Ray McCarthy
Sentient Marmite: The Truth may make you fret.
Some notes here:
http://www.sffchronicles.com/threads/547172/page-29#post-1892860
Chapter 1: Urchins
It was early morning and Barans had just finished setting up his stall when he saw the two street urchins come over and stare at the food.
"Show me your coin," said Barens, the stall holder, "before you even think of touching!"
"Ain't got none," said Kevlin, "me and my brother's starving."
"You should be in the Dalrinat City Institute for the Poor."
"It's full," said Kevlin, "anyways, it's like slavery, we'd never leave. I don't want to end buried in their cabbage patch."
"Where's your parents?"
"Me mum was a Doxie and two days ago someone strangled her."
"I'm Barens," he said, "what are your names?"
"I'm Kevlin and this here, my younger brother is Meg ... Meggels."
"Either your mother was very inadequate or you've been on the street a lot longer than two days. Meggles doesn't much look like you either."
"Maybe we has different dads."
"Meggels?"
"He don't really talk, Mister Barens," explained Kevlin, "You know, upset about it all."
Barens peered at 'Meggels'. He had his head bowed and a ragged sun hat. He'd bet good coin that the supposed younger brother was an Elf girl, maybe even older than Kevlin. No regular Dalrinat Street urchin would be taking care of an Elf.
"Would you like some sausage left over from last night?"
He produced it from his bag and cut it in half. He set the parts on the table near the back of his wagon.
"Thanks!" said Kevlin and wolfed it down.
'Meggels' just stared at it.
"Perhaps Meggels would prefer a stale bread roll from last night?"
He set it out and it was snatch and quickly eaten.
"Thanks," said Kevlin.
"It's going to get busy in a short while," he said, "go and wash in the Wagon and you can help serve. I'm lacking an assistant just at the minute. If you are any good, then I'll give you some lunch."
"What about later?" said Kevlin. "I can count and read, so I can help serve. Meggels can tidy and restock?"
"We'll discuss later when it's later."
Mysteriously Kevlin spoke politely and properly to the customers dropping the street accent and grammar, which had sounded a bit dubious to Barens. Perhaps Kevlin had run away from somewhere, maybe there would be a reward. But the silent Elf girl was a puzzler. He kept half an eye on Kevlin, but he was competant at serving, weighing, reading shopping lists of servants, and counting the coins. Trade was brisk as he was well known and had a good reputation. Tomorrow he would be back in his own shop in the nearby town of Horlinsk. Once a week he came for market day, the evening before, to sell his preserves (jams and pickles), sausages, cured meats, nuts, dried fungi and sweetmeats. He began to think maybe he was wrong as Meggels brought out more meat products from the wagon. Perhaps just a strange girl or very odd boy and not an elf at all. They ate lunch as they worked, though Meggels brewed tea for them. Meggles ate little, and again nothing with meat or dairy. Kevlin obviously enjoyed his sausage and cheese in a bread stick.
It was dusk. Soon the very few oil lamps would be lit. Quickly they packed up.
"What now?"
"Do you want to come and work for me in Horlinsk?" said Barens
"Maybe if Meggles can come and wants to."
"Meggles can come," he said, "as I'm short of staff. I buy the nuts and fungi from Elves of course. Either of you speak any Elvish languages?"
"When do we go?" said Kevlin, ignoring the question.
"First Light," said Barens. "I'll loan you a coulple of blankets and you can sleep under the wagon. Then the livery stable boy will be here at dawn with the horses."
Barens fervently hoped that Meggles was an Elf and could help as his partner was the only person he knew that could negotiate in Elvish and had managed to fall off his horse and break his neck. He'd always been clumsy. The special underground fungus and the choice nuts from the Elves was a nice extra bit of profit with no actual extra work. Of course both was in theory seasonal supplies, but they kept well. It would be the season soon enough, summer was waning.
Kevlin helped him harness the beasts the next morning. Meggles just watched.
Now, another little test Barens thought ...
