"Very well," said Ja, and bowed. He called out the order to the back room, and poured the mead and ale for his guests. It was not the finest drink in the city, but it would do in a pinch.

"Many thanks, Ja." Aron took her mead with a warm smile, then turned her attention to Matsi, "So what got you interested in our customs?" She asked politely, genuinely interested. "And perhaps, while we're at it, you can tell me more of your customs?" Hurteth lay down at Aron's feet, his tail wagging slowly.

((SFSR...))

Matsi smiled at the memory, "It was my brother. When I was one-and-ten, I began an argument with another boy mine age. I cannot recall over what, but it came near to blows, and my brother Otipa came to my defense. It was a true fight. Others stood about chanting, and real blows were exchanged. The heated exchange, the excitement... It all fascinated me. When I told Father that I wished to become a warrior, he became quite upset. He refused to let me do so for some time, as he feared I would injure myself."

She laughed, "It was better for me when he changed his mind. I had begun to pick fights with all the boys, hoping for a chance to exchange blows. So, he offered me a compromise: learn to fight without blades, and take dancing lessons. Or, do not fight at all. I could not say no! It was my only opportunity, and I took it wholeheartedly.

"He had a very dear friend among your tribe," she continued, taking a sip of her ale, "with whom I began to train. I have been learning your combat ever since that day, as well as your culture. I have come to understand the Roek as loyal and fierce."

"The Ethia, we do not fight. We learn dedication to the past. We study it, preserve it, and revere it," she said, with the air of one who had heard it many times but for whom the meaning had not been lost, "We learn to respect our elders, and to take care of our juniors."

"Haha, I do not mean to offend, but this could not be a life for me. Do not get me wrong, I do like to learn things, when the opportunity presents itself, but my life is on the battlefield. It is good, though, the respect of one's elders, and the care of those unable to care for themselves- this is very respectable." She tok another sip of the mead, "You mentioned your brother. Do you have many?" Perhaps this girl had much in common with Aronel, and was raised with a handfull of males and little femenine influence? It would not surprise her, and it would give her someone to talk to who would truly understand her- well, most of her. She had yet to meet another blind person, but she did not wish this burden on anyone.

"Oh, yes," Matsi laughed, "It is I, Father, and my seven older brothers. Aper, Tsitsil, Daru and Ndara, who are twins, Merko, and Otipa and Pitio, who are also twins. I was to be a twin, myself, but my only sister was stillborn. My mother died soon after our birth. You understand now why Father wished to keep me very safe?" She smiled ruefully.

"Oh..." Aron had been listening happily to the girl speak of all her brothers with such a fondness, but the glee was murdered at the news of the two deaths, one shortly after the other. "I am sorry. My own mother died giving birth to me." It was a sad fact, but one that had long since become as much a part of her as her blindness. She had pondered her bleak outlook of her mother's death before, wondering if it made her a monster to not feel much from it; but, like her sight, she simply could not miss what she never had, though she was certain that, had she had the privilage of meeting her mother, she would have loved her as much as any daughter loves her mother. Just as, had she been born with sight, she would be fond of the beauty of the world around her; the colors, in particular, the mysteries of which continued to elude her, and simple pleasures like watching a sunset and looking at the stars. There was a long, awkward silence as she searched her mind for a happier subject, but came up short. She sipped her mead in silence.

Matsi gave Aron a confused look, "It does not bother me. It was long ago, and I do not recall it, of course. Does it... does it sadden you?" She was quite perplexed. Aron's sudden silence was odd to her, and she wondered if she had said something wrong.

Aron was silent for another moment before speaking up, "I, of course, never knew my mother, either. The knowledge of her death does not bother me; I never knew her and could therefore not be expected to miss her. However, I am never quite sure how to respond to one who has suffered the same loss. Forgive me."

"Hm," Matsi said non-noncommittally. She decided to change the topic a bit; this one wasn't much fun at all, "How many brothers have you? Are they as overprotective as mine?"

