"Oh, no, mestra. I am off-duty," Gwenn said. "I am simply spending time until the scribe finishes writing my letter for me. I would be happy to accompany you anywhere you wish to go, but I must be back at the scribe's in about a half-a-candlemark to retrieve the letter. After that, I am free until curfew."
How wonderful. This day was turning out better than she had hoped. But it wasn't really fair to him that he carry all the parcels while she walked unburdened. "I would welcome both your company and your help in carrying my parcels", she replied gratefully, "but I feel that I should carry some of them as well". If he knew he was carrying various womens' undergarments in two of those parcels, he might start blushing all over again. It would be better if she took those ones herself, without mentioning why.
"That wouldn't be proper, mestra, for you to carry such a burden. If it gets to be too much, we could simply hire someone to help carry them," Gwenn replied. "My da had a hand-cart, but I don't know where we could find one here."
Oops. Apparently, she had just run into yet another cultural difference. Who did this young man think she was, to be waited upon as if she were either royalty or feeble-bodied ? She was just an ordinary person. But on the other hand, he might be offended if she refused.
"Back home", Kay began softly and kindly. She stopped trying to relieve Gwenn of a few of the packages. Words needed to be chosen that would allow her independant streak to express itself, but without giving offense. "Each man, woman or child does as they are able, without fussing over propriety". She sighed, hoping he understood what she meant, then continued "But I would not have my actions shame you in public, so I will give in to local customs THIS time".
"You honor me, damisela," Gwenn replied.
There was one other question she wanted to ask. "Curfew ?", she inquired, confused once again. Despite his evident youth, surely he was too old to have a mother (or nurse) to insist that he go to bed. Perhaps this was some sort of millitary regulation. She hadn't heard of anything like that at the base.
"Aye, mestra. The recruits and cadets must be in barracks by the 11th hour, or they are disciplined and can even be discharged if they are late too often," Gwenn explained.
"That sounds very strict to me", commented Kay. There had been many evenings on Terra where she'd stayed out until the wee hours of the morning.
"Perhaps, but I kenned that it would be a difficult life when I decided to join. 'Tis part of the the training to be a Guardsman--a Guard must be very disciplined to hold fast when an enemy army is attacking," Gwenn replied. "An' I kenned that it would be a difficult life I had chosen."
Kay's stomach interrupted her train of thought. It rumbled and grumbled, reminding her that she had completely forgotten to eat and hinting at how half a candlemark might be spent.
"I have found all this shopping to be somewhat tiring", Kay commented, "Would you perhaps care to join me for a small meal ? I've noticed several taverns nearby and would like to try some local food other than those wonderful desserts I found at the Sweet Shop".
Gwenn gave such a bow as he could while holding the parcels and said, "I would be honored, mestra...that is, if your family wouldn't take offense at it. I have no wish to even appear to have dishonored you." Gwenn blushed slightly pink as he spoke that last sentence.
Kay tossed her head defiantly, and made a sharp sound of disgust. "There are ... none ... on this planet", she began, choosing her words with extreme care, "who ... I can properly say ... have claimed me as kin". This awkwardly-phrased statement was technically true, though it was certainly NOT the whole truth. But hopefully it would do for now.
"I am my own woman, and freely make my own choices; not some child to be owned as if I were a prize breeding-mare", she added, "I am willing and you are willing -- that is enough for me. And any who would see dishonour in that, must have minds as filthy as a ... cralmac's breath".
"Is that what you think of us?" Gwenn asked in shock, his face getting red again. He stopped, aghast at what he had just said and how it sounded. "Forgive me, damisela. 'The Elyotts march to their own pipers.' I had no right to ask that; I will speak no more of it."
It suddenly dawned on Kay that she had just done it again. Whenever her temper rose up, her sense of tact dissapeared. "I did not mean YOU or your family", she interrupted apologetically, blushing deep red again. *Please Goddess, let him not be so angered as to turn a deaf ear to me*. "I know only of my own immediate family, and what little my father's mother has told me of hers", she confessed, trying to explain.
"Nay", Kay replied, "'Tis I who should be asking YOUR forgiveness. My anger is not for you; but for those with whom I share common blood. You could not have known the troubles between my ancestors. Let there be no insult between us".
