Lauryn's memories of the next several hours after the interview are hazy and fractured, with a dream-like quality to them that leaves her not entirely sure they are real. The afentis said some things that her overtaxed mind could not interpret, and then the room faded as she lost consciousness. Then Skotonys carrying her like a child in his arms as he walked along the corridors of the Astikos.
The next thing she remembers is a human examining her, in a way that reminded her unpleasantly of the doctors in Rephidim. She tried to object, but in her daze she spoke in Rephidim Standard, and the woman ignored her protests.
Then Skotonys again, this time holding her before him as they rode on a drokar along city streets. She spoke to him in Standard, and he shook his head and shushed her. "You did well, Ria Lauryn," he said in Laosian. "You did well." It's the first praise she's ever heard from him.
Last, an argument in Laosian: raised vulpine voices, speaking too fast for her to understand. One voice is Skotonys's, loud, firm, and insistent but controlled; the others she doesn't recognize.
The next day, she awakens in a strange place, lying on an extra-wide version of one of the low Laosian beds, this one trimmed with a peculiar decorative lacey border that stands up a couple of feet from the bed, like very short curtains without a canopy top. At the foot of the bed, three pairs of vulpine-kit eyes are staring at her. All three pairs widen as Lauryn opens her own and sees them. One darts away with a squeak. Another speaks to her, soft but loud enough to to be heard: "Is Ria Lauryn really thirys?"
Groggy, Lauryn's eyes move from one blurry kit face to the next. She wonders at them, if they're more delusions -- or has she been dreaming? -- or even nightmares come to haunt her again. She decides, quite to her own unexpected amusement, that her mind wouldn't be so kind as to haunt her with two adorable faces such as these. Her brow raises, and she sits up. I did well, she repeats, wondering where that stray thought came from -- earlier? Did she dream it? She doesn't think so, and more so, she doesn't want to believe she did. Those two words are too comforting to let go, and then there's these two faces. She stares at them bemusedly, not quite sure what to think.
After staring a moment, Lauryn remembers the two faces asked her a question: is she thirys? Oh faces, I wish I knew, she thinks to herself. She decides to let a smile lip, because the echo of the words spoken to her make her feel oddly happy, and these two faces are really quite endearing to her -- despite their suspicions. "Ria Lauryn wishes someone would explain thirys better to her, so that Ria Lauryn might answer this question better," she answers, focusing her gaze on the kit who asked to indicate just who should probably explain it better.
When she speaks, one of the kits falls back, covering his mouth with his hands. The last bravely stands her ground. Actually, she advances on it. She rises; their faces had been veiled by the lace screen around the bed, and Lauryn realizes that they'd been croushing there, because when the kit stands she's tall enough to peer over it. She sidles partway around to Lauryn's side of the bed. "It means lotheon follows Ria Lauryn." Seeing that Lauryn doesn't understand that either, she tries again. "Moreos. Bad things happen to Ria Lauryn. Prodotis things."
Well that is much clearer, Lauryn thinks, but without malice. She may feel wrung out and with a strange pain in her chest, as if her heart were injured in a metaphorical sense, but overall she feels better than she has in a while. With wakefulness comes recollection, snd she soon remembers what happened. Further, the mystery of 'doing well' resolves itself: the Archon praised her. She smiles a little more. She didn't fail him.
"Yes, bad things happen to Ria Lauryn," Lauryn agrees, tilting her head to the side. She turns to the girl closest to her, then scoots to face her better. "Ria Lauryn often awakes to strange people staring at her, with that look, but with much older faces. Tell Ria, what lotheon and Moreos means?" She tries to sound friendly about it, but finds an odd quality to her interaction. She isn't sure why, but the ambient fear the kits show makes her want to tease them. It amuses her, even if the impulse makes her a little uncomfortable.
The older girl giggles. The boy still at the foot of the bed looks insulted. "We're not isityros!" he protests.
Lauryn's expression quirks, her ears splaying. And I had so hoped for an answer, but here only anotehr word I barely understand and some giggling -- even Laosian children are inexplicable! She laughs, shaking her head. Then, she flops back on to the bed and splays her arms out. "You may or may not be isityros. You come and haunt Ria Lauryn, making her feel strange and foreign. That sounds like isityros to Ria Lauryn," she teases. She peers at the girl through her hair, which has fallen half over her face. "Have the two staring children come to haunt Ria Lauryn, has Archon Skotonys gifted you to me? You are not as soothing as the kite." She tries to look very serious about this.