"Would either of you like to ride up front or in the back?" said Barens.
"I'd love to sit on the board and watch you drive," said Kevlin, "but Meggles didn't sleep so well, he'd like to lie down in the back if possible?"
"Fine," he said.
Either Kevlin wasn't running away from anyone likely to see him here, or he'd forgotten to be stealthy.
They didn't talk on the three hour journey, though occasionally Barens pointed out a landmark, or a wild animal and tried to start a conversation a few times. Kevlin obviously wasn't in the mood for conversation.
Eventually as they came near the town gate Barens insisted.
"Kevlin," he said, "I can't take you on as an employee without knowing a bit more. What's the truth? You're no Doxie's child, you're no street kid either."
"I can't speak for Meggles," said Kevlin, "Unfortunately my mother was the posher kind of Doxie, it was rather longer ago than I suggested. Meggles and I have been helping each other out."
The guard at the gate recognised Barens but insisted on papers anyway.
"Who's the boy?"
"My new Apprentice."
"Mister Barens was kind enough to hire me in Dalrinat after a try out," said Kevlin. "I'm Kevlin Kolrinos of Dalrinat."
"I guess that's OK then."
They passed in and turned off the main street then into the back yard of Barens establishment, a small meat processing building, stores, stables and shop on the main street with accommodation above.
Kevlin managed the beasts and rubbed them down. Meggles helped the assistant unload what was left in the wagon and they backed it into a store.
"Right," said Barens, "Breakfast and some answers."
"Tell him," said Meggles.
They sat down to breakfast brought by one of the staff. Strong tea, which Meggles took black. Fresh bread, butter and wafer thin transparent slices of cured beef. Meggles though only took jam and bread without butter.
"Meggles is Megra," said Kevlin after the worker had left.
Megra took off her hat and untied her hair. She re-tied it as a pony tail. With the hat off and hair back she was clearly an elf. She took off her jacket and undid a scarf under her tunic and sighed. She gave Barens a smile.
"She doesn't speak much of any Faerie language," said Kevlin. "She has run away, they want her to marry someone she doesn't like. She'd twisted her ankle badly and couldn't walk at all. She thought it was broken. I helped her. She helped me too."
"The Glennaridel trade with me," said Barens, "can you negotiate with them for me? You aren't hiding from them?"
Kevlin and Megra whispered in each other's ears.
"Yes," said Kevlin, "She can negotiate. The Glennaridel are nothing to her."
Barens thought that was an odd turn of phrase.
"What can Megra work at here?"
"Cleaning, looking after stock and such," said Kevlin, "She can't cook or bake."
"But not cleaning the curing sheds, smoking stacks, butchery?" said Barens.
"She could if she had to," said Kevlin.
"Yes," said Megra.
"I'm exploitive, not perhaps completely honest," said Barens, "but I like to kid myself that I'm not actually evil, I'm not cruel. No working with meat or cleaning meat areas. Can you learn to cook and bake, you don't have to eat the produce?"
Again Kevlin and Megra whispered.
"Megra doesn't really understand anything I say?"
"Very little," admitted Kevlin, "we kind of figured out how to communicate. She might try learning to cook and bake, but not meat or dairy. She prefers raw but can eat cooked food if there is no meat or dairy in it."
"Here's the deal. Accommodation, clothes, food. I'll consider paying you if you have a written offer of paid work elsewhere. I get first refusal for wages?"
"I guess if we work well you might consider paying us," said Kevlin, "or we might move on."
"I'm not totally unreasonable," said Barens, "prove your worth and we can negotiate. One or two pallets in your room?"
"We share a room?" said Kevlin.
"Do you want Megra sharing with anyone else?" said Barens. "I'm only offering one room."
"Two pallets then."
"I'll organize a screen or curtain then."
