him from her glass and says softly, “Honestly, Kovi when Aidara told me about you. I didn't believe her at first. In my mind, I pictured you as a grizzled old man with a long beard and sorta smells like a camp fire and cheap ale.” She laughs and runs a hand through her hair, “Honestly, I was happy when you turned out to meet Aidara's description of you.”

[Kovac]

Kovac's smile took a lopsided kilter when Iosha joked about the baths. It was true, the Inarta were not nearly as modest as other societies, as he had learned from the few outsiders that made the trek to Skyinarta. It would be amusing to see how the Konti reacted to the coed bathing chambers. "Well, I know Addy pretty well. If you could give her a reason to spend more time in the baths, I think she would beat you to it!" Kovac laughed, taking another sip of wine. He kept his gaze on the Konti as her own attention seemed to drift to unspoken thoughts before they moved on to address the matter of her training. Iosha seemed very happy to be accepted as a student. Honestly, Kovac glady accepted the Konti. The majority of his students were Yasi, snotty nosed kids and abrasive teenagers. To have the opportunity to train an adult, an attractive Konti nonetheless, was much appreciated. Iosha made her proposal for some training and them more social drinking, all of which sounded great to Kovac. "Its a deal." And as far as how he would treat her on the practice range, he replied. "I am a professional instructor, I would be remiss if I didn't give you good constructive criticism. I am used to yelling at kids who do not want to listen to me. But I won't yell too loud at you." Kovac flashed another ornery grin at the Konti. Iosha's last comment was unexpected, revealing how truly open the Konti was. Kovac wondered what Aidara had said to Iosha about him. Apparently she chose to paint him in a favorable light. Regardless, the Konti seemed to come up with her own image of what he would be. "In my mind, I pictured you as a grizzled old man with a long beard and sorta smells like a camp fire and cheap ale." Kovac laughed outloud at Iosha's remark. "No, instead you find a grumpy young man that smells like bowstring grease and cheap wine!" He raised his bottle again in salute, taking another drink. "And I confess, you are much less fishy and much more womanly than I expected a Konti to be. I am pleasantly surprised."