Post by Elinea on May 12, 2008 12:19:30 GMT -7
And there's more 
A little Iksar language translation here ------ Tok or Tok'a is 'adopted daughter' or 'son' respectively, a lord of the manor can designate a special status if he wishes to a slave or servant, usually done early in life.
The word 'sha' is an insult in the Iksar language --- do not call an Iksar that, he will be offended, however when combined with other things, as so often in languages, it means something totally different.
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The ride back to Ironscale Hall was quiet and she slept all the way there. There was the usual flurry of activity as always when the Lord arrived home, but the message had gone to the Hall that there was a passenger with him this time. The household had come out to the stables to see, even the Lady Mireen and their daughter, Vesna.
"No Sarnak slaves, Veran?"
"No. They were gone. Either they ran to escape the flood, or they died."
He handed the infant over to Daemon, and her noises caught the matriarch's attention, "I see you found one survivor at least. I'll have her taken over to the Sarnak quarters and one of them will have to raise her now."
"Not just yet, Mireen, he looked down at Daemon, take her to the meeting hall first, I'll meet you there. Mireen, Vesna, come too. There is something I need to do."
The meeting hall was almost full, as his Lordship had requested.
Those that had rank and standing, were seated. Those who had lesser rank were on their feet standing. As his Lordship entered with Daemon following with the young Sarnak, they all stood.
"I'm glad you're all here. I have a very important issue to bring up with all of you, as per our Iksar traditions. This is a very serious and somber ceremony, my friends. I am about to announce a new member of my family."
"Veran?"
"Mireen, I was unable to tell you before this, and I apologize. There was no way around it."
"I did find one survivor of the flood. I would like to introduce Viku Tok'Veran. She will receive the due respect of her designated rank."
There was a hushed gasp of surprise.
"Veran, what are you doing? You can not name a slave 'Viku'!
She is one of your most revered ancestors. NO! I will not allow it."
Mireen was silent, "Name her 'Sha'".
"That is an insult, I won't have it."
"Giving her 'Tok' status is bad enough.... But to give her a legend's name. The shaman Viku, Veran....it is not proper. Let one of the Sarnak name her."
No sound came from those in the room, and Veran was thoughtful for a moment.
He finally sighed, "Mireen, I can tell you are not going to go along with my wishes. Very well, for the sake of avoiding an argument, her name is Vikusha Tok'Veran. That is my final word on the issue."
"Veran, how can you do this after our two sons were killed by Sarnak slaves in the revolt?"
"They died honorably, Mireen. Vikusha had nothing to do with their deaths."
There was silence in the meeting hall, "Daemon, you and I will take her to her new parents. There will be no more discussion."
There were no further protests as he left the room.
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Morning sunlight was finding it's way into the kitchen of The Hall.
It had moved from the windowsills and had found it's way to Vikusha's sleeping mat next to the hearth. She opened her eyes and sat up in a sudden panic. It was late for her to still be asleep. She hurriedly rolled up her mat and dressed, hoping for some reason they had let her sleep and she was not in trouble.
The dishes from the last night's meal were still not clean and she started this chore to prepare for the morning meal.
"Or perhaps the noon meal? What has happened? Where is everyone to wake me?", she wondered silently, until she heard a door open behind her.
"Vikusha, what are you doing?"
She turned around to see the head house slave, old Okoka,
standing in the kitchen doorway.
"The dishes were never done from the last meal, Oko. Someone must do them."
"Not today, Vik. The household will not be eating."
She was quiet before she spoke, "His Lordship died in his sleep last night. The family is fasting, only water for today. This is a day of mourning, no one works out of respect. You haven't seen any of the Lordship's family die before, so you don't understand. There has been a change of power, Her Ladyship Mireen, is head of the family now."
A little Iksar language translation here ------ Tok or Tok'a is 'adopted daughter' or 'son' respectively, a lord of the manor can designate a special status if he wishes to a slave or servant, usually done early in life.
The word 'sha' is an insult in the Iksar language --- do not call an Iksar that, he will be offended, however when combined with other things, as so often in languages, it means something totally different.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ride back to Ironscale Hall was quiet and she slept all the way there. There was the usual flurry of activity as always when the Lord arrived home, but the message had gone to the Hall that there was a passenger with him this time. The household had come out to the stables to see, even the Lady Mireen and their daughter, Vesna.
"No Sarnak slaves, Veran?"
"No. They were gone. Either they ran to escape the flood, or they died."
He handed the infant over to Daemon, and her noises caught the matriarch's attention, "I see you found one survivor at least. I'll have her taken over to the Sarnak quarters and one of them will have to raise her now."
"Not just yet, Mireen, he looked down at Daemon, take her to the meeting hall first, I'll meet you there. Mireen, Vesna, come too. There is something I need to do."
The meeting hall was almost full, as his Lordship had requested.
Those that had rank and standing, were seated. Those who had lesser rank were on their feet standing. As his Lordship entered with Daemon following with the young Sarnak, they all stood.
"I'm glad you're all here. I have a very important issue to bring up with all of you, as per our Iksar traditions. This is a very serious and somber ceremony, my friends. I am about to announce a new member of my family."
"Veran?"
"Mireen, I was unable to tell you before this, and I apologize. There was no way around it."
"I did find one survivor of the flood. I would like to introduce Viku Tok'Veran. She will receive the due respect of her designated rank."
There was a hushed gasp of surprise.
"Veran, what are you doing? You can not name a slave 'Viku'!
She is one of your most revered ancestors. NO! I will not allow it."
Mireen was silent, "Name her 'Sha'".
"That is an insult, I won't have it."
"Giving her 'Tok' status is bad enough.... But to give her a legend's name. The shaman Viku, Veran....it is not proper. Let one of the Sarnak name her."
No sound came from those in the room, and Veran was thoughtful for a moment.
He finally sighed, "Mireen, I can tell you are not going to go along with my wishes. Very well, for the sake of avoiding an argument, her name is Vikusha Tok'Veran. That is my final word on the issue."
"Veran, how can you do this after our two sons were killed by Sarnak slaves in the revolt?"
"They died honorably, Mireen. Vikusha had nothing to do with their deaths."
There was silence in the meeting hall, "Daemon, you and I will take her to her new parents. There will be no more discussion."
There were no further protests as he left the room.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morning sunlight was finding it's way into the kitchen of The Hall.
It had moved from the windowsills and had found it's way to Vikusha's sleeping mat next to the hearth. She opened her eyes and sat up in a sudden panic. It was late for her to still be asleep. She hurriedly rolled up her mat and dressed, hoping for some reason they had let her sleep and she was not in trouble.
The dishes from the last night's meal were still not clean and she started this chore to prepare for the morning meal.
"Or perhaps the noon meal? What has happened? Where is everyone to wake me?", she wondered silently, until she heard a door open behind her.
"Vikusha, what are you doing?"
She turned around to see the head house slave, old Okoka,
standing in the kitchen doorway.
"The dishes were never done from the last meal, Oko. Someone must do them."
"Not today, Vik. The household will not be eating."
She was quiet before she spoke, "His Lordship died in his sleep last night. The family is fasting, only water for today. This is a day of mourning, no one works out of respect. You haven't seen any of the Lordship's family die before, so you don't understand. There has been a change of power, Her Ladyship Mireen, is head of the family now."