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Post by ukaleq on Mar 10, 2007 21:49:48 GMT -5
- A day after Afternoon Errand
Naira's cough had subsided to a weak cough over the night, but the little girl was still bedridden. A cool washcloth rested on the little girl's forehead, as Ukaleq tucked her into the whale-bone bed covered with half a dozen furs. The young woman smiled and tapped her little sister's nose with a giggle, "Now go to sleep Naira and that cold will be gone in no time." Her cheeks flushed as she stroked the little girl's dark hair, the smile brightening Naira's face as she nodded and sniffled her reply. "You gonna bring me losta good stories?" Naira would ask, shifting in her cocoon of furs. The older woman would laugh, petting her sister's head before rising from where she sat at the side of the bed. "Of course, Naira. I'll make sure to bring you back some new stories." After all, today, their father was heading to the Palace Temple and Ukaleq was going with him to stay in the Archives to do some reading. Shortly after saying goodbye to Naira, the young woman would quickly follow after her taller father. Bound in her thick parka, she kept close to her father's side, even as the Cheiftain stopped to speak a few men of the tribe.
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Post by kuni on Mar 14, 2007 18:06:41 GMT -5
Kuni woke up, curled in her large bed, and covered with furs. She yawned, stretching her arms up. The weather outside looks surprisingly better than the day before, in which a large snowstorm had occurred. She was to head to the palace today, with her father of course. Her father had meetings with the chieftains of the tribe, discussing whatever they did. Still somewhat tired, Kuni rose out of her bed, and after washing herself, put on her clothes, and for the palace, jewelry. In truth, she got bored at the palace, there was nothing to do. Nobody else brought their daughters along…Kuni was usually all alone.
“Goodbye Mother!” she said as she kissed her mother’s cheek. “I’m off to head to the palace with father.” After putting on her parka, Kuni ran out of the house, catching up to her father’s pace. Only a few minutes later, her father bumped into one of the chieftains, not literally. Kuni sighed and rolled her eyes, “Like I don’t get enough of this at the palace,” she thought to herself. She looked at the chieftain, but was more interested in to who was behind him. “Yay!” Kuni thought, “Another girl!” This girl as indeed beautiful and it seemed to Kuni she was quite near her age.
Striding confidently to the other lady, Kuni let out her hand. “Nice to meet you!” she said cutely, “I’m Kuni!” A soft smile spread across Kuni’s face as she continued, “I’m one of the healer’s at Yugoda’s. Who might you be?”
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Post by gandalan on Mar 14, 2007 18:41:51 GMT -5
Nakamura sighed, as he got off of his small raft and entered the city of Shai. It had been awhile since he'd been here. And he certainly hadn't planned to be back this soon. He had been wondering why he hadn't been apprehended outside the gates, but had decided that it likely had to do with the fact that they probably had specific orders to do something with him. He looked down. He wasn't looking forward to punishment, but he knew it was coming. He'd done wrong by helping Raine get out... no. He'd done GOOD. And now, even though he knew he'd been right, he would take the punishment from his elders to be reaccepted into the tribe. And yet, he wondered if it would ever be the same. He didn't quite know what to expect, but likely a lot of criticism. He'd probably never marry- no girl's father would allow it. (This fact saddened him a lot more than he would allow to be known.)
He continued walking until he was in the city itself. People who recognized him gasped as he walked past. His head was looking down, his small pack dragging in the snow. His clothes were in fair condition, but he looked so downtrodden, it was amazing. He continued walking down the icy street, waiting to be apprehended- or worse.
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Post by ukaleq on Mar 14, 2007 23:40:01 GMT -5
Ukaleq's father walked ahead of her, his large bare hands which always reminded his daughters of bear claws swung at his side. The young woman trailed behind, her head lowered respectfull. She heard her father's deep voice join in with another's man voice, probably another high ranking man.. but not another cheiftain. She knew all their voices.. her daydreams were jerked away from her at the sharp, high pitched voice. Ukaleq came to a startled stop, lifting her head up and towards the voice. Her raspberry lips parted with her breath, her dark blue eyes shimmering with concern.
