Nari You Mind

[Lani Stranger]

71st of Winter, 518AV

The work today was a little more difficult, not by the nature of the job, but by circumstances outside of her work. It seemed, here in Wind Reach, that work was her entire life. She knew the Inarta partied and had fun, but the mixed blood was so intimidated by the red-haired breed that she couldn’t quite bring herself to party with them. Perhaps that was why the seasonal cuts seemed like they were hitting her harder, she hadn’t much to distract herself with. As if on cue with her thoughts, her stomach gargled, annoying loud in the silence of the scribe’s quarters of the enclave. The few other desks of young Yasi and Chiet scribes were full today, and one Yasi looked up at the sound, not quite committed enough to glare. Of course he wouldn’t know, the Yasi rations hadn’t been cut. They would be cut last, along with the Endal, at which point Lani was sure there would be riots. The privileged eagel riders were so used to getting everything they wanted with such little effort…

Stop it. Lani chastised herself. She knew how much effort the Endal put in, she was just tired and hungry which made her irritable. It was still early in the morning and the halfblood was pawning through the pages she was given to copy that day. They seemed entirely mundane and boring, catalogues of numbers on various workshops within the city. They were seasonal budgets meant to make sure each workshop was not wasting material and had what they needed, an odd social concept to Lani. Still, they needed multiple copies of these, one for the city and one for the shop owner, and that is where Lani came in.

Her Nari had vastly improved since she had first set foot in the mountain, and she found she could understand the whole page completely. Of course it was mostly numbers and math with a few scrawled in notes meant to label the numbers. And of course there were words that she only thought she knew because she had to infer from the rest of the sheet. ‘Dividends’ for example, eluded her. But looking at the rest of the chart, it seemed some sort of expense. It truly didn’t matter if she understood the Nari or the math after all, she just had to be able to copy it, that was her job.

She had set out all her materials when she got there out of habit. She was working with scrolls today, so it was easier. Her favorite quill, an inkwell, an ink rag, a razor for cutting the parchment, powdered resin to attach the parchment together, a standard scroll roller, chalk, a straight ruler, string, a leather strap, and, of course, plenty of precut parchment. Compared to copying a book, this was a fairely simple set up, that still required an extra amount of crafts. She had four scrolls to copy, each with two pages within, and one with three. That was a simple matter of nine pages, but she knew it would take her at least half the day before she could move onto her next project. When it came to copying charts, she always was very careful with her string and chalk to make sure she was getting her lines right and her writing did not veer off the page.

[Lani Stranger]

Lani decided to start by portioning out the pages for the number charts. Each numbers chart had the same amount of columns, nine, but not all the columns were equal sizes. So the first thing Lani did was take the straight ruler and measure out the original copy’s lines, getting an estimate for what she should do on the new page. The small perfectionist streak inside her was already editing the measurements so that the chart fit evenly on the page with matching marigins. She took her time with this step, carefully dotting the chalk where the lines should be and then double checking her measurements with the ruler. Once she was satisfied she had gotten it correct, she wrapped the chalk in the string and then pulled it taught so that she could press it into the parchment, creating a straight line guide that she could follow and then simply wipe away once the ink was dry. Chalk was her favorite tool as she got into more advanced scribe work, it helped her mark things without worrying about it sticking around like charcoal or ink.

Once she was positive that each chalk line on her page was correct, Lani picked up her favorite glass quill. She gently dipped it in the ink, tapping it on the side of the inkwell to dislodge any large drops, and then set it down on the paper. As she wrote, she made sure to check the numbers she was writing with what was written on the original copy. She could follow the math in most cases, so it wasn’t easy to mess up, but when following columned charts like these, it was possible to misplace a number.

As she got further down the page, Lani had to reapply the chalk line with the string because her forearms had effectively rubbed it off. She was a fair writer, but she still needed the guides to make sure her columns were straight. Still, even though the page looked full, it had taken a few chimes to copy completely, because there were so many gaps between the numbers. Still, when she was finished she looked it over thoroughly, checking the numbers and labels against the original copy until she was sure every number was right. Only then did Lani set the parchment aside to dry and begin working on the second page of the first scroll. It was much of the same as the first page, simply a continuation of the accounting equations and numbers as well as their small quick descriptions. It took Lani another couple of chimes to complete.

[Lani Stranger]

Lani set the second page of the first scroll to dry while she prepared the resin powder on the back of the first parchment. This would seal them together so that she could steam them into a scroll later, and then they would be in pristine condition to return to the workshop while the original copy stayed with Wind Reach’s stores. Once the second page had dried she pressed it onto the first page, spreading the resin between the overlap where they joined. Carefully, so that the parchment did not slip and mess up the straight alignment, she set it to the end of her long writing desk to dry. She had three more scrolls to do before she had to wrap them up and steam them to be sent off, and she liked to save that until the end as much as possible.

