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* Sabrina pulls her cloak more tightly around her as she wanders outside the city. She heads towards the woods, looking around deliberately. She stops as she gets close to the edge of the woods and calls out, "Lisl?" * Lisl strides down a deer path in the direction of town, bow-staff slung over one shoulder, a nearly-empty quiver of light arrows at her waist. Over her right shoulder she carries a long freshly-cut pole, dangling about a dozen assorted dead geese and ducks. * Sabrina waits for a moment and then shrugs and turns to head in the direction of Ellesmere. * Lisl looks up, glancing off to her left at the sound of a human voice. She picks up the pace a little, slipping easily through the underbrush until the forest thins and opens onto the verge by the main road. * Lisl spots Sabrina ahead, and jogs forward. "Brina! Wait up!" * Sabrina turns, smiles and waves at Lisl. "Hey, Lisl. I didn't think that would actually work." She giggles. <Lisl> ::raises an eyebrow:: What would work? <Sabrina> Standing at the edge of the woods and calling you. ::she grins:: <Lisl> Ah. ::chuckles:: Well, I think it worked in your favor that I was *just* on my way back in... I was maybe a couple hundred yards out. Otherwise I doubt I've have been close enough to hear you. What's up? * Sabrina nods. "I was hoping to talk with you some. Do you have some time?" <Lisl> Um... ::glances at the pole on her shoulder:: I need to dress these, but I can talk while I work if you don't mind looking at bird guts. * Sabrina glances back and then at Lisl. "I guess not." She chuckles. <Lisl> ::grins:: Great. ::gestures in the direction of Ellesmere, starting down the road:: So what's on your mind? * Sabrina walks off towards Ellesmere with Lisl. "Fosst," she blinks and reddens a bit. "I mean, I was wondering if you could tell me what you know of the Uthgardt people." <Lisl> ::raises an amused eyebrow:: Have a crush, do you? ::chuckles:: Well, I can tell you what I know about the Uthgardt, but I don't know how much it'll help you with Fosst. He's not your typical Uthgardt... ::glances at Sabrina:: for which you're probably lucky. * Sabrina nods, smiling a bit. "I got that impression from what I have read of them in some of Glossaria's books. I am just interested in your perspective." <Lisl> Hmm... ::shrugs:: Well, they're a proud people. What they're like varies from tribe to tribe a great deal... the land they live in is... harsh, and it's bred a harsh race. "The Savage North." "The Frozen Wastes." They're what people around here would call barbarians... to them, "civilization" is a weakness, and weakness has no place with them. <Lisl> I've hunted up that way... lived up there a few years, once. I get along well enough with most of the tribes, not-so-well with others... ::shrugs:: I suppose I do well because they don't really think of me as a woman. ::glances sidelong at Sabrina:: They... *really* don't think much of women, up there. * Sabrina nods looking thoughtful. "Oh I see. I guess that makes sense." <Lisl> Hmm... what else... they're nomads, they follow the game. Strength and honor are pretty important. Magic... well, you've seen how Fosst feels about his "ghost-arts." ::smiling a little:: I'm not sure he thinks Marsember's a real place, with all the magic here... it's a whole 'nother world from where he came from.... * Sabrina glances at Lisl "What *do* they think of women?" <Lisl> ::snorts:: As I said, not much. A woman's strength is in the sons she can produce. Her place is at the hearth... behind or beneath her man. * Sabrina raises and eyebrow and nods some. She looks down at the path. "Oh." <Lisl> ::shrugs a shoulder, resettling the pole as she walks:: Every so often, you get a girl who's different, who gets raised as a son... but it's rare. ::grins:: I generally set a few people on their ears. <Lisl> The... gentler arts... they're not much respected. ::glances at Sabrina again, measuringly:: Singing's respected, because most of their history is oral. But... ::gestures with a finger, tracing figures in the air:: the type of singing *you* do would get you in trouble in a big hurry, there. * Sabrina nods. "Seems the kind of singing I do gets me in trouble in lots of places these days." <Lisl> Don't get me wrong, they *do* have art, and some of it's beautiful... but it's not art-for-art's-sake, if you follow me. It's... ::frowns in thought:: it's religious. They venerate their founder, Uthgardt, as the son of Tempus, but the Beast Cults are very strong there. That's where most of their artwork comes from... honoring their totem, begging favor, offering sacrifice for wrongdoing... <Lisl> ::makes a wry face:: Do *not* let those idiots in the square get you thinking that what you do is wrong. I talked to Kevil, *you've* talked to Kevil-- he'll see to it. * Sabrina nods smiling over at her. "I'm not. From what I understand I am glad you talked to Kevil first, thank you." She glances back to the path and then stops short, suddenly looking very distracted. <Lisl> ::grins:: He was pretty angry, tho' none