"Oh, I have three brothers, Roreck, Giza, and Shu, respective to age. Roreck is the eldest of us, and Giza and Shu, well.... let's just say we're not the closest of siblings. Roreck says it is their jealousy of the extra attention I am given that sparks their disdain. I have long since given up hope that they would get over their childish nature." She smiled, "Father was also a bit over protective of me for some time. Then he saw I was not useless, blind though I may be. I still had four other, perfectly good senses. Roreck and I are very close. Roreck has been helping me in my martial arts, if not as much as my father. He has also been the one to train me in speaking with the mona."

"Ah," Matsi said, slightly impressed, "You are learning the Arts? I have not learned as much as some would like, but I know enough to get by. I do not see much use for it in the ring if I have my body, and perhaps a weapon."

She laughed, making light of her abilities.

"Are you learning them all, or have you a specialty?"

"My brother tells me it is just as important to train myself on the spiritual plain of existance as it is to train myself in the physical realm." She recalled this more to herself than anything, "As ofr specialties, I have none, currently. I had thought, when I was younger to travel the path of Mans, to seek out any possible cure for this blindness," she shrugged, "It was a childish, unrealistic idea, I realized. Now I wish to extend my abilities in Erga. Roreck tells me that this would be a great choice to further my abilties in the field of battle."

"I can understand this," Matsi said, "But I feel as though to do so is... unfair? As if I were to be cheating mine opponent out of a fair battle. And if I were to fight one who used it in battle I would feel cheated as well. I have done so very rarely. Perhaps twice in as many years? And perhaps I would resort to such underhanded means if they were to do so," she winked, and Aron could hear it in her voice.

"And what of your dog," she asked, "You say he attends to you everyplace you go, and that he... erm, 'does the rest,' I believe you said? What of that?"

"Oh, I think you misunderstand me. I would never use it in the ring unless my opponent was as well; but of course in order to use magic, you must know how." She said pointedly, "Let us say it is for security reasons, and leave it at that."



"He fetches things for me in areas I am not quite as familiar with. He leads me through crowds, where the noise is in such a state of chaos that I cannot just rely on sound to get by. He also warns me of stairs with a small bark, different from his others." She grinned, rubbing the dog's back with her foot, "He's a smart dog, and picked up on his training pretty well."

"Ah, he seems to do much the same as Ruha can. He's been trained to go where I direct him, pick up things, bring them, and so forth," she scratched the piikii between the ears.

((SFSR-- not sure where to go ^.^))

At that moment, Ja arrived from the back, laden with food for his visitors. It was plain, simple food - an onion cut in half, two hunks of nut bread and a chunk of cooked bear meat, all on a single wooden plate. He plunked the plate down beside them, and bowed his head before sidling over to his other customers.

"Many thanks, Ja." Aron said, grinning before tearing into the bread she'd been given, offering a small piece to Hurteth, who greedily downed it in one bite. She smiled upon hearing him chomp it down. For a while, the four sat in silence, Aronel thoughtful as she ate. "My brother likes to climb the wall with me, sometimes..." She said slowly, quietly, "He watches the sunset and tries to describe to me its beauty. Then he looks out over the mists and we make guesses as to what could be out there, aside from the many hatchers. We wonder why lies beyond them." She chewed a particularly tought piece of meat for a moment as she thought over her words, "He is busy, this night. Would you like to come with me, in his place?"

((Sorry, I forgot about this one for a bit.))

((No problem-- I kind of did too ))

Matsi's eyes widened slightly at the invitation. It seemed so... personal. And yet they had only met that day. She smiled, "I would be honored to accompany you.

"I have been to the wall many times, as I run, but I have not been at sunset. I am certain that it is lovely. It does get dark so quickly at the valley floor. It lasts longer on the ridge, does it not?"

"You are asking a blind girl." She grinned, "But yes, my brother says it lasts longer; and I can feel the heat of the sun on my skin for a longer time as well."

Matsi put a hand over her grinning mouth as she realized her mistake, lauging quietly to herself.



"Hm," Matsi chewed and swallowed, "So, when and where would you like for me to meet you this evening? I suppose you can get us to your favored spot on the wall from a meeting place."