Moving on to her next scroll, she opened the two page thing up letting her black eyes scan through the Nari and numbers until she got a better idea of what it was about. Although not necessary, it tended to help when one understood the work they were copying. Unfortunately, making copies of accounting equations was one of the more boring projects Lani had taken on. Still, she wasn’t going to let her sever disinterest in the material affect her quality of work. Doing just as she did with the first scroll, Lani took her string and wrapped it around her chalk to properly coat it. Now that she had done it a few times, there was beginning to be a spiral groove in her chalk where she coated her string, and it made the pulling easier. Lani measured out with her ruler and made the correct markings for the columns. Carefully dipping her quill she began writing out the numbers on the first page of the second scroll. There were far fewer labels and notes on this scroll, and she had completed the first two pages in nearly five chimes. Perhaps today is a fast day. Lani thought to herself as she lined the resin across the back of the first page and attached the second page, wiggling the paper around a bit to make sure the edges were lined up and straight.

Lani paused for a few ticks to wipe her quill and wait for the resin to get tacky enough to dry before she placed it on the first scroll she had completed. Black eyes wandered the library, without the mental stimulation of the copying, which kept her hands and mind busy, her stomach reared in complaint of it’s emptiness. She had eaten her morning meal, they weren’t exactly starving the Chiet class, but every meal seemed to not be enough, and when there were so many days with not enough to eat, she found every tick was time to be hungry. Her mind began to wander to Narth and if he would share his food with her. They would not cut the Endal food until they had to, after all. No. Lani halted the thought, testing the seam where the two pieces of parchment were attached, making sure they were sticky enough to pick up. She was stronger than that. She was supposed to be fending for herself here, not piggy-backing off of others.

[Lani Stranger]

When Lani opened the third scroll she had to copy, the largest one by only a page, her heart flipped in quick excitement. It would be harder than the rest because it was mostly paragraphs of notes with a few equations dispersed throughout. Lani had never been one to focus on math, but as she read the scratchy Nari, she found it was easier to wrap her mind around the equations given with as much explanation there was. It was a plan for a business to hire more chiet, and how they would expand and share the resources so that each worker could work with maximum efficiency. There were theories and plans, and a few seemed to be crossed out. Lani already knew that this type of work, where there were notes crossed out, she would have to put the crossed out bits in. Even if they were negated, they were history in the notes that needed to be accounted for. Unless there was a specific request for her not to copy the notes exactly, then that is what she would do.

Lani plucked a fresh page of cut parchment and placed it in front of her, positioning the new scroll so that it was flat and just above her writing area. Carefully she dipped her quill pen into the inkwell, and as she was bringing it over her paper to begin writing, a large splotch of black found it’s way to the page. It was not directly in the center but a little towards the corner.

”Shyke,”] Lani cursed silently to herself picking up her rag quickly and trying to blot the ink before it had time to soak properly into the paper. When it was as dry as she could get it, she could still see the grey-ish mark where the pigment had begun attaching itself to the parchment. Lani growled to herself and then picked up the sheet, setting it aside. She was good enough now that she did not make careless mistakes like that so often anymore, but she still hated when she did, for the waste it created. It wouldn’t be entirely wasted, she could put the paper in a bin so that it would be ground down and dyed and turned into a finer paper, where all the scraps went. But it still frustrated her.

Sighing Lani pulled one more paper, trying again. This time when she dipped her quill she made sure to tap in on the inner lip of the inkwell to make sure any more big uncontrollable drops were released back into the ink. Then she set her pen to paper and begun copying. The original writer wrote large and loopy, while her composition was tighter and more defined. So by the time she had finished the first page of the original copy, she was only three fourths of the way through her own copy of it.

[Lani Stranger]

Lani continued writing, carefully writing out the Nari words she didn’t know or understand. As far as she was reading, when one was expanding resources it was useful to make workers share tools or to give them separate shifts so that they required less base resources and could work longer. It also helped the individual employee to have more time off. A concept that would only work in a socialist society like Wind Reach. Lani thought as she wrote.

After she had completed the second page of the original copy, she was only half way through the second page on her first copy. The equations were less the further she got into the business document, which made her own handwiriting appear more neat as she didn’t have to work out how to input the numbers so that they did not blend to closely to the letters confusing the reader. Reviewing the original copy she realized the third page was only half complete, which meant she may not even have to create a third page on her copy. A little excited by the prospect, Lani begun writing, albeit infintesibly smaller so that she could make sure all the words fit onto the page. She refused to sacrifice quality of her work though, and by the time she reached the end it was clear that there were two whole lines she would have to fit on a third page.

