Somewhere in the Silver Bazaar, many years ago:
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"You're sure?"
"Y-yeah, Cor, I'm sure."
"A'right then."
A minute passes, marked only by the scribbling of a quill.
"Dam-nation, Verad, why are you just standing there?!"
"What?! I'm sorry!"
"You should be! I'm trying to work and it's damned difficult if you just stand there staring at a person. At least step into the lantern, would you? Like you're about to pounce out of your cave, I swear."
"I'm sorry, Cor, I'm sorry! I was being quiet!"
"It's the staring, boy. You stare louder'n a gunshot. Now what do you want?"
"I'm just bored, Cor, that's all."
"And?"
"And that's it, I'm just bored."
"So much so that you're standing in the dark watching me scribble in the ledger. There's no more books?"
"You've only got the dozen, and Godwald's out in Drybone, so I can't borrow from him."
"And you can't just go out and play? Find some other kids and - "
A pause.
"No, right, I suppose you can't. Fine, well. Fine. Hrm. Let me see - I think I have something, just a moment . . . yes, here we go. Try these."
"Knives?!"
"Yeah, knives, so be careful with them. Hold them like that, right - no, that's too low on the grip. Right, there. Square your shoulders, and stab with the right - good. Like that. Now go do that a thousand times and come show me after."
"W-what if I cut myself?"
"Then it'll be more interesting than watching me write for both of us. Now go on!"Â
The small, padding footsteps of a child fade away.
"Watching me write, of all things. Odd kid. Can't even cook the books in peace anymore."
"What is it?"
"Nothing."
"You're sure?"
"Y-yeah, Cor, I'm sure."
"A'right then."
A minute passes, marked only by the scribbling of a quill.
"Dam-nation, Verad, why are you just standing there?!"
"What?! I'm sorry!"
"You should be! I'm trying to work and it's damned difficult if you just stand there staring at a person. At least step into the lantern, would you? Like you're about to pounce out of your cave, I swear."
"I'm sorry, Cor, I'm sorry! I was being quiet!"
"It's the staring, boy. You stare louder'n a gunshot. Now what do you want?"
"I'm just bored, Cor, that's all."
"And?"
"And that's it, I'm just bored."
"So much so that you're standing in the dark watching me scribble in the ledger. There's no more books?"
"You've only got the dozen, and Godwald's out in Drybone, so I can't borrow from him."
"And you can't just go out and play? Find some other kids and - "
A pause.
"No, right, I suppose you can't. Fine, well. Fine. Hrm. Let me see - I think I have something, just a moment . . . yes, here we go. Try these."
"Knives?!"
"Yeah, knives, so be careful with them. Hold them like that, right - no, that's too low on the grip. Right, there. Square your shoulders, and stab with the right - good. Like that. Now go do that a thousand times and come show me after."
"W-what if I cut myself?"
"Then it'll be more interesting than watching me write for both of us. Now go on!"Â
The small, padding footsteps of a child fade away.
"Watching me write, of all things. Odd kid. Can't even cook the books in peace anymore."
Verad Bellveil's Profile | The Case of the Ransacked Rug | Verad's Fate Sheet
Current Fate-14 Storyline:Â Merchant, Marine
Current Fate-14 Storyline:Â Merchant, Marine
