Timestamp: Spring Day 42, 512 Early Morning
Syrah was truly ecstatic. Today was her first day on the job and she was heading out towards the vineyards. She had seen a little peek at them and had heard from Jon that there were six vineyards total. That was way bigger than her fathers and she quickly came to realize that her father is not as great as he sees himself. Jon must have been centuries old and so much more knowledgeable than her father. She almost laughed at the thought. She was always raised with the impression that daddy was the best, that daddy overcame the master, Jonathon Black, her mother supported the theory as well. Only her brother had whispered to her on occasion that daddy wasn't as great as he said he was. She would always start a fight with him after that and daddy would punish the poor boy for speaking a bit of truth. Syrah would smile at his suffering with the belt and she knew daddy was the best.
Syrah flinched at this, knowing that her good brother was right. He was always right, wasn't he? No, he may have been right about father once, but he certainly wasn't right about marrying a poor girl, which just made him poorer or going to build things instead of growing grapes. He was unsuccessful, which meant he was wrong about a lot. In Syrah's mind, only successful peoples word could be taken. Poor people could be right, but they were never better. They couldn't be. It was a law of nature almost.
She had gotten up as early as she could by going to sleep early. No such thing as an alarm clock in this world. Thankfully she was able to hop right up the first time she opened her eyes which was a little after dawn. She didn't plan to pack much. She didn't have a whole lot of possessions and well she didn't need many. She packed up her bag filled it with her one waterskin and her small knife. There might be some pruning needed she thought to herself.
The early morning was a cool one with a few spaces of heat where the burning sun had reached the ground. She knew how to get to the vineyards, having been there to talk to Jonathon a few days back. She couldn't wait to see the vines in their prime, they are just now beginning to bud. She also knew it was a little ways from where she was, across the city from the farm.
Today she wore a black linen shirt, leather pants and a belt that she had purchased after she got the job from Jon Black. She knew she couldn't work in the nice blouse and skirt she wore normally, new clothes were an essential. She had her hair tied up in a small ribbon to keep it out of her face during work time. She didn't wear shoes to work with grapes. She preferred being as close to them as possible, this is the same reason she didn't carry gloves in her pack. She felt that the closer you are to the plant, the more it will tell you of its needs. Instead she wore her normal flats and planned to take them off when she arrived.
She pulled her shirt a bit tighter around herself to shield her skin from a patch of frosty air that refused to warm after winter. Perhaps she should invest in a sweater next time? She put her hair down hoping to warm up the nape of her neck a bit more. Maybe should could go back home and get her robe? No, she might be late already. Jon didn't give a specific time, but since when did Mizahar have an accurate time system? She turned her head to the sun, shielding her eyes with her hands, trying to distinguish a time. It looked low in the sky and she assumed it must be a bell or so after dawn. Jon said to be ready when the sun had turned the plants green. She guessed, by the gray stature of the abundant plants, that she had a bit of time left.
The road was very bare. She only saw a few candle lights in other homes in the Kuahala Estate and she only saw a handful of people on her way to work. She passed the White Crane a few chimes later and heard a bit of music coming from it. Even this early in the day. The sun wasn't getting much higher and the plants no greener. Yet a nice smell wafted out of the musical tavern into her nostrils. Her stomach grumbled and she realized she didn't pack a lunch, or even have breakfast. She looked worriedly up at the sky again and decided she had enough time to stop by the tea house and see if they had some biscuits for lunch, and maybe a cup of coffee? Syrah could so use a cup of coffee right now.
She passed the City Council. She always carried the list of rules with her in case she witnessed some rule broken or if she was about to break one. She thought back to that Lysing fellow. She could turn him into the council if she wanted to. But really she didn't want to go through all that trouble.
Ah, there was the Almond Blossom and to her disappointment they didn't look open. The building was very pretty, bunches of life growing all around it. Thats why Syrah loved this city so much, so much greenery. Although the plants looked more gray than green still. She had enough time. She hoped up to a window and peered inside. Only a small candle was lit in very back. She could see a person or two bustling around getting ready for all the elegant tea drinkers of today. Syrah gently rapped on the door hoping to get the persons attention and maybe persuade him or her to open up for a just a second.
The person who she could now see as she walked to the window was a light Konti woman. Of course, tea, elegance, Konti, this wouldn't be a Akalak sort of thing. The woman came up to the window and frowned at Syrah. Then she left and opened the door a pinch. "What is it you need?" she asked in a high voice that rang of hummingbird calls.