of it was at yo-- ::stops as well, looking at her:: What is it? ::looks around, lifting her face to the wind:: * Sabrina shakes her head and smiles wide, her face brightening "I figured it out." <Lisl> ::frowns in puzzlement:: Figured...? * Sabrina nods and continues walking. "I wanted to write a song for Fosst. He told me all the music from Uthgardt was about war and such. So I wanted to find something that was not about war, but about other aspects of the Uthgardt. About strength and honor and gentleness, but I couldn't piece it all together. It just hit me." <Lisl> ::blinks:: Ah. Um... "gentleness"? *Uthgardt*? <Sabrina> ::shrugs:: Well ok, that's not a good word. ::she smiles:: * Lisl chuckles. <Sabrina> I'm more thinking of just Fosst when I say that. ::she glances up to Ellesmere:: <Lisl> Mm. ::nods:: Well... for an Uthgardt... although... I'm not certain how much he'd take it as a compliment. ::grins:: Although, as I said: he's not your typical Uthgardt. * Sabrina nods "Hopefully in many ways." * Lisl walks around to the back of the house, mounting the porch steps and setting her pole down with a relieved sigh, nodding to a chair. "Have a seat." * Sabrina settles into a seat watching Lisl. <Lisl> ::looks at Sabrina consideringly:: Just... word of warning. Remember he's new here, and your backgrounds *are* very different. Don't... ::thinks:: don't... see in him things that might not be there, alright? The fewer expectations you have, the happier both of you will be. * Sabrina nods a bit "Just friends." She smiles sadly. "We are just friends." * Lisl pauses in untying a duck from the pole, and shakes a playful finger at Sabrina's sad smile. "And *that* is exactly what I mean, young lady." She grins, and shakes her head. "Mysterious strangers, I swear..." * Sabrina raises her head and smiles at Lisl "Mysterious strangers?" suddenly looks thoughtful again and mumbles lightly, "Humm, would make a nice song title...." * Lisl laughs, waving a dismissive hand and going back to her work. <Sabrina> ::grins:: Tell me. I am now curious about these mysterious strangers. <Lisl> And that, precisely, is the problem. People are so fascinated with the exotic... until they find out just how different it is, and decide it has to be wiped from the earth. ::shakes her head again:: I blame romances. * Sabrina looks a bit confused, watching Lisl work. "Umm, ok. I..." she shakes her head. "I have never felt romance, so I would not be the best judge. I do think Tarri would disagree with you though." <Lisl> ::snorts laughter, pulling her boot knife and slicing open another duck:: Yes, Tarri would most likely disagree with me. <Lisl> ::glances up at Sabrina:: And if you've never "felt romance"... ::grins:: Why all the questions about Fosst's homeland, hmmm? * Sabrina flushes and nods. "Ok it's a new experience." She frowns a bit and then looks over at Lisl. "Lisl, are you happy? I mean not being married and all?" <Lisl> ::looks thoughtful:: I'm... content. Happier than I used to be, for certain, but... ::chuckles:: well, certainly not *blissful*. My happiness doesn't center on a mate, if that's what you're asking. I've been there... ::looking at the duck's innards, not seeing them, and looking up:: Actually, I was almost there twice. I walked away from the second time, because... I realized I didn't need it. And there were so many other things I wanted to be... ::looks thoughtful:: Once I realized I *could* be with someone again, I... didn't need to. ::smiles:: * Sabrina nods and chews her bottom lip thoughtfully. "Tarri seems so happy with San, and Kevil and Loria..." she smiles. "But you also, seem so content." she shrugs a bit. "I guess there is time for me to discover my place." <Lisl> ::nods, studying Sabrina's face:: You're young yet, you don't have to rush into anything. ::grins suddenly:: Although I realize perfectly well that that's the *last* thing youth will believe. I know what *I* was like at your age. <Sabrina> ::grins and shakes her head:: I do believe it. I was just starting to feel content. With my music, finally feeling like I have a family, and then Fosst.....::she trails off:: <Lisl> ::grins:: ...and then Fosst got you wondering what you might be missing? * Sabrina nods, smiling softly "He was so accepting of my past, not judging me by it. He's so easy to be with. I can just be myself and he likes that." she sighs dreamily and looks lost in thought. <Lisl> ::nods:: Friends who can do that are to be treasured. And he does seem to be a good lad... ::smiles:: I'm glad you're able to relax more, 'Brina. Remember, though, you don't have to force it. Take it slow-- make sure it's *him* you love, and not just the new experience he's offering you. * Sabrina blinks and then nods. "I'll do my best, Lisl. I wouldn't be surprised if I need to be reminded though." She grins. <Lisl> ::grins:: No problem. That's exactly what nearly got me married the second time-- believe me, I know whereof I speak. ::chuckles and sets the cleaned duck aside, untying a goose and continuing her work:: |
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