6 Ids Hrn // 4 // 2 // 34869
Transcript of the Oracle and Awan Haughson of Alkone yn Kemblis
At the fourth hour after dusk, Awan was escorted to the petitioner’s porch outside the tholos. Siana of the White Shawl received the lot to be his Guide. At first he paid eighteen trees by weight of silver, and stated his question to Siana, “Why did a man try to murder me?” She explained the customs, and he then paid seven trees more. After gauging the weight of his purse, she agreed to allow him to ask his question. She and three juniors of the Shawl escorted him into the tholos.
Q. Why did a man try to murder me?
O. [silence]
S. His question is allowed.
O. [silence]
S. Answer him.
O. [silence]
S. Answer me: why did a man try to murder this petitioner?
O. [moans rising to a shriek lasting sixteen turnings of the minute-glass]
S. In Grandmother Ocean’s name, I compel you. Petitioner, ask your question again.
Q. Why did a man try to murder me?
O. A Jade of Kemblis shall guide a man
to walk in the footsteps of the king.
The yarn-spinner will spin a new yarn,
a brand-new winding in Orien
which no man ever saw before now.
Still the loom calls it into being.
There is more but I cannot speak it;
a silence rises in the water.
Q. Thank you.
S. Keep silence. Turn, and go.
O. It’s all right, Siana. Turn around, boy. Let me look at you. Scriber, what did I say? No, don’t read it back. Let me see. Ah. Yes. Yes. Polite young man. Kind. Still a little pudgy. Won’t last long, unfortunately.
S. My lady, this is –
O. Silence, Siana. You’re welcome, boy. Not that it will help much. Remember to get a copy of what I said. Unless your memory is good? No, no need to demonstrate. I can see it in your eyes; you haven’t let this writing stuff go to your head. Siana, show him how to tie the pheasant’s knot and the warbler’s knot before he goes. And give him back his money. He’s going to need it.
S. Mother, I –
O. That’s enough, Siana. Show him. It’s time. This interview is at an end. Good bye, boy.
Re: Who everyone is…
Hmm. Who everyone is…
The journal-entries that follow Almanac pieces are written by Awan Haughson, whose brother Jassë is now the Black Cloak of Alkone. He’s the owner of the Kingfisher, the folding boat you were admiring earlier. He is the author of the lion’s share of the entries so far. He is in possession of a thing called a Jade Sash, which he has not yet put on, and which once belonged to his great grandmother. At present, he is in Dolphis, the home of the Oracle of Kemblis. He’s the protagonist, I guess; I’m not sure if he’s a hero yet.
Other characters so far include Jassë, Awan’s brother, and Kissa his sister, and Daeker his brother. There’s another brother in the family, but I’ve forgotten the name right now. Tassö is another scribe, and another folder of washé, which is a kind of paper. There’s also a healer, an Indigo, named I think Martyna Reilsdouttir. There is a guildmaster named Lattemar, and a man he wrote to named Ravan somewhere to the south. There’s a Black Cloak named Shayet, too. And in this bit, we’ve been introduced to a White Shawl named Siana, and the Oracle. There might be some other folks whose names escape me at the moment.
Hmm. Maybe a Dramatis Personae is a good idea…
I’ll work on it.
Its good to know Oracles are the same all over.
A new sash, eh? [drool] Of course, I still don’t have my Spiraculean pseudo-Roman invaders, but I’m a gentleman. 😉
Its good to know Oracles are the same all over.
A new sash, eh? [drool] Of course, I still don’t have my Spiraculean pseudo-Roman invaders, but I’m a gentleman. 😉
this is very very good stuff – very exciting! i really like what happens here & the answer/nonanswer that we get. i’m a little confused as to who everyone is, tho’ still – the liner notes, please?
oh, this is such a pleasure to read!
this is very very good stuff – very exciting! i really like what happens here & the answer/nonanswer that we get. i’m a little confused as to who everyone is, tho’ still – the liner notes, please?
oh, this is such a pleasure to read!
Re: Who everyone is…
Hmm. Who everyone is…
The journal-entries that follow Almanac pieces are written by Awan Haughson, whose brother Jassë is now the Black Cloak of Alkone. He’s the owner of the Kingfisher, the folding boat you were admiring earlier. He is the author of the lion’s share of the entries so far. He is in possession of a thing called a Jade Sash, which he has not yet put on, and which once belonged to his great grandmother. At present, he is in Dolphis, the home of the Oracle of Kemblis. He’s the protagonist, I guess; I’m not sure if he’s a hero yet.
Other characters so far include Jassë, Awan’s brother, and Kissa his sister, and Daeker his brother. There’s another brother in the family, but I’ve forgotten the name right now. Tassö is another scribe, and another folder of washé, which is a kind of paper. There’s also a healer, an Indigo, named I think Martyna Reilsdouttir. There is a guildmaster named Lattemar, and a man he wrote to named Ravan somewhere to the south. There’s a Black Cloak named Shayet, too. And in this bit, we’ve been introduced to a White Shawl named Siana, and the Oracle. There might be some other folks whose names escape me at the moment.
Hmm. Maybe a Dramatis Personae is a good idea…
I’ll work on it.