Orphan at the Edge of the World 44 OEW 43

tThe four's arrival caused a minor stir as Droya had been running the Centerland soldiers ragged looking for signs of them. As the days had dragged on, the search started including the possibility that they were dead despite Droya's assurance that Orison was alive at least. The special pearl she had almost stopped working, however.

tOddly, Calix seemed rather ambivalent towards Orison's survival but Orison tried not to take it personal. Droya was understandably beside herself with nearly hysterical relief and Claudius looked relieved as well, though there was a hint of guilt mixed in with it. A certain point clicked in his mind and Orison read between subtle lines of body language that Orison and party's disappearance had catalyzed some changes in Droya's and Claudius' relationship. If Droya's acceptance of Claudius into her personal space was any indicator, it was a fairly substantial change.

tOrison wasn't the only one who was missed. Gan received a warm and relieved welcome from Yulian and Corvinus that suggested the scout's social efforts had been reciprocated. Elder Fvaris' lingering formal well wishing to Morrel after a brief one to Orison also spoke a subtle tale but no one present was the least bit interested in the private relations between the Cantrip House's steward and a council member.

tBeing that their disappearance had become something high profile, the council was owed an explanation. To avoid a direct inquiry, Orison managed to get a moment alone with the Speaker of the Right to hand off the packaged materials in need of replanting as soon as possible and asked him to make excuse as to avoid alerting the Speaker of the Left's attention. Orison explained that a storm kicked up, forcing them into a bad situation because they were a bit further out to sea than was safe due to being afraid of getting caught essentially stealing from a Progressive clan's land.

tThe Revivalist elder may not have cared for Orison much but he did want to keep the resource acquisition a secret so he reluctantly agreed. He offered a story about how Orison and party were on an errand of a personal nature for the speaker where a misunderstanding occurred. He wasn't willing to vouch for the whereabouts and activities of Orison during that time but he could provide evidence in the form of a couple of reports he had received of Orison doing good deeds off the beaten path in violation of agreements but to the betterment of the Obsidian Islanders. Since under normal circumstances, the only one who'd usually blow their top over such a good-natured flaunting of diplomatic agreement was the one to offer it as excuse, no one questioned further but doubt could be seen lingering in Elder Fvaris' eyes.

tTo smooth things over the rest of the way, Orison gave the recipe for a few skin care products to the Speaker of the Left and asked for a private word with Elder Fvaris after the meeting. "I don't want to waste any more time than the inconvenience of my disappearance has caused everyone so allow me to say one more thing. Tell Granny Xia that I had to face the consequences of a certain acquisition and there should be no more."

tThe Fvaris elder gave a weak smile laced with misery and said, "I can't begin to express how much of a joy it will be to relay your message... Perhaps you could relay a message for me. If there is nothing urgent to keep him from doing so, I'd appreciate Steward Morrel's assistance with a personal matter. Say, around tenth evening bell?"

t"I can do that, Venerable," Orison said, trying to maintain an oblivious demeanor.

tSomewhat embarrassed, Elder Fvaris said, "If, uh, if Morrel's attempts to fulfill certain duties continues to produce no results, are you capable of doing so?... I don't have a great deal of practice in relaying such delicate matters... To be blunt, I know that you are supposed to be only eleven but even before your forced maturity you seemed to be rather 'wise' for your age. Many believe rumors I'd prefer not to repeat. Instead of prying into your personal secrets, I'll ask directly.

t"I and another woman of my clan were tasked with making stronger connections to yours. We'd obviously prefer to do so through Morrel, as he is an elf that understands the traditions, but neither of us has quickened and Highlanders are supposed to bear a strong connection to an old, shared heritage... Are you 'capable'?"

tCompletely blindsided, Orison said, "A direct question with a deceptively easy answer. Morrel still has, ahem, opportunities to prove himself, yes?"

tThe elder nodded, attempting to hide her own discomfort over the topic, and said, "And we'll do what we can to ensure those 'attempts' produce results. If they do not, however, then we need to look towards the only other acceptable alternative. Due to the, well, nature of things, You would need enough time to satisfy an honest attempt. Let's say three weeks... That gives your steward one more before, by necessity, we look towards you."

tWith a series of awkwardly exchanged formal parting statements, Orison left the council building with restrained pace. Upon returning to the embassy suite, Orison called a 'family meeting'.