Megra smiled and gave him a little bow. Barens felt unsettled by the fact he wasn't sure how much she understood. But despite not hating Elves, Dwarves or Dryads, after all there might be profit, he found them unsettling. He didn't like convention or ordinary prejudices to get in the way of running his business.
http://www.sffchronicles.com/threads/547172/page-29#post-1892860
Chapter 1: Urchins
It was early morning and Barans had just finished setting up his stall when he saw the two street urchins come over and stare at the food.
"Show me your coin," said Barens, the stall holder, "before you even think of touching!"
"Ain't got none," said Kevlin, "me and my brother's starving."
"You should be in the Dalrinat City Institute for the Poor."
"It's full," said Kevlin, "anyways, it's like slavery, we'd never leave. I don't want to end buried in their cabbage patch."
"Where's your parents?"
"Me mum was a Doxie and two days ago someone strangled her."
"I'm Barens," he said, "what are your names?"
"I'm Kevlin and this here, my younger brother is Meg ... Meggels."
"Either your mother was very inadequate or you've been on the street a lot longer than two days. Meggles doesn't much look like you either."
"Maybe we has different dads."
"Meggels?"
"He don't really talk, Mister Barens," explained Kevlin, "You know, upset about it all."
Barens peered at 'Meggels'. He had his head bowed and a ragged sun hat. He'd bet good coin that the supposed younger brother was an Elf girl, maybe even older than Kevlin. No regular Dalrinat Street urchin would be taking care of an Elf.
"Would you like some sausage left over from last night?"
He produced it from his bag and cut it in half. He set the parts on the table near the back of his wagon.
"Thanks!" said Kevlin and wolfed it down.
'Meggels' just stared at it.
"Perhaps Meggels would prefer a stale bread roll from last night?"
He set it out and it was snatch and quickly eaten.
"Thanks," said Kevlin.
"It's going to get busy in a short while," he said, "go and wash in the Wagon and you can help serve. I'm lacking an assistant just at the minute. If you are any good, then I'll give you some lunch."
"What about later?" said Kevlin. "I can count and read, so I can help serve. Meggels can tidy and restock?"
"We'll discuss later when it's later."
Mysteriously Kevlin spoke politely and properly to the customers dropping the street accent and grammar, which had sounded a bit dubious to Barens. Perhaps Kevlin had run away from somewhere, maybe there would be a reward. But the silent Elf girl was a puzzler. He kept half an eye on Kevlin, but he was competant at serving, weighing, reading shopping lists of servants, and counting the coins. Trade was brisk as he was well known and had a good reputation. Tomorrow he would be back in his own shop in the nearby town of Horlinsk. Once a week he came for market day, the evening before, to sell his preserves (jams and pickles), sausages, cured meats, nuts, dried fungi and sweetmeats. He began to think maybe he was wrong as Meggels brought out more meat products from the wagon. Perhaps just a strange girl or very odd boy and not an elf at all. They ate lunch as they worked, though Meggels brewed tea for them. Meggles ate little, and again nothing with meat or dairy. Kevlin obviously enjoyed his sausage and cheese in a bread stick.
It was dusk. Soon the very few oil lamps would be lit. Quickly they packed up.
"What now?"
"Do you want to come and work for me in Horlinsk?" said Barens
"Maybe if Meggles can come and wants to."
"Meggles can come," he said, "as I'm short of staff. I buy the nuts and fungi from Elves of course. Either of you speak any Elvish languages?"
"When do we go?" said Kevlin, ignoring the question.
"First Light," said Barens. "I'll loan you a coulple of blankets and you can sleep under the wagon. Then the livery stable boy will be here at dawn with the horses."
Barens fervently hoped that Meggles was an Elf and could help as his partner was the only person he knew that could negotiate in Elvish and had managed to fall off his horse and break his neck. He'd always been clumsy. The special underground fungus and the choice nuts from the Elves was a nice extra bit of profit with no actual extra work. Of course both was in theory seasonal supplies, but they kept well. It would be the season soon enough, summer was waning.
Kevlin helped him harness the beasts the next morning. Meggles just watched.
Now, another little test Barens thought ...
"Would either of you like to ride up front or in the back?" said Barens.