Lani sighed and then eyed the paper she had ruined earlier. At least it was a scroll and not a book so she could simply glue on a small strip of parchment to the end of the second sheet and roll it all together. She could also use part of the sheet she had messed up to do this. Satisfied with that option, Lani plucked the page back up, turning it over and matching the grains with the second page of the scroll. She quickly copied down the last two lines of the work onto the third sheet and then began preparing her resin to glue the three sheets together. Again she waited until the resin was properly tacky to stick the sheets together and wiggle them into place so that they were straight.

Again Lani waited a few chimes to make sure the resin was dry enough for her to move the completed scroll before setting it atop the pile of her other work for the day. When she picked up the last scroll to examine it, she found it was much of the same as the first two. Columns of math problems with very little writing that merely served as labels and marigin notes.

Gathering her necessary supplies, Lani began creating the chalk string lines for the columns and inking in the numbers and equations that the work required. It was quick work after the long writing of the third scroll, and by the time she was done and gluing the pages together with resin, it was not even lunch bell. Of course, there won’t be a lunch if you don’t hurry up. She told herself.

[Lani Stranger]

Once all four scrolls were completed and copied, Lani set to work cleaning up her working area. After lunch she would come back to it, so she didn’t need to put all the tools away, but she would have different projects so she had to clean up this one. Lani rolled all the original copies of the scrolls back up, they were already steamed so they bounced back to their circular form easily enough and she was able to tie them off with their leather straps. Carefully setting them on the end of her desk in order from first to last, Lani then capped her ink well and placed her chalk and string on the rag so that she could wipe off the extra chalk powder from the table. She took a quick tick to straighten up all the tools on her desk and then she picked up the thin stack of completed copies and walked towards the back room with the work table. Once she got there, she immediately set a brazier out with a steaming kettle atop it so that it could start boiling. She had less than half a bell to complete this before lunch hour and she wanted to get her work complete, but she also wanted to make it on time to make sure there was enough food left for her. While the water boiled, Lani pulled out for standard sized rolling pins, a razor, a ruler, and four leather straps.

Lani started by setting the first two scrolls aside and then placing the ruler down on the third scroll underneath the writing on the third page, but before the ink splotch. Carefully with the razor she pulled it across the springy parchment, enjoying the satisfying popping sensation as it ripped cleanly across the various fibers in the paper. Once that was done, she put the razor and ruler away and set to work on the four scrolls. They were all dry now, but the parchment was stiff enough that it was carefully work to bend them over the rolling pins so that they were on straight and rolled correctly. After the first one was carefully gripped in her hands, Lani glanced at the steamer to see if any steam was rising from it. Not yet.

Sighing with a bit of impatience, Lani tapped a foot while she waited, wondering how many chimes until the iron begin boiling the water inside of it. Before she had time to let her thought wander too much, the door to the workshop swung and in walked the yasi she had made eye contact with earlier. ”Hello, How are you?” She said out of habit, nodding to the child. He looked at her quizzically.

For a tick Lani forgot how odd she looked to the children. She had grown so used to being in Wind Reach and seeing everyone around her with red hair and pale skin that she forgot she did not look like the rest of them and those who had never seen races other than human, she was almost alien. It was went she saw him stutter back to life, placing his work down on the work table too that she realized he probably hadn’t expected her to speak his language… or speak at all. Lani decided to answer her own question and see if it freaked out the child any more. ”I am doing well.”i

[Lani Stranger]

”Oh, uh, good. I am good.” He finally answered in a light shy Nari voice. He musn’t have been older than fourteen, but it seemed as if he had a huge stack of work. There were many Yasi apprentices learned to be scribes or librarians, but she had never seen any with so much work before.

”Lot of work.” She commented, trying to goad a conversation out of the child. He was still staring at her with wide eyes, but he nodded at her comment.

”Oh, uh, it’s not all mine. The Chiet I am shadowing wanted me to steam these all into scrolls….” He explained. He spoke fast, clearly unaware of her shallow grasp on the language, but she was able to deduce most of what he was saying from his tone and focusing on his aura. She felt a twinge of doubt in his aura and took the opportunity to show him that she was a kind stranger, even if she was a stranger.

”Not know how?” She asked him, clutching her own freshly rolled scroll and flicking her gaze to the steam to check on it once more. It had begun to rise in the fast chimes she had conversed with this Yasi, and although she wanted to hurry up and go eat, she wanted to show good intention to this Inarta only slightly more. He shook his head, and she could tell he was still slightly uncomfortable with her. Softening her stance, she adjusted her grip on her scroll and waved him over, stepping slightly to the side of the brazier so he had access to the steamer to. ”I show you.” She offered.

He hesitated for only a tick before stepping forward, hands clutched behind his back, and watching with a curious gaze. Lani took the scroll in her hand, twisting it a few times to make sure it was tight, and then she passed it over the steamer very slowly. She adjusted her hands while she moved it through the steam so that she did not burn her fingers. Then, once it was properly steamed she quickly tied a leather around the center and passed it through one more time, setting the completey scroll beside the side of the brazier to dry. ”Easy,” She said, looking at him. He nodded, his shoulders relaxed more which told her he was getting used to her presence.

In an effort to get her own work done sooner, she handed him one of her scrolls, a rolling pin, and a leather. ”Watch and try.” She instructed, flipping the scroll over and then placing the rolling pin at the top. She quickly rolled it and then tapped it into place, and watched until he did the same, having a little more trouble straightening it. When he thought he was done he paused, looking at her expectantly, and she shook her head. Silently she turned her scroll vertical and tapped the side to show the evenness of the layers of parchment on her own and then pointed to his. ”No.” She said simply, pointing to hers once again. ”Straight.” She directed, and his eyebrows rose as he realized. Lani smiled lightly, boys didn’t care about these little things usually, but if he wanted to be a scribe, he would have to be a perfectionist.

[Lani Stranger]

Only once his ends were even did Lani move onto the next step, twisting the scroll tightly in her hands to make sure it was pressed into the shape it needed to be in. This time the Yasi followed her exactly. Then she began passing her scroll through the steam the first time. He tried to do it directly after hers, but she put a hand up. ”Wait.” She tied the leather quickly around her scroll and then passed it through again before setting it beside the brazier to dry. ”Watch, then try. Must be fast.” She instructed, nodding at him to go with his scroll while she began preparing the next one. He passed it through the first time, flinching as the steam burned his fingers, but completing the job. As he was tying the leather around the center, he was going to slow, allowing the paper to spring back to its original form. Lani abandoned her scroll to help him quickly so that he did not ruin her work, and then passed the scroll through the second time herself.

When she looked at the child’s face one she was done he seemed a little disappointed, and she pointed to her last scroll. ”One more, you do.” She instructed, and he picked it up. She watched him roll it on the pin and then deliberately straightened the ends before twisting it tight in his hands. This time when he passed it through he was more careful with his finger. Recognizing the time frame, he tied the leather quickly and passed it through again before putting it beside the brazier to dry.

Lani grinned at his success and put up a fist for a bump to the child. He looked at it quizzically, and she wondered if he knew what it meant. Trying to show him, she bumped her own fist and then pointed it back at him, pointing to it with her other hand. ”You do now.” She instructed. Hesitantly he touched his knuckles to hers, and she laughed at his awkward acceptance of the foreign version of a high five. He smiled a little bit, and she nodded towards the mound of his own scrolls that he had to do.

”I think you do well.” She reassured him, gathering her scrolls and carefully balancing them in her hand. She wanted to go to lunch, and was sure he could handle the process by himself at this point.

”Th-Thank you!” He said, a teenage squeak in his voice as he tried to raise it to account for Lani already walking way. She waved over her shoulder, but did not slow her step as she shouldered through the door. Swiftly Lani set the scrolls down on her desk, spaced apart and in order, so that they could dry while she ate. All the other Chiet scribes had disappeared, and it sent a small surge of panic in Lani’s chest. Was she too late to get food?

[Lani Stranger]

As soon as Lani exited the Enclave she broke into a sprint, dodging people in the Reach’s warrens as she tried to get to the dining hall as quickly as she could. There was already a long line of Chiet waiting for the midday rations, and when Lani slowed at the end, her heart sank. Midday rations were a luxury nowadays. People were garunteed a light breakfast and usually a dinner as well, but lunch was first-come-first-serve and was merely the left overs from breakfast. They were all hungry and tired and waiting and so they were growing short tempered with one another. She must have breathed too close to someone because he turned around and spat at her feet. This irked Lani enough to make an obscene sign at him as soon as he turned around which deserved her a few glares from the Inarta who saw. One girl tapped on his shoulder and whispered what Lani did, which made the man in front of her turn around again. Lani glared at the woman, and then turned her angry gaze on the man who looked up at her, as if asking him if he was going to do anything about it.

They were all hungry and irritable and no one really wanted to fight, but Lani was not as quick tempered as these Inarta.

”Do that again, and I’ll smash your dark nose into the stone.” He threatened, and Lani shrugged, looking over his short head as if he was beneath her notice. He didn’t hit her, so she didn’t have to defend herself, but the next few chimes of shuffling forward in line were tense to say the least.

”Alright, all done today.” Chef Davoid stepped out from the kitchens to speak to the remaining line. There was an uproar of angry and disappointed voices, a few loogies and curses, but everyone quickly dispersed, heading back to their day jobs rather than sit in the dining hall with the tantalizing smell of food. As if responding to Chef Davoid’s words, her stomach rumbled painfully, and Lani’s shoulder shrunk, walking back out of the dining hall. She shuffled her feet towards the Enclave, not looking forward to another five bells of work without food and then the light dinner she knew would be served would be all to hold her over until the morning. When was this hunger going to end?