Syrah quickly jumped over to the door. "I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes. I'm heading to work at the vineyards and forgot to pack a lunch or breakfast. Do you have any biscuits available? Maybe coffee?" She pleaded hoping the girl would be kind enough to let her purchase some food.
She girl sighed a bit then opened the door wider. "I have leftover breads from yesterdays sale. I have not brewed the coffee yet, but if your willing to wait I can." The Konti beckoned her inside.
Syrah looked behind her as she happily entered the tea house. The leaves were turning a sickly blue. Time was flying. "Um, I don't think I have enough time for coffee today. How about just the bread? Maybe some cheese." She came into the houses and it was just as pretty inside as it was out. The floor was a shining light wood and the walls a nice almond color. Exactly what you would expect from a tea shop. Tiny tables and chairs were strewn about for guests to sit and relax. Plus a few table made for larger groups.
She walked up to the counter as the girl walked behind and and pulled a small leather pouch from a shelf. "We were going to throw these away today but I guess you can have them if you want. They aren't so fresh but not as stale as leaving it out in the air overnight." She dumped the pouch out onto the counter and out spilled a half a dozen or so types of bread. Croissants and dinner rolls, a few slices of wheat and rye bread. "I have a couple hunks of cheese in the back if you'd like some."
Syrah gleefully grabbed a croissant for breakfast and two dinner rolls for lunch. "White cheese, if you will." She murmured as she pressed her nose against the soft, fluffy exterior. Breathing deeply she realized the girl was right. Although the bread was not hardened the creeping stale was quickly winding its way through, starting with the smell. It would taste just a bit different when she ate it.
The owner came back then with a hunk of white cheese and handed it to Syrah. "That'll be 1 silver miza and 6 coppers." She held her hand out expectantly towards Syrah. She quickly dropped the cheese and bread and dug through her pack. She pulled out a few coppers and a silver, exact change and handed it to the small Konti. Then she carefully stuffed the cheese and dinner rolls into her pack and grabbed up the croissant in her hand as she headed back up to the door. "Thank you so much," She smiled at the Konti as she opened up the door and took a worried look at the plants.
To her horror the sun seemed to be rising faster, thus the plants turning greener more quickly. She hurried back onto the road and saw a few more people out and about as she took a bite out of her breakfast. She quickly turned the corner and practically ran past the stables. Holding her nose to the foul smell. A few chimes later she approached the main gates and nodded back to the Akalak man who waved her through, clearly recognizing her from last time.
she headed up to a fence where several Akalak men and a few humans were in a group, waiting for Jon to open the gates and let them in. It looked like she was the only girl and the guys were eyeing her in a bit of confusion. She nodded at the group and finished her breakfast, then sitting down by the fence and taking a swig of water from her waterskin. Today will be interesting she thought.
Syrah flinched at this, knowing that her good brother was right. He was always right, wasn't he? No, he may have been right about father once, but he certainly wasn't right about marrying a poor girl, which just made him poorer or going to build things instead of growing grapes. He was unsuccessful, which meant he was wrong about a lot. In Syrah's mind, only successful peoples word could be taken. Poor people could be right, but they were never better. They couldn't be. It was a law of nature almost.
She had gotten up as early as she could by going to sleep early. No such thing as an alarm clock in this world. Thankfully she was able to hop right up the first time she opened her eyes which was a little after dawn. She didn't plan to pack much. She didn't have a whole lot of possessions and well she didn't need many. She packed up her bag filled it with her one waterskin and her small knife. There might be some pruning needed she thought to herself.
The early morning was a cool one with a few spaces of heat where the burning sun had reached the ground. She knew how to get to the vineyards, having been there to talk to Jonathon a few days back. She couldn't wait to see the vines in their prime, they are just now beginning to bud. She also knew it was a little ways from where she was, across the city from the farm.
Today she wore a black linen shirt, leather pants and a belt that she had purchased after she got the job from Jon Black. She knew she couldn't work in the nice blouse and skirt she wore normally, new clothes were an essential. She had her hair tied up in a small ribbon to keep it out of her face during work time. She didn't wear shoes to work with grapes. She preferred being as close to them as possible, this is the same reason she didn't carry gloves in her pack. She felt that the closer you are to the plant, the more it will tell you of its needs. Instead she wore her normal flats and planned to take them off when she arrived.
She pulled her shirt a bit tighter around herself to shield her skin from a patch of frosty air that refused to warm after winter. Perhaps she should invest in a sweater next time? She put her hair down hoping to warm up the nape of her neck a bit more. Maybe should could go back home and get her robe? No, she might be late already. Jon didn't give a specific time, but since when did Mizahar have an accurate time system? She turned her head to the sun, shielding her eyes with her hands, trying to distinguish a time. It looked low in the sky and she assumed it must be a bell or so after dawn. Jon said to be ready when the sun had turned the plants green. She guessed, by the gray stature of the abundant plants, that she had a bit of time left.