tAfter he explained the sucker punch conversation he had with the Fvaris elder to Droya and Morrel, Orison said, "I'm not going to fly off the handle about being kept in the dark about this because I can see the emotional and FLAWED logical reasons. What I want to know now is why. Why did the two of you, and I know it had to be both, decide to do this?"

tA long, drawn out explanation ended up boiling down to two key points. For both Droya and Morrel it was about safety. For Morrel alone, it was also about honoring an old tradition. For the clans, it was to ease the disagreement on what the consulate's, at the time of the Cantrip family's arrival, status actually was. From the perspective of the Revivalist clans, the consulate was a besieged invader's camp the obsidian elves were in negotiation with. The Progressives saw it for what it was meant to be and the Pact clans were looking to exploit any advantage it could to further survival and prosperity.

tOrison digested all of that and said, "Well, we are not in the same position we were before. I have plenty of leverage to push against if there is need. Morrel, I get that there is this elvish tradition of paying one's ransom with offspring if the victorious party requests it but we aren't prisoners of war. All I want to know is if you want to. Just so I'm not misunderstood, I'm not asking if you are willing. I'm asking if you actually desire to continue. I don't need to know the reasons, just your will."

tMorrel turned to Droya and said, "The words I would share with your son would be easier shared between the two of us. It isn't that you cannot hear them. It is merely that some conversations are less difficult when not had in the presence of a mother or a friend not of the same gender."

tDroya playfully acted offended and said as she walked out, "I see how it is. Enjoy your lecherous men-talk then. This simple woman will find some knitting or some such to keep my little head occupied."

tNot one to let arrows fly without returning fire, even harmless ones, Orison said, "Perhaps Claudius could help you untangle some string, mom. There seems to be a lot of red ones knotting around here recently."

tThe look of speechless shock and offense on Droya's face no longer looked feigned as she stormed away. Perplexed, Orison turned to Morrel with the filed away notion of discovering what misunderstanding he had just caused.

tIt didn't take long because Morrel filled him in as the elf expanded a magic zone that smelled of lush plants. "Droya didn't understand your reference to archaic obsidian elf expressions. She may have missed 'the red string of fate between lovers' but she fabricated one of her own from a common lewd insult given to men who have a preference for Bastet women."

tSeeing that Orison was still confused, Morrel further explained, "Red knots, my innocent pupil... Men who take interest in Bastet women are referred to in less polite circles as, er, 'cat' hounds."

tOrison felt a little sick at the implication of what his mother had thought he meant. "Of course I wouldn't- I'd never... I just wanted to tease her a little to let her know in a round about way that I support her happiness, is all."

tMorrel nodded and said, "I've seen first hand and need no explanation. When we are done talking, I'll find a tactful way to let her know your real meaning... But stow that away for now. I need to speak about issues that unfortunately involve you in affairs I don't think you are ready, or barring that, willing to deal with.

t"Up til now you've been able to avoid certain attention due to most placing your emotional age as too young. Once you open that door of possibility you're going to be dealing with more than most grown men would find pleasant. How you decide to pursue your own affairs is beyond what I care to be involved in. A certain secretary is far and wide aware but has kept her silence on the issue. I will say that comforting a rapacious woman who calls out someone else's name in poignant moments wasn't an enjoyable experience but being requested to spank them over imagined misdeeds was quite novel."

tOrison, who was already mortified over Droya's misunderstanding, had been heaped with embarrassment over his relatively innocent role play being not only known by another but having them fill in as a replacement to continue it. Wanting to finish this conversation so he could recover equilibrium alone, Orison motioned for the 'not so' old elf to finish.

tMorrel sighed. "For our private lives to overlap in such a way is uncomfortable for me as well... All else aside, I may have been somewhat unwilling to indulge the Fvaris clan in the beginning and used some wood elf secrets to keep such dalliances unfruitful but I have grown pity and fondness for the girl known as Ruolan. She is the personal attendant of the current Fvaris elder.

t"That leads me to a matter I need your aid in. There is a second part to the tradition they are using. It hasn't been exercised in this current generation to my knowledge but if they want to use one they cannot deny the other... As such things happen, men are wont to develop feelings or at least possessiveness over their children and the women who bear them. If a man can successfully steal away back to their clan with the woman who bears their 'ransom' and that clan allows it, then she will be considered a 'trophy' wife. When a child is born of such a union, it and any further children who are male will be considered to belong to the man's clan but female children must be returned to the woman's clan to avoid feud.