A rush of crimson creaped into her dark skinned face as she stumbled for a moment to find her voice. She glanced away neverously, her hands fiddling with eachother within the deep sleeves of her Parka. She had promised Naira a good story from the Archives. She looked to her father quickly, who had continued to move on, talking with whom she would have assumed some relative of the perky girl who had approached her. There was no clear opening for her to escape.. The young woman forced a pleasant smile, her dark eye brightening with that courtier's face. The girl before her was not noble.. the name Kuni was not one Ukaleq knew, but she suspected her family was higher in the middle class. She bowed her head forward, her braids swaying gently against the rough fabric of her parka, the brief acknowledgement correct of her rank. "Good Morning, Miss Kuni.." For she did not see a necklace at her throat. "..I am Ukaleq Ulloriaq, Daughter of Qillaq and Naylee Ulloriaq." If Kuni was a healer, she should know of Naylee Ulloriaq, one of the established healers within the tribe, but not a senior healer like Yugoda.
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Post by kuni on Mar 15, 2007 19:04:46 GMT -5
Kuni noticed Ukaleq’s actins, some stumbling, nervousness; she may not have recognized her name, as she often went by a nickname. “Ukaleq,” she repeated softly, “and Naylee?” The name struck a chord in Kuni, and it came to her in a flash. She was one of the healers in the tribe, obviously more experienced than Kuni, but only a rank above her. She was also good friends with Kuni’s mother, Akna. The name Kuni obviously had no effect on anybody. “I’m sorry I didn’t give you a proper introduction, my complete name is Kunikpok Silatyok, daughter to Akna and Karpok Silatyok.” Kuni was sure the surname Silatyok would strike something in the other lady. Silatyok was a name closely related to the royal family. Karpok had only broken off from the royal family two generations back.
Kuni returned the bow, dropping her head then raising it up once more. “You seem a little bit nervous,” Kuni asked quietly, “Are you sure you’re all right?” Kuni crossed her arms and her body shivered. Because of the storm last night, it was still cold, though it didn’t look like it. “It seems our father’s have some important meeting today, what did you have planned to do?”
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Post by gandalan on Mar 16, 2007 17:43:18 GMT -5
Nakamura was getting antsy. The fact that nothing had happened to them yet was beginning to unnerve him. Somehow, it seemed that if they just ignored his existence instead of punishing him, it would be worse. He wanted them to at least acknowledge him. They could kill him after that, but please, acknowledge him! He sighed, and picked up his backpack, shouldering the blue and grey thing. It was nearly empty, for all it had carried was his clothes when he was in warmer environments, and maybe some food. He'd run out of that awhile ago. But the hunger didn't bother him. Nothing did, except the fact that nothing had happened to him.
As he walked down the street, he realized he was in the nobles part of town. Good. Maybe THEY would finally raise the alarm, and cry for somebody to throw him into jail. Or SOMETHING.
He spotted an entourage of noble men embroiled in coversation. He didn't recognize any of them, but being born from one of the poorer classes, he hadn't ever seen them before anyway. He walked around them, eyes down. A few of them gazed at his form, but didn't do anything. He groaned. Then, he spotted two girls talking. They were obviously noble, being well clothed. One wore a cerulean dress with lavender sleeves over her arms. The other wore an indigo and violet parka. Both were very beautiful, obviously pampered to the utmost, but then again, most nobles were. He was a stark difference, his hair disheveled and messy, his clothing, while fine, noticably less rich than theirs, and a backpack on his back. His waterskin, also over his shoulder, was bouncing around as her walked slowly. But he stopped, simply because he didn't really want to walk anymore. He stared at the two girls, unable to tear his eyes away from them. After all, he hadn't seen girls this beautiful for some time.
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Post by ukaleq on Mar 16, 2007 21:07:00 GMT -5
A spark of fear came to Ukaleq's eyes. She had been wrong! This girl.. was not merely of the Merchant class.. no, she was a Silatyok. The Silatyoks were among the highest family within the Tribe, a branch off from the main royal line when Cheif Abioye's second son married. By the standards of etiquette, Ukaleq had commited a fault by not giving Kunikpok a bow worthy of her status. Inwardly, Ukaleq bitterly scolded herself as she dropped her eyes for a moment, her raspberry lips persuing. This was a situation in which it would be best to back away and meet Kunikpok on better terms. Of course, that was how Ukaleq felt .. that the social dance between people was of critical importance.
The young woman took a step back, acknowledging her lower rank quietly. Her cream colored skirts swished gently at her feet, scrapping the icy floor. Her braids hung next to her face, the bright turquoise green flowers in her hair in contrast to her dark hair. "I am fine, Miss Kunikipok. Thank you for your concern." A blatant lie, but Ukaleq was well prepared. She lifted her headup, flashing a shy smile on her mask of a face. She tilted her head to the side, but within her dak, prussian blue eyes, she wanted to run to the safety of her books.
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Post by kuni on Mar 17, 2007 16:20:51 GMT -5
Kuni felt as though she was being watched. She looked around but in the snowfall, didn’t see much. She turned her attention back to Ukaleq, and gave a small, cute smile. “Please, call me Kuni,” she said. The other girl had stated she was okay, but Kuni could tell something was on her mind. Still, she wasn’t the one to pry into other people’s affairs, so she let it go. Once more, the feeling that she was being watched came over Kuni, and this time, her sapphire eyes spotted a man, most likely from the lower class, watching the duo.
It seemed, almost at the same time, both Karpok and Qillaq noticed the man. Kuni did know much about Qillaq, but she knew her father was quick to take offence, and furthermore, was very protective of Kuni. Karpok called over two soldiers, who were guarding the entrance to the Royal Palace, not too far away, and would probably ave them arrest the man. Kuni really didn’t know what was going on. She had never seen the man before, but it was likely that the older men in the tribe knew a little bit about him. Maybe he was a thief, or a killer. In either case, he was probably going to be put on trial before Chief Arnook.
Kuni turned her face back to Ukaleq, wondering if she knew anything. She opened her small mouth, before speaking, “Do you have any idea what that was?” she asked. Kuni noticed both fathers walking further and her eyes widened. “I think we’d better follow.” She said, “By the way…I can tell you probably weren’t going to stick around listening to the meeting. What did you really have planned for the day?”
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Post by taartoq on Mar 17, 2007 23:26:43 GMT -5
"Goodbye, dear..." uttered a tall, slender woman with silky raven hair who was attempting to hold a stack of six thick books in her arms. She turned toward the door to attempt an excursion to her grandparent's abode while performing this balancing act, the tomes sliding back and forth as she walked. Turning back to her husband, who was about four or five yards away with his back turned to her as he walked toward a back room reserved solely for archivists, she loudly pleaded, "Darling, can you please help me? My grandparents would not appreciate if these books fell onto the ice...".
Rolling his eyes for a second, Taartoq, the slim, long-haired waterbender and archivist dryly replied, "Of course, dear. I must ask Chaska first if I could leave at this moment."
"Well...could you please hurry?", she exclaimed in her gentle tone as she continued trying to carry the books in her arms. Taartoq nodded and hurried into the back room where he was headed previously, only for a different reason than before.
He saw Chaska, his overseer and a man of seventy years, reclining on a raised ice platform stacked with several animal furs. As Chaska lay with his eyes half-open flat on his back, Taartoq approached cautiously with a bit of concern. "Excuse me...?", the waterbender muttered softly as he approached the old gentleman, brushing back a strand of his own dark hair due to its falling in his face.
Chaska turned his head in Taartoq's general direction, his eyes still halfway closed. Taartoq inched forward and stopped, leaning over slightly putting his dainty hands on his knees. Wondering if his overseer was all right, he softly said, "Sir...?"
Chaska's wizened eyes sprung open, and his gaze focused on Taartoq, he smiled. "Hello, son. How are you?", queried the elderly man who suffered from some senility and memory loss.
"I am well, sir, but may I ask a favor of you?". The elderly man, still smiling, nodded in response. The waterbender continued, "My wife needs help carrying some books to her grandparents' residence and cannot do it alone. May I leave for a few minutes to help?"
The elderly archivist, sitting up on that sofa of sorts, tilted his head in slight confusion as he sincerely replied, "Well, of course, my son...but...since when have you had a wife?"
Taartoq smirked and turned aside from his supervisor, taking a few steps before replying "For eight months and six days, sir. I shall be back in a moment. Thank you." He pushed back the white polar bear skin that draped over the doorway and headed out toward his lovely wife as she still struggled to hold the tomes.
He nodded to Padma, who subsequently bore a demure and gracious smile on her face. She unloaded all six books into his arms and ambled outside the building before him with a whimsical spring in her step. "It's a glorious day, is it not, my darling?", she said as she exited the building and her husband followed her with the books.
Taartoq turned upward from trying to steady the books he carried, replying with an indistinct monosyllabic grunt to let his wife know he was listening. She smiled and walked back to the waterbender, "If you had told me you needed help earlier, I would have helped, you know." She grabbed two of the books, thus lightening her husband's load.
He sighed in relief, responding, "Thank you, my dear. You are most helpful at times." She smiled playfully, scrunching her nose slightly and pushing softly on her husband's shoulder as he smirked back at her, and the two then embarked on their short journey to Padma's grandparent's house.
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Post by gandalan on Mar 21, 2007 19:59:39 GMT -5
As he stared at the two girls, their fathers, off in the background, were glaring at him angrily. They suddenly realized who he was. They shouted something at some guards, who immediately looked at him, and advanced. Both were obviously waterbenders, as they reached to their sides for waterskins. Nakamura sighed. It had certainly taken long enough. He turned to the men, rather uninterested in them. It didn't matter what happened now, because he was going to be taken in on whatever absurd charge they had for him.
He smiled halfheartedly at the men. "Hello."
They did not smile back. "You shouldn't have come back, you... you..." The first guard seemed to have lost his tongue.
The second bent out some water from his waterskin. Nakamura shook his head slightly, and raised both his hands slightly. "I'm not going to fight..." The second man eyed him with suspicion, then bent the water back into his pouch. He then walked forward, and tied Nakamura's hand behind him. The two then formed an 'escort', one on either side of him, and they took him down the main walkway towards the prison, a small complex that was located near the central western part of the city. As he passed the two girls he'd been staring at, he grinned sheepishly, and shrugged. He had no idea why, but he just didn't care anymore. What happened, happened.
After a few minutes of marching, he was at the prison, and they pushed him inside one of the cells. It was completely made of ice, so they posted an additional 3 waterbenders at the entrance in case he tried anything. Which he wasn't going to. But anyway.
So he was home. What a nice welcome back.
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Post by ukaleq on Mar 24, 2007 15:21:34 GMT -5
The young woman looked distraught at Kuni's prodding. Her dark prussian blue eyes locked on the strange man and for a moment... she wonder if he felt as she did.. trapped. She dropped her gaze quickly, biting her lower lip as she shook her head. "I do not know who that man is..." Her braids swayed against her parka, as she whished her father would finish his converstation with Kuni's father so that they might move on. Ukaleq did not want to stand around all day like this. However, in the air of politeness, she answered Kuni's question.. "When my father attends council, he allows me into the archives so that I might learn the history of our people, our folklore and legends and bring stories back to my younger sister, Naira." Ukaleq lifted her head and glanced to her father whose salt and pepper hair curled over his strong back. She adored her father indeed, but did not see much of him. Qillaq was often with his son, Quanah, rather than with his daughters. Their weekly walks to the temple palace was the only time Ukaleq got to talk quietly with her father and she treasured this moments. Partially out of jealousy of having her time interrupted and partially because of the actual state of affairs, she spoke up softly. "Father.. the council will be beginning shortly, yes?"
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Post by kuni on Mar 24, 2007 16:46:34 GMT -5
Kuni watched on as the man surrendered himself. Who or why he did so was unknown. Ukaleq’s soft voice reached Kuni’s ears and she turned her face to the noblewoman. So, Ukaleq liked the archives. Stories and folklore. Kuni never really spent much time in the archives, she liked being on the outside, away from the walls. Unfortunately, she was desperate. Kuni remained silent for the moment, her small lips touching each other as to not let a voice out. As Ukaleq shifted her gaze back to her father, Kuni did the same. Her father’s attention seemed to be on the man, and not Qillaq. Whatever was going to be the topic of the moment in the council was probably going to be shifted to the trial of the new prisoner. Kuni gave a slight motion to Ukaleq, telling her that she would be back, and walked to her father, gently tapping him. “Father,” she began, “Who was that?”
Kuni’s father merely stared at her, his once gentle face now serious and rough. “That is knowledge for the men to know.” Kuni sighed, somewhat upset at not being able to get a complete answer. As she did this, Ukaleq also spoke to her father, of what discussion, she did not know.
“Yes father,” Kuni replied humbly. “One more thing, may I depart to the archives with Ukaleq?” As he father nodded, Kuni put on a happy face and walked back to Ukaleq. Karpok walked to Qillaq and spoke some words to him, most probably telling him what Ukaleq had said, that the time of the council was not too long away. The men began to depart to the castle, and Kuni walked up to Ukaleq, smiling and showing her white teeth. “About to that tip to the archives…” she began, with a twinkle in the eye, “Do you want to go?”
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Post by taartoq on Mar 24, 2007 17:44:29 GMT -5
Taartoq and his wife proceeded down the steps that lead to the tier below where the archives were located, books in tow. The man, wearing his heavy parka on this cold, crisp, and bright day, had already passed by a couple of noblemen who seemed vaguely familiar to him as well as who were presumeably their daughters, and politely nodded when doing so. He and Padma soon arrived at her grandparents' home, their domicile being about a five-minute walk from the archives if they went quickly, and the elderly couple greeting them warmly at their arrival.
Taartoq and his wife stepped inside and placed the books on a table belonging to the elderly couple, after which they thanked him. Taartoq kissed his wife on the cheek and headed back out the door, letting Padma stay to visit with her grandparents. He headed back toward the grand stairway leading to the higher tier of the city, taking a deep breath to enjoy the brisk air of the fine day.
He walked swiftly, attempting to get back to the archives as fast as possible, and returned to his workplace soon after. Before entering through the doorway, he nodded to both guards standing on either side, placed in such positions to guard the valuable tomes within.
Entering and walking back to his post, Taartoq saw what seemed to happen every morning about that time, when the sun cast its rays on the interior through the ice windows on the large, rounded cupola atop the building. It was a sight seen often by the waterbender and all who frequented or worked inside the place, but nonetheless, it was a beautiful scene in that grand structure.
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Post by gandalan on Mar 25, 2007 20:28:38 GMT -5
The strain was almost too much to bear. Sweat dotted his brow, and began to flow down off of it. His eyes, bared in concentration, stared back at his opponent. He held completely still, trying not to give up. If he could win this! It would be amazing. Come on, you can DO it! called out his inner voice.
Yes, he thought, I'm almost there. It's about to give in and blink.
But he felt an inner problem. His eyes were itching, and getting worse by the second. One of them twitched, and he couldn't catch it: too late. He had lost the staring match. He glared up at the cieling, his opponent. "Best 4 out of 7!" he called. The cieling readily agreed, and they began another match.
He had to do something to amuse himself. Nobody had come to visit, although he'd expected this. His father had probably disowned him by now. He grinned at the thought. He was so detatched from everything that nothing really mattered anymore. He was home, and even though his life was in shambles, he felt better than he had in a long time. He grinned up at the cieling until he blinked again, and then called out, "Best 5 of 9!"
And again.
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Post by ukaleq on Apr 1, 2007 1:03:27 GMT -5
Was Kuni planning on accompanying her..? Ukaleq's dark eyes grew even bleaker, and she dropped her head once again. Usually the archives were empty, save for a few elders and the workers. Ukaleq could roam the aisles of scrolls and books for as long as she wanted, without being bothered and pull book after book from the shelves and read in peace. Sometimes, she would listen as a pair of elders discussed past history, one's veteran history or perhaps even the story of their grandchildren. Now.. would Kuni leave her alone to her story? Could she wander off through room after room and curl up in the furs and read scrolls without the bouncing girl around?
"..I.. I guess so.." Ukaleq nearly whispered, her cheeks flushed with heat from her anger. She was angry.. this was her time with the stories. Naira and Quanah were the only two who ever accompanied her.. and now Quanah was busy with his betrothed and Naira was ill. She shuffled neverously, keeping her head lower and letting her shoulders bow, her dark eyes shifted even as her Father turned and spoke to her across the way, in his deep booming voice. "Go on to the Archives, Ukaleq. I will be a while here before heading to the meeting."
Her heart sunk.. she had hoped maybe her father would invite her to the meeting.. and then she could escape the socialite.
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