The girl is trying to figure out how to answer Lauryn's question. "Evil gods and isityros use lotheon to punish. Or they give moreos to people, and the people hurt others with it."
"And themselves!" the boy kit chimes in. "Moreos is wrong. You shouldn't get it and you shouldn't use it if you do."
At her question, they both shake their heads emphatically. "We're not gifts or isityros!"
Lauryn considers this, and then nods. "Yes, that sounds like something Ria Lauryn shouldn't get and shouldn't use," she agrees. She looks at the two in turn, then nods exageratedly, deciding something. "Ria Lauryn will believe the two staring faces that they are not isityros, for now." Her gaze shifts to the girl, and she asks, "Why are you here, staring-girl-face? And, why has Ria Lauryn come to rest upon such a nice bed?"
"Amikitos-vios brought you," the girl kit says. The boy kit looks away, his ears flat against his head. He looks very Laosian in that moment, which is to say: offended. It takes Lauryn a moment to remember that "Amikitos" is Archon Skotonys's personal name. 'Vios' indicates some kind of family relationship between the girl and him, though Lauryn's not sure what kind. "We came to see if you're really thirys."
"Archon Skotonys? Then this is the Archon's dwelling? And you must be his relatives. Ria Lauryn is happy to meet the relatives of Archon Skotonys." Sitting up again, begins edging towards the side of the bed, preparing to stand. As she moves, as asks, "Are you not scared of Ria Lauryn and her isityros? What if you find out Ria Lauryn is thirys, what will you do?"
"Miriton will run!" the girl says impishly.
"I will not!" the offended kit retorts.
"They will wake up our guest and trouble her," a stern voice says from the doorway. Both kits squeak. Miriton makes a break for it, but the fox-woman in the doorway grabs him by the ear. "Wicked children! I told Miriton and Justias to leave the guest in peace, but they do not! Perhaps the guest should send her isityros to punish such wickedness." By the way she's looking at the kids, it's clear that she's talking to them and not Lauryn.
While never having been very close to her family, Lauryn is more than familiar with the punishing aspect of angry mother-figures. At first she decides to remain out of the matter, slipping out of bed and watching, but she decides better of it when she recalls how she wished someone would have helped her in similiar situations. "Ria Lauryn is not bothered by the two staring children," she says, speaking up. However, she adds quickly after, "But Miriton and Justias should beware of what they look to know, in case they find an answer." She would hate to have inadvertantly terrorized a relatives of the Archon, and means the kits to remember their danger.
"It is kind of Ria Lauryn to be so generous." The woman offers a slight bow. She doesn't sound pleased, but she doesn't really sound angry, either. Her tone of voice reminds Lauryn of Skotonys, even and largely uninflected. "Miriton, Justias, apologize to Ria Lauryn for disturbing her sleep."
The children chime in with apologies: Miriton's reluctant and angry, Justias's impish and not exactly sincere.
Lauryn's brow raises as she looks between the two children. They may not be isitryos, but they certainly are impish. She shakes her head, and muses for a moment. I'm kind? She never thought of herself as kind before, her life has rtaher suggested she was quite the opposite: dangerous, unstable, insane -- but not kind. It makes her wonder if she can even ever be kind, how could she tilt the balance so far to outweigh the multitude of flaws she possesses? "Ria Lauryn is not kind," she says, trying to sound sincere about it, but not quite managing.
"And Ria Lauryn is also modest. And forgiving, to ignore such ulalos apologies as those!" She tugs Miriton's ear, and he yips a slighly more sincere, or at least more pained, apology. Then she swats both children and sends them out of the room with a curt command. She bows to Lauryn again. "I am Kyria Nothonys Ameras yos Venderas. Kyria Venderas apologizes as well for the behavior of my daughter and nephew." Lauryn thinks the last word is 'nephew' -- it's got bits of the words for "spouse" and "sibling" and "child" in it, none of which individually seem to apply.