t"What I want to know is if I steal away with Ruolan, will you allow us to claim you as our clan and take the responsibility of insuring that the tradition is honored if they pressure you. I am not yet ready to part with Rithus and even if he was willing to follow me to the Vale, I know nothing of my mother clan or if I would be welcomed with such a family as I have and further desire to create. So that I can be sure you understand what I ask, will you allow us to take your name and be a part of your family in an official manor so that I can exorcise ancient elvish tribal law?"

tThe young mage rubbed his forehead attempting to absorb the load just dropped on his head. "You have always been a careful and shrewd person, Morrel. If you've got it all planned out and know what you're doing then I'll trust you on it... I've thought of you and Rithus as a part of the family since the beginning anyway. It just never occurred to me that you'd want to make it 'official'. So what, I'm adopting you?"

tMorrel chuckled. "From a Highlander perspective you could see it that way. From the Vale's stand point, it suggests that you value me enough as a subordinate to allow me the privilege of 'wearing' your clan's name beside my own. And so you don't make the mistake of confusing it when it will matter, by doing this you will become a 'clan' in truth. Cantrip will no longer be a family surname in the eyes of elves."

tOrison frowned and said, "It sounds like thin sophistry. Are you sure it's strong enough to hold up?"

tMorrel said, "Remember when I told you about the lost tribe of half elves? It is believed by my people that the Highlanders are their descendants. Because of this, there are some clans dotted among the Highlander families. If we were dealing with a Summerland Domain clan then no but the obsidian elves have always honored the old traditions when it involves another clan as long as that clan currently possesses elven members."

tOrison said, "You place a great deal of importance on using the word clan over family. What are the important differences that I should be aware of?"

tMorrel said, "In this case, the only difference that is of importance lay in the fact that clans may have more than one family within them. In the eyes of elves, that means with time, another family may rise to power and replace the current ruling family of the clan. Even if they do, however, they must honor all previously made agreements with other clans."

tOrison smiled and said, "Well, I doubt I have to worry about a coup to usurp my Centerland title since they don't play by those rules. I'll have hard enough... Morrel, when this happens, is it possible for our 'clan' to seek a place in the Vale? I'm not saying I want to or even that we should but it could be an unexpected bargaining chip."

tMorrel blinked numbly then said, "I-Yes, in theory. You would need a wood elf matriarch and she would have the final say in all affairs outside of the clan."

tOrison said, "I'm banking a lot on future ifs but when you talk to mom, bring up that I'd like us to purchase and free a wood elf woman. If she asks why, for now just say that you've inspired a curiosity toward Vale cuisine, minus cannibalism obviously. Since she seems to have a hard nose about having young women in my employ for some reason, let's shoot for old enough to be a matriarch within a year and young enough to travel. I already have a major misunderstanding between us. Let's get that solved before I go adding more."

tMorrel added, "Age is a factor for a matriarch but so is talent."

tOrison said, "I figured there would be a snag but that's not as big of one as it seems. Old enough to be a matriarch within a year, young enough to travel, let me worry about the rest. It's just insurance but as long as she proves trustworthy, Morrel, I won't treat her wrongly. I hope I've inspired that much trust."

tMorrel said, "On the younger side would run around the minimum range of 500. Prepare to scrape the lint from your pocket... I wouldn't think I'd need to say it but becoming a clan needs to be done soon and stay a secret issue until after we have left."

tOrison nodded and said, "Consider it done when you you draft the document, sacrifice the animal or whatever it is we need to do."

tMorrel laughed and informed, "The old way was exchanging a cup of fresh blood and a bowl of enemy stew. We can just settle for signed 'adoption' papers, for now."

tOrison said thoughtfully, "There's a mean rabbit mom bought a few days back that's bit her and Rithus both. A bowl of enemy rabbit stew sounds pretty good."

tMorrel sighed and then chuckled. "It wouldn't be the first time someone played loose with the old ways, I'm sure."

tIt didn't take long after their private discussion to get the 'adoption' matters complete. And after an awkward apology from both mother and son which neither enlightened the onlookers about the reason for, the new clan settled down to a rabbit stew dinner with a copiously wine diluted blood toast.

Chapter end