"Think no more of it," Gwenn replied. "No insult has been taken, nor was one intended. How can I be insulted with one such as you? I know little enough of Hali...Comyn ways, and none of Terranan. Be assured, I will speak nae more of this." Gwenn thought it better not to mention that his father's spirit would be angry if he took offense at something a female had said!
Kay paused for a moment as a thought occurred to her. She had kept those matters secret for a long time. But perhaps too long. It might be helpful for her to gain a new perspective and new insights. As much as the topic pained her, she had to start with SOMEONE eventually -- else, she'd surely never find what she had come here to seek.
"Perhaps ...", Kay offerred hesitantly, looking at Gwenn and wondering. She desperately hoped that she wasn't about to make a huge mistake. "... if you would not speak of it to any other ... ". Her courage wavered for a moment, and she wasn't sure whether the rest of the words would come. But come they did. "There are a few things I can tell you of my family ... to explain ... if you would hear it ... it is not a short tale, and I would rather first be seated, with food and drink in front of me".
For a few moments, she was half-frozen in fear, worried that Gwenn might think the worse of her for her outburst. This wasn't the first time, she'd over-reacted to someone hitting one of her emotional sore points. Those wounds were both old and deep; though not to the point where she was willing to consider seeking to join the Renunciates. Recruit MacConal had not deserved to bear the brunt of her anger, and she had treated him most unfairly.
To her immemse relief, he was still willing to be seen with her. "It is not commonly done," Gwenn replied, "but as you have no family you can consult....I would be honored, damisela. I have just made the aquaintance of the proprietor at the Roasted Lamb, if you would like to try their fare." Gwenn replied, indicating a small shop down the street behind them, with a sign that had a picture of a lamb laying on a bed of burning wood. "Of course, afterward, I must retrieve my letter, but then I will be free to accompany you anywhere you wish."
And so they proceeded down the street to the Roasted Lamb. Kay couldn't help walking slowly. Part of her still felt slightly guilty for allowing Gwenn to carry everything. So she soothed her pangs of conscience by reading shop signs as they passed them. Many had only a picture to announce itself, but there were enough that she could justify not speeding up her pace to a more usual speed.
As they walked down the street, they passed Raul's barber shop. There was a sign outside the front door that read "Gardsmen - Haf Prise". It caught Kay's wandering eye and she frowned for a minute. At first glance, it seemed to be complete gibberish. She stopped in front of it, and took a closer look. It appeared to be written in cahuenga and had something to do with guardsmen; but the rest of the words escaped her. Unfortunately, she couldn't read cahuenga as well as she spoke it -- so far, she knew just enough to handle the forms related to her job, and very little more.
Slowly and painfully, she sounded out the words. This looked to be a barbershop; that should provide some clue. A nervous giggle bubbled up and escaped as she gave up in frustration. "Either this mestru Raul spells even worse than I", Kay said softly, " or I need cahuenga lessons more often".
A fresh blush spread across her face as it suddenly occurred to her that perhaps she should have kept that to herself -- it was an unkind comment. She hoped Gwenn didn't think her overly-impolite for having laughed. And she hoped even more strongly that nobody else had overheard her.
Gwenn looked at the shop, shrugged, and commented, "I wish I could tell, damisela, but I can neither read nor write. Perhaps he reads better than he writes. I have heard that Raul has good prices for the regular Guardsmen. Perhaps writing skills contribute to the high prices in Thendara."
Thankfully, her temporary change of subject had worked. Kay could already feel her blush starting to lighten. It still astonished her that so many people on this world could not read and write. Being the product of a Terran education herself, Kay could barely understand how anyone could manage without it. Part of her wanted to offer to trade lessons. She could teach him to read and write. And surely there were things that he could teach her. But what if she unknowingly said something offensive again. Maybe she should be indirect this time.
"When I was a student myself, I used to teach simple Terran Standard reading and writing to young children", Kay said, as if this was simply a thought that had wandered across her mind. She wanted to indicate that she knew how to teach literacy and was willing to do so. Yet she didn't want to come right out and offer, fearing to give offense again so soon. "Now I find that I better understand their frustrations in learning", she added.
"'Tis easier to understand a man when ya wear 'is kilt.'" Gwenn agreed amiably.
They entered the Roasted Lamb and Gwenn let Kay take the lead. He had no idea how to proceed, having never eaten at a business before.