Lauryn ponders protesting the suggestion she is modest, but decides against it. Insisting on her flaws and horrors seems both counterproductive and, if she must admit it, a bit silly. "Ria Lauryn thinks there are worse things than little children with staring faces and too much bravery," she says instead, smiling despite herself. "But Kyria Venderas is right to warn them away, and must know Ria Lauryn is thirys. Ria Lauryn does not want to harm the children of this house, but cannot be sure she will not." It's sobering to say, and makes Lauryn's smile fade from her face. She rubs her head, feeling the quality of her life begin to return to its normal shade of black. Feeling her words are a little too bleak, she adds more quietly, "But, Ria Lauryn is happy to have met them."
Ameras draws back a step, looking at Lauryn. She seems on the verge of replying, but when she speaks all she says is, "Kyria Venderas will leave Ria Lauryn to rest in quiet." She backs the rest of the way out of the door, and prepares to slide it shut.
Lauryn takes the moment to bow to the woman, then turns to her bed and begins walking back towards it. As it should be, I suppose. It's safer this way, for everyone, and the best I can offer the Archon. A sort of kindness? This sort of kindness doesn't make her feel particularly happy, so she decides to return to sleep.
She's not really tired any more, though; the children hadn't actually woken her up. She manages to sleep fitfully for a bit, but after perhaps an hour she's wide awake and bored.
Sitting on the edge of her bed now, Lauryn decides she'd rather not remain bored. Boredom may be more damgerous than socializing, and so she decides to dress and step out. I hope this is wise, she worries as she slides open the screen. And, I hope my translation of thirys is correct -- cursed. If I am wrong, who knows what I have just admited to? At least now I can be resonably sure isityros means demon, and moreos might mean magic. But why did they suggest magic was a proditos -- a foreign thing? She decides she'll just have to finnd out the hard way, as she steps outside.
The house is a nice one, fussier than most of the Laosian places she's seen. The rooms have gauzy lace panels that mark them into little sections without breaking the flow of light. Shadow-boxes adorn the walls, holding elaborate three-dimensional dioramas of little figures. There are also strange elaborate brass levers set in the walls at odd intervals; she can't tell if they serve a purpose or if they're ornamental. It's a big house and she's on the third floor. She can hear voices from below: children playing outside, adults talking on the first floor. In a sitting room at the end of the hall on the third floor -- the one she's on -- she can see an old fox-man reading a book.
The whole arrangement makes Lauryn feel distinctly out of place; what is she doing her, among these well-situated people and their happy children? Archon Skotonys should nor have brought me here, she decides, though she isn't sure where else she should be. It seems that no place truly wants her, and the one place that does, she shouldn't be. She walks quietly through the halls, no wanting to disturb anyone until she happens upon the old man and his book. She pauses to watch him from the shadows, and decides maybe he would be best to try to speak with. If he's like the Archon, then perhaps I won't worry him. She steps forward, and raps gently on the doorframe.
The old man looks up from his book with a surprised frown. The frown deepens when he sees Lauryn. But when he speaks, there's no anger in his voice. "Ah, the thirys prodotis. This one is Archon-ren Skotonys Durios ne Villos. You may call me Ren Durios. Are you looking for something?" He actually says "you": Lauryn's not sure what, if anything, that signifies.
An Archon -- then at least he may be courageous enough to endure me, the woman thinks. She takes a moment to bow as taught, and answers, "Ria Lauryn is looking for many answers and, Ria Lauryn thinks, many questions she doesn't yet know. If Ren Durious does not mind it, Ria Lauryn would speak with him. If Ren Durious does mind, Ria Lauryn will leave in peace." She stays bowed, to show her appreciation of the man's attention, and her humility at bothering him at all.
"I do not mind. I am an old man who has never fought with isityros or thirys in my long life, and I am too old to be afraid of them now. And I have fought with too many prodotis to fear them. So sit, Ria Lauryn, and ask your questions." Ren Durian gestures with his book to one of the low chairs opposite his. "Make yourself comfortable. Oh, and vithi first, my tea's gone cold." At her blank look, he points to the lever in the wall. "Push it down."
"Oh course, thank you Ren Durios." Lauryn pulls the lever, marveling at it for a moment before she steps over and takes her seat. Watching the old man, she tilts her head and says, "I have been called thirys many times, and I do not think I fully understand the meaning of this word. 'Cursed' is what I think it is, in my tongue -- a word for someone inflicted with strange powers, be it by god, spirit, or 'mage.' A negative, supernatural affliction, or so I have read. Then there is isityros, which I take to mean 'demon,' or evil spirit. Am I correct, Ren Durios?"
Lauryn doesn't actually know words for 'spirit' or 'mage' or 'demon', unless isityros means one or all of those things. She's not sure about 'supernatural', either, although she tries by combining the words for "outside" and "nature". Ren Durios listens patiently, and then elaborates for her. A vulpine servant comes up a minute after she sits down, carrying a pot of strong spiced tea, but no extra cup. By the time the servant returns with a cup for Lauryn, Ren Durios has explained enough that Lauryn's reasonably confident that "thirys" means "cursed", not necessarily in magical way -- it could be used to refer to someone with bad luck. "Isityros" means "evil spirits". And Ren Durios doesn't really believe in either one.
"You have my great thanks, Ren Durios. I am thirys at least in that I must try and discover the meaning of words that my fate hinges on. Like Archon Skotonys, you have helped me. I owe much to the Skotonys family, if I understand the name and conenction correctly," Lauryn says. She sips at her tea, savoring it and its strangeness, then goes on. "Ria Lauryn will not tell Ren Durios that thirys are real, for she does not know, but Ria Lauryn admits it sounds accurate. As for isitryos, Ria Lauryn thinks it best if Ren Durios never come to question his belief's; it is best that way for all." She smiles a little, to show she means what she says in the best of ways. Then, she asks, "Ren Durios's words make Ria Lauryn think isityros and thirys have been fought before, by others in the past. is this true, Ren?"
"Oh, here and there. And everywhere, if one believes all the stories. My son tells me he has fought your isityros and won. More than once, I gather, though he does not go into such detail. And you told the afentis of magic that you will serve the tyr. Which makes this old man curious: you are prodotis. Why would you serve the will of our tyr?" Ren Durios asks.
"Ren Durios is Archon Skotonys's father?" Lauryn's eyes widen; she feels that perhaps she wasn't polite enough, despite ehr extra effort. Meeting this man is an honor for her, for she owes much to his son. "Then Ria Lauryn is twice-honored to speak with you; Ria Lauryn holds Archon Skotonys in great esteem." She then bows her head again, answering his question once she has straightened. Her head tilts as she answers, and her gaze moves distant, as if she were feeling out her answer even as she gives it. "Where Ria Lauryn comes from, she is not wanted." The woman bites her lip, but presses on. She realizes she feels compelled to tell this old man her story, because she thinks the Skotonys deserves the truth. And, she admits to herself, it's nice that someone actually cares to listen ...
"No, Ria Lauryn is not wanted much at all. Ria's father is noble; Ria's mother is not. It is a great shame amomg Ria's people. And, Ria Lauryn brings isityros. For many years, Ria Lauryn was locked away, that she might be 'healed,' but she knows it was to hide her away forever, that her family might forget she exists at all." Here, Lauryn's ears simply wilt. "Then a prodotis Afentis of Magic came for Ria, and saw her isityros. Afentis Mage wanted to help Ria, but Afentis is dead now, and Ria Lauryn is in Laos."
"Now Ria Lauryn is alone in Laos, but Archon Skotonys came to save Ria. Came to save Ria, and showed her kindness, showed her aid. For this, Ria Lauryn honors Archon Skotonys's desires, and wished to make the best impression with the Afentis of Magic." Lauryn's gaze focuses, and she looks back at the old man now, "There is more. Laos and Tyr offer Ria Lauryn a new life; Ria Lauryn will pay for the new life with Ria Lauryn's living, if Ren understands?"
Ren Durios listens to the canine's answer without interruption, or appearing to mind. It's the longest she's ever had anyone in Laos just listen to her. "Meh. Most of Laos will not want you, either. My daughter's husband does not like having you here, nor does his sister's family. You are their guest as a favor to my son. No one knows what the tyr wants of you yet, Ria. If anything. But ... mmm. I am an old man, and I do not read the future any more. It is to your credit that you serve the tyr. There is no master worthier." That last sounds rote, but also heartfelt, with a depth of feeling behind it that's lacking in most of his speech.
Bowing again, though briefer, Lauryn then nods. "It is enough for Ria Lauryn that there is a chance, and that anyone would help Ria at all," she says.
Rowan says, "Stop here, I think. What will Lauryn do while she waits to see what happens to her next?"