487 AV, Summer, 53th
Daqua Manor, an affluent house in Zeltiva
Daqua Manor, an affluent house in Zeltiva
”Aval, come here. Don’t be shy. Marinna wants to meet you, come, come.”, said Mama, almost laughing of her brave little boy sudden shyness. Everything was big in that vessel, or better, house. No, Papa said it’s… Daqua Manor, thought Aval, looking mesmerized towards the high ceiling. There were beautiful pictures as well. A curly shoulder-lenght haired young woman sitting with a balding older man behind her. A ship which looked just like The Verena, his Papa’s vessel. There were other pretty pictures as well, but Mama had called for him, so he came from behind the door.
Everybody was looking at him. Papa, Mama and that balding man from the painting. Only that he was in real colors now, with a girl who seemed Aval’s own age by his side. She looked like the woman’s miniature, standing there in a frilly blue dress. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Avalyon, taking a good look at him before she burst. ”He looks silly. Why is he with a wooden stick?”, said the girl, pointing to the wooden sword tied to his belt. Avalyon was almost wroth. ”It’s not a stick! It’s a sword. A real sword.” Avalyon could see Papa and the balding man exchanging glances, until Mama whispered to the man’s ears and he laughed. ”Father gave me a sword too,” she flashed a grin. ”I bet I can fight you, and win. Do you want to?”
Before Aval could reply, the balding man interceded. ”You may play later, and if you want to play with swords… gods know why you’ve taken to like this, girl, but anyway… you may, but under supervision. Not now. Where are your manners, Mari? You should have given my friend’s son a warm welcome. Now do it, or else…”, he said, as serious as Papa sounded sometimes. He looked like someone who hardly smiled at all and Aval wondered if his balding head would shine under the summer sun, just like the steel figurehead had, during the voyage. It was almost hairless in some places.
The girl smiled the most pleasant of smiles and made a little courtesy, inclining her head, but stiffly. A curly lock of brown hair fell on her forehead. ”You’re most welcome to my father’s halls…”, she hesitated for a moment, her lips flirching in a mischievous way, but she kept her composure. ”… Avalyon. I hope you had a pleasant voyage and that you may find our manor to your liking. I’m Marinna Daqua, only daughter of Lucio Daqua, and I’m happy to finally meet you.”, she stressed some words in a mocking tone, as she recited the greeting she had memorized. Even though the girl had an attitude, Aval could through her examining eyes that she was somewhat curious about the little boy who had just come into her home. Marinna seemed as curious about him as he was about her. Maybe she’s as lonely as me.
Everybody was looking at him. Papa, Mama and that balding man from the painting. Only that he was in real colors now, with a girl who seemed Aval’s own age by his side. She looked like the woman’s miniature, standing there in a frilly blue dress. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Avalyon, taking a good look at him before she burst. ”He looks silly. Why is he with a wooden stick?”, said the girl, pointing to the wooden sword tied to his belt. Avalyon was almost wroth. ”It’s not a stick! It’s a sword. A real sword.” Avalyon could see Papa and the balding man exchanging glances, until Mama whispered to the man’s ears and he laughed. ”Father gave me a sword too,” she flashed a grin. ”I bet I can fight you, and win. Do you want to?”
Before Aval could reply, the balding man interceded. ”You may play later, and if you want to play with swords… gods know why you’ve taken to like this, girl, but anyway… you may, but under supervision. Not now. Where are your manners, Mari? You should have given my friend’s son a warm welcome. Now do it, or else…”, he said, as serious as Papa sounded sometimes. He looked like someone who hardly smiled at all and Aval wondered if his balding head would shine under the summer sun, just like the steel figurehead had, during the voyage. It was almost hairless in some places.
The girl smiled the most pleasant of smiles and made a little courtesy, inclining her head, but stiffly. A curly lock of brown hair fell on her forehead. ”You’re most welcome to my father’s halls…”, she hesitated for a moment, her lips flirching in a mischievous way, but she kept her composure. ”… Avalyon. I hope you had a pleasant voyage and that you may find our manor to your liking. I’m Marinna Daqua, only daughter of Lucio Daqua, and I’m happy to finally meet you.”, she stressed some words in a mocking tone, as she recited the greeting she had memorized. Even though the girl had an attitude, Aval could through her examining eyes that she was somewhat curious about the little boy who had just come into her home. Marinna seemed as curious about him as he was about her. Maybe she’s as lonely as me.