"I'd love to sit on the board and watch you drive," said Kevlin, "but Meggles didn't sleep so well, he'd like to lie down in the back if possible?"
"Fine," he said.
Either Kevlin wasn't running away from anyone likely to see him here, or he'd forgotten to be stealthy.
They didn't talk on the three hour journey, though occasionally Barens pointed out a landmark, or a wild animal and tried to start a conversation a few times. Kevlin obviously wasn't in the mood for conversation.
Eventually as they came near the town gate Barens insisted.
"Kevlin," he said, "I can't take you on as an employee without knowing a bit more. What's the truth? You're no Doxie's child, you're no street kid either."
"I can't speak for Meggles," said Kevlin, "Unfortunately my mother was the posher kind of Doxie, it was rather longer ago than I suggested. Meggles and I have been helping each other out."
The guard at the gate recognised Barens but insisted on papers anyway.
"Who's the boy?"
"My new Apprentice."
"Mister Barens was kind enough to hire me in Dalrinat after a try out," said Kevlin. "I'm Kevlin Kolrinos of Dalrinat."
"I guess that's OK then."
They passed in and turned off the main street then into the back yard of Barens establishment, a small meat processing building, stores, stables and shop on the main street with accommodation above.
Kevlin managed the beasts and rubbed them down. Meggles helped the assistant unload what was left in the wagon and they backed it into a store.
"Right," said Barens, "Breakfast and some answers."
"Tell him," said Meggles.
They sat down to breakfast brought by one of the staff. Strong tea, which Meggles took black. Fresh bread, butter and wafer thin transparent slices of cured beef. Meggles though only took jam and bread without butter.
"Meggles is Megra," said Kevlin after the worker had left.
Megra took off her hat and untied her hair. She re-tied it as a pony tail. With the hat off and hair back she was clearly an elf. She took off her jacket and undid a scarf under her tunic and sighed. She gave Barens a smile.
"She doesn't speak much of any Faerie language," said Kevlin. "She has run away, they want her to marry someone she doesn't like. She'd twisted her ankle badly and couldn't walk at all. She thought it was broken. I helped her. She helped me too."
"The Glennaridel trade with me," said Barens, "can you negotiate with them for me? You aren't hiding from them?"
Kevlin and Megra whispered in each other's ears.
"Yes," said Kevlin, "She can negotiate. The Glennaridel are nothing to her."
Barens thought that was an odd turn of phrase.
"What can Megra work at here?"
"Cleaning, looking after stock and such," said Kevlin, "She can't cook or bake."
"But not cleaning the curing sheds, smoking stacks, butchery?" said Barens.
"She could if she had to," said Kevlin.
"Yes," said Megra.
"I'm exploitive, not perhaps completely honest," said Barens, "but I like to kid myself that I'm not actually evil, I'm not cruel. No working with meat or cleaning meat areas. Can you learn to cook and bake, you don't have to eat the produce?"
Again Kevlin and Megra whispered.
"Megra doesn't really understand anything I say?"
"Very little," admitted Kevlin, "we kind of figured out how to communicate. She might try learning to cook and bake, but not meat or dairy. She prefers raw but can eat cooked food if there is no meat or dairy in it."
"Here's the deal. Accommodation, clothes, food. I'll consider paying you if you have a written offer of paid work elsewhere. I get first refusal for wages?"
"I guess if we work well you might consider paying us," said Kevlin, "or we might move on."
"I'm not totally unreasonable," said Barens, "prove your worth and we can negotiate. One or two pallets in your room?"
"We share a room?" said Kevlin.
"Do you want Megra sharing with anyone else?" said Barens. "I'm only offering one room."
"Two pallets then."
"I'll organize a screen or curtain then."
Megra smiled and gave him a little bow. Barens felt unsettled by the fact he wasn't sure how much she understood. But despite not hating Elves, Dwarves or Dryads, after all there might be profit, he found them unsettling. He didn't like convention or ordinary prejudices to get in the way of running his business.
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