The road was very bare. She only saw a few candle lights in other homes in the Kuahala Estate and she only saw a handful of people on her way to work. She passed the White Crane a few chimes later and heard a bit of music coming from it. Even this early in the day. The sun wasn't getting much higher and the plants no greener. Yet a nice smell wafted out of the musical tavern into her nostrils. Her stomach grumbled and she realized she didn't pack a lunch, or even have breakfast. She looked worriedly up at the sky again and decided she had enough time to stop by the tea house and see if they had some biscuits for lunch, and maybe a cup of coffee? Syrah could so use a cup of coffee right now.
She passed the City Council. She always carried the list of rules with her in case she witnessed some rule broken or if she was about to break one. She thought back to that Lysing fellow. She could turn him into the council if she wanted to. But really she didn't want to go through all that trouble.
Ah, there was the Almond Blossom and to her disappointment they didn't look open. The building was very pretty, bunches of life growing all around it. Thats why Syrah loved this city so much, so much greenery. Although the plants looked more gray than green still. She had enough time. She hoped up to a window and peered inside. Only a small candle was lit in very back. She could see a person or two bustling around getting ready for all the elegant tea drinkers of today. Syrah gently rapped on the door hoping to get the persons attention and maybe persuade him or her to open up for a just a second.
The person who she could now see as she walked to the window was a light Konti woman. Of course, tea, elegance, Konti, this wouldn't be a Akalak sort of thing. The woman came up to the window and frowned at Syrah. Then she left and opened the door a pinch. "What is it you need?" she asked in a high voice that rang of hummingbird calls.
Syrah quickly jumped over to the door. "I was wondering if you could spare a few minutes. I'm heading to work at the vineyards and forgot to pack a lunch or breakfast. Do you have any biscuits available? Maybe coffee?" She pleaded hoping the girl would be kind enough to let her purchase some food.
She girl sighed a bit then opened the door wider. "I have leftover breads from yesterdays sale. I have not brewed the coffee yet, but if your willing to wait I can." The Konti beckoned her inside.
Syrah looked behind her as she happily entered the tea house. The leaves were turning a sickly blue. Time was flying. "Um, I don't think I have enough time for coffee today. How about just the bread? Maybe some cheese." She came into the houses and it was just as pretty inside as it was out. The floor was a shining light wood and the walls a nice almond color. Exactly what you would expect from a tea shop. Tiny tables and chairs were strewn about for guests to sit and relax. Plus a few table made for larger groups.
She walked up to the counter as the girl walked behind and and pulled a small leather pouch from a shelf. "We were going to throw these away today but I guess you can have them if you want. They aren't so fresh but not as stale as leaving it out in the air overnight." She dumped the pouch out onto the counter and out spilled a half a dozen or so types of bread. Croissants and dinner rolls, a few slices of wheat and rye bread. "I have a couple hunks of cheese in the back if you'd like some."
Syrah gleefully grabbed a croissant for breakfast and two dinner rolls for lunch. "White cheese, if you will." She murmured as she pressed her nose against the soft, fluffy exterior. Breathing deeply she realized the girl was right. Although the bread was not hardened the creeping stale was quickly winding its way through, starting with the smell. It would taste just a bit different when she ate it.
The owner came back then with a hunk of white cheese and handed it to Syrah. "That'll be 1 silver miza and 6 coppers." She held her hand out expectantly towards Syrah. She quickly dropped the cheese and bread and dug through her pack. She pulled out a few coppers and a silver, exact change and handed it to the small Konti. Then she carefully stuffed the cheese and dinner rolls into her pack and grabbed up the croissant in her hand as she headed back up to the door. "Thank you so much," She smiled at the Konti as she opened up the door and took a worried look at the plants.
To her horror the sun seemed to be rising faster, thus the plants turning greener more quickly. She hurried back onto the road and saw a few more people out and about as she took a bite out of her breakfast. She quickly turned the corner and practically ran past the stables. Holding her nose to the foul smell. A few chimes later she approached the main gates and nodded back to the Akalak man who waved her through, clearly recognizing her from last time.
she headed up to a fence where several Akalak men and a few humans were in a group, waiting for Jon to open the gates and let them in. It looked like she was the only girl and the guys were eyeing her in a bit of confusion. She nodded at the group and finished her breakfast, then sitting down by the fence and taking a swig of water from her waterskin. Today will be interesting she thought.
