The 2nd of Winter, 515 AV
Snow fell gently in the silver light of an early sunset. Kaitanu made his way through it that evening with a sense of accomplishment, and a small pile of gold wrapped up in his jacket pocket. It was always a good thing to bring back money to a master. Dravite wasn’t exactly a master, but as near as in Kaitanu’s mind, if much the best he ever had. Not once the past season had he been punished. Only from hard work, and Dravite and Raven teaching him how to spar, did he receive any injuries. The kelvic still couldn’t quite figure out what Dravite was, or how their relationship worked, but tried not to think too much about it. Better not to complicate things. Anyway, he looked forward to handing over his gold to the ankal. Dravite would be happy, and Kaitanu felt more and more the desire to please him. All of them, really. Before it was just to avoid trouble; now his desire to fulfill his duties had a deeper meaning. Kaitanu wasn’t sure what that meant, exactly, but neither was he in a deep-thinking mood. Not after a long day of work and the crunch of snow under his boots. Kaitanu thrust reddened hands deeper into his pockets. He would be glad to exchange the gold for a seat by the fire and some food in his belly.
First, he had to avoid getting robbed. Kaitanu was more efficient and far more experienced in doing that sort of thing than his passive demeanor indicated. Although he still had trouble standing up for himself, in spite of Dravite and Raven’s occasional admonitions, protecting his master’s property was another matter. Kaitanu had learned the hard way that it would be worse to return to a master having lost what was entrusted to him. Therefore, he had taught himself to be cunning and slippery when it came to such things. Otherwise the very clothes on his back would have long since been stolen.
Luckily for him, there weren’t as many potential thieves lurking about that day. Most of the Drykas, young and old, were far too busy setting up camp after the move to pay him any mind. He himself had only gone to work at the Guided Horse after helping the Blackwater pavilion get settled. With a longer, harder day than usual under his belt, Kaitanu was glad not to have the usual eyes narrowed at him, looking for trouble. No one tailed him that night, forcing him to weave in and out of shadows to escape notice, or a beating. By the time he reached the outer circle of the Blackwater tents, the kelvic was feeling almost cheerful. Seeing the evening bustle of the camp around the golden fire solidified that new warmth in his chest.
It did not take long to spot Dravite’s familiar figure among the others. With quick step, and the strange satisfaction of a task completed, Kaitanu approached his not-master and stood before him. The kelvic waited politely for the ankal to finish whatever he was saying or doing, then held out the bag of gold to him in white-red hands.
“If you please, Dravite, here is the gold I earned for the Fall season. 365 gold mizas for 73 days of work.”
As always, he had bowed his head, but not so low that he couldn’t see Dravte’s face. Kaitanu always felt warm when the others in the pavilion smiled. He was eager to see how pleased the ankal would be with his work, and to feel more assured of his place among the clan. With them was food, safety and protection. Other things there were too which he did not yet understand, but felt in his vague way.
Snow fell gently in the silver light of an early sunset. Kaitanu made his way through it that evening with a sense of accomplishment, and a small pile of gold wrapped up in his jacket pocket. It was always a good thing to bring back money to a master. Dravite wasn’t exactly a master, but as near as in Kaitanu’s mind, if much the best he ever had. Not once the past season had he been punished. Only from hard work, and Dravite and Raven teaching him how to spar, did he receive any injuries. The kelvic still couldn’t quite figure out what Dravite was, or how their relationship worked, but tried not to think too much about it. Better not to complicate things. Anyway, he looked forward to handing over his gold to the ankal. Dravite would be happy, and Kaitanu felt more and more the desire to please him. All of them, really. Before it was just to avoid trouble; now his desire to fulfill his duties had a deeper meaning. Kaitanu wasn’t sure what that meant, exactly, but neither was he in a deep-thinking mood. Not after a long day of work and the crunch of snow under his boots. Kaitanu thrust reddened hands deeper into his pockets. He would be glad to exchange the gold for a seat by the fire and some food in his belly.
First, he had to avoid getting robbed. Kaitanu was more efficient and far more experienced in doing that sort of thing than his passive demeanor indicated. Although he still had trouble standing up for himself, in spite of Dravite and Raven’s occasional admonitions, protecting his master’s property was another matter. Kaitanu had learned the hard way that it would be worse to return to a master having lost what was entrusted to him. Therefore, he had taught himself to be cunning and slippery when it came to such things. Otherwise the very clothes on his back would have long since been stolen.
Luckily for him, there weren’t as many potential thieves lurking about that day. Most of the Drykas, young and old, were far too busy setting up camp after the move to pay him any mind. He himself had only gone to work at the Guided Horse after helping the Blackwater pavilion get settled. With a longer, harder day than usual under his belt, Kaitanu was glad not to have the usual eyes narrowed at him, looking for trouble. No one tailed him that night, forcing him to weave in and out of shadows to escape notice, or a beating. By the time he reached the outer circle of the Blackwater tents, the kelvic was feeling almost cheerful. Seeing the evening bustle of the camp around the golden fire solidified that new warmth in his chest.
It did not take long to spot Dravite’s familiar figure among the others. With quick step, and the strange satisfaction of a task completed, Kaitanu approached his not-master and stood before him. The kelvic waited politely for the ankal to finish whatever he was saying or doing, then held out the bag of gold to him in white-red hands.
“If you please, Dravite, here is the gold I earned for the Fall season. 365 gold mizas for 73 days of work.”
As always, he had bowed his head, but not so low that he couldn’t see Dravte’s face. Kaitanu always felt warm when the others in the pavilion smiled. He was eager to see how pleased the ankal would be with his work, and to feel more assured of his place among the clan. With them was food, safety and protection. Other things there were too which he did not yet understand, but felt in his vague way.
