Common Text
Xanthean Text
Kashehino Text
Qit'ria heard the compliment her mother gave, a first, or at least a first she could recall. She was certainly wondering if she'd misremembered her childhood, forgotten certain things. Her mother was still cold, but she wasn't the monster Qit'ria seemed to remember. To read and write. Qit had always considered such a skill to be useless to a huntress such as herself, something that fat and lazy city folk learned. But there was sense in what her mother said. Reading and writing was no different than following animal tracks and listening to their calls. Though she'd never considered people to be prey. Not before now.
And if she learned, she could teach Caza.
These were all good reasons. And she knew her brother knew how to read and write. And she would get him to teach her. She'd hate every moment of it, she was sure, but she'd do it. And do it well. For Yeye and for Caza. Her mother continued to talk, and Qit'ria was eager to learn how to combat these bastard mages. She was already firmly of the mindset that any Aberrant was a guilt one.
Then everything happened really fast.
A man came a knocking, and then barged straight in. The moment he said that Yeye was taken, Qit was moving for the door, hand reaching for her spears in the corner, when she saw Caza in her brother's arms. And was instantly reminded of something Faith had told her, many trials before, when she'd gone to the woman to confirm her pregnancy. She'd not gone into the blaze to save Aeon because she was with child. Because it would put the children in harm's way. Qit stopped, turning to look at her mother, when the man spoke those words.
"Tell Lat'ora, Mantis knows."
Mantis, what was Mantis? Who was Mantis? But Qit'ria saw the color rush from her mother's face. Was it fear? Her mother wasn't afraid of anything. But what her mother said next confused Qit'ria. This was her mission? What did she mean by that..? Then the look that her mother gave Qit'ria answered everything. Her mother hadn't changed, and Qit'ria hadn't misremembered anything. Her mother was a monster after all. And she'd organized this. Somehow, she had wanted to take Yeye, but someone else had done it first. Why? For what purpose?
Qit was slow to react, and suddenly her mother was gone with a click of the heels. And Caz'aria began to cry. Qit'ria's world was in slow motion as she tried to fathom what just happened. Her mother was... trying to capture her father. Did that mean... was she being nice to Qit'ria to lure her in as well? Why? There was nothing to gain from them. They couldn't be more different. He was an old and tired healer, she was a huntress long since gone and only recently returned. Outside of being Sev'ryn they had no similarities.
Then it hit her.
They were mages.
Could that be it? Was he taken because he was a mage? Was her mother trying to lure her in to capture her as well? Why? Why would anyone want to capture a mage? For what purpose? Her mother was always a huntress with a purpose. Survival, tools, food. What did hunting mages serve? It made no sense, and yet was the only thing that made sense. Through the fog she heard words, and her brother was there, offering up Caza. Qit'ria reached out and held her baby, cooing and comforting her.
She couldn't act now. Or rather, couldn't react. Her mother might be a monster, but she had been right about one thing. To act in ignorance was to put her life, and thus, Caza's life at risk. She had to be smarter. Careful. She went through what she knew. She knew her father was taken by four men. She knew her mother was involved. She knew the word "Mantis" was uttered. And she knew they could disappear. Like that woman she met in the cave on Scalvoris. Were they mages too? But a kind she didn't know.
There was only one clue that might suggest where her father was taken to. That word. She didn't know it, but someone would. Someone would have to. She looked at her brother with a calm coming over her. He looked panicked and confused. "Do you know what Mantis is?"
He shook his head.
"Okay. You're going to help me write a letter. Then you're going to start teaching me how to read and write, and to speak Common better. I need this to find Yeye. We will then both ask about town to see if anyone knows what this Mantis thing is. Get your paper. We have to get to work."
She walked over to her belongings and picked up an empty box with her free hand and set it on the table. Her brother moved slowly, still not fathoming the situation, but he found some paper and some ink. "What do you want it to say, and to who?"
"Faith.
My father has been taken. The men said the word Mantis. Do you know what this is? I need to know, to find him. Quickly, please.
Qit'ria"
He wrote it down, and handed her the letter, "Where are you sending it?"
"Rharne."
"That will take too long."
"No, it won't."
Qit'ria stuck the letter inside her echo box and closed it.
"Now we go to ask anyone what this means. You ask your friends, I will seek out the elders. Return here at sunfall. Lessons start then."
Qit tightened her cloak around her naked form, adjusted her hold on Caza, grabbed her spears, and went outside. The man who'd mentioned Yeye's kidnapping was her first person to question. It was simple, "Do you know what the Mantis is?" She started with him, and made her way to the city center. She asked every person she saw on the way, working her way to the Desnind Elders. They knew everything. She was sure they'd know this.
Xanthean Text
Kashehino Text
Qit'ria heard the compliment her mother gave, a first, or at least a first she could recall. She was certainly wondering if she'd misremembered her childhood, forgotten certain things. Her mother was still cold, but she wasn't the monster Qit'ria seemed to remember. To read and write. Qit had always considered such a skill to be useless to a huntress such as herself, something that fat and lazy city folk learned. But there was sense in what her mother said. Reading and writing was no different than following animal tracks and listening to their calls. Though she'd never considered people to be prey. Not before now.
And if she learned, she could teach Caza.
These were all good reasons. And she knew her brother knew how to read and write. And she would get him to teach her. She'd hate every moment of it, she was sure, but she'd do it. And do it well. For Yeye and for Caza. Her mother continued to talk, and Qit'ria was eager to learn how to combat these bastard mages. She was already firmly of the mindset that any Aberrant was a guilt one.
Then everything happened really fast.
A man came a knocking, and then barged straight in. The moment he said that Yeye was taken, Qit was moving for the door, hand reaching for her spears in the corner, when she saw Caza in her brother's arms. And was instantly reminded of something Faith had told her, many trials before, when she'd gone to the woman to confirm her pregnancy. She'd not gone into the blaze to save Aeon because she was with child. Because it would put the children in harm's way. Qit stopped, turning to look at her mother, when the man spoke those words.
"Tell Lat'ora, Mantis knows."
Mantis, what was Mantis? Who was Mantis? But Qit'ria saw the color rush from her mother's face. Was it fear? Her mother wasn't afraid of anything. But what her mother said next confused Qit'ria. This was her mission? What did she mean by that..? Then the look that her mother gave Qit'ria answered everything. Her mother hadn't changed, and Qit'ria hadn't misremembered anything. Her mother was a monster after all. And she'd organized this. Somehow, she had wanted to take Yeye, but someone else had done it first. Why? For what purpose?
Qit was slow to react, and suddenly her mother was gone with a click of the heels. And Caz'aria began to cry. Qit'ria's world was in slow motion as she tried to fathom what just happened. Her mother was... trying to capture her father. Did that mean... was she being nice to Qit'ria to lure her in as well? Why? There was nothing to gain from them. They couldn't be more different. He was an old and tired healer, she was a huntress long since gone and only recently returned. Outside of being Sev'ryn they had no similarities.
Then it hit her.
They were mages.
Could that be it? Was he taken because he was a mage? Was her mother trying to lure her in to capture her as well? Why? Why would anyone want to capture a mage? For what purpose? Her mother was always a huntress with a purpose. Survival, tools, food. What did hunting mages serve? It made no sense, and yet was the only thing that made sense. Through the fog she heard words, and her brother was there, offering up Caza. Qit'ria reached out and held her baby, cooing and comforting her.
She couldn't act now. Or rather, couldn't react. Her mother might be a monster, but she had been right about one thing. To act in ignorance was to put her life, and thus, Caza's life at risk. She had to be smarter. Careful. She went through what she knew. She knew her father was taken by four men. She knew her mother was involved. She knew the word "Mantis" was uttered. And she knew they could disappear. Like that woman she met in the cave on Scalvoris. Were they mages too? But a kind she didn't know.
There was only one clue that might suggest where her father was taken to. That word. She didn't know it, but someone would. Someone would have to. She looked at her brother with a calm coming over her. He looked panicked and confused. "Do you know what Mantis is?"
He shook his head.
"Okay. You're going to help me write a letter. Then you're going to start teaching me how to read and write, and to speak Common better. I need this to find Yeye. We will then both ask about town to see if anyone knows what this Mantis thing is. Get your paper. We have to get to work."
She walked over to her belongings and picked up an empty box with her free hand and set it on the table. Her brother moved slowly, still not fathoming the situation, but he found some paper and some ink. "What do you want it to say, and to who?"
"Faith.
My father has been taken. The men said the word Mantis. Do you know what this is? I need to know, to find him. Quickly, please.
Qit'ria"
He wrote it down, and handed her the letter, "Where are you sending it?"
"Rharne."
"That will take too long."
"No, it won't."
Qit'ria stuck the letter inside her echo box and closed it.
"Now we go to ask anyone what this means. You ask your friends, I will seek out the elders. Return here at sunfall. Lessons start then."
Qit tightened her cloak around her naked form, adjusted her hold on Caza, grabbed her spears, and went outside. The man who'd mentioned Yeye's kidnapping was her first person to question. It was simple, "Do you know what the Mantis is?" She started with him, and made her way to the city center. She asked every person she saw on the way, working her way to the Desnind Elders. They knew everything. She was sure they'd know this.
