Diegis dropped both his hands to the table on either side of the stew bowl Enuyu had offered him earlier. He curled his thumbs beneath the wood, pressing the skin tight to stop himself from blurting out some other question or comment that could cause her pain.
He had intended to ask her about the training style. Instead, he had gotten distracted by thoughts of her curled against him. Diegis tried to put it aside. He honestly did. Her sadness filled the tidy room when she had spoken. Be that as it may, it was a bloody, bewitching image. He could swear her tiny body was tucked up beside him and he knew better.
Was the wood splintering between his fingers? No? Right. Get back on track, fool. You stopped having daydreams after passing the Warrior's ritual. Lack of sleep explained all of his lunacy. He straightened his shoulders and looked across the table at her.
"Then count me as the first of your students in the r... ryu."
He stumbled over the unfamiliar word, but his mouth curled into a smile.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Apr 20, 2013 18:22:59 GMT -5
Diegis' smile was infectious, and the corners of Enuyu's lips quirked up some.
"The ryu : it doesn't translate terribly well. A lot of the words won't. But, it refers to a taught way of thinking, of approaching combat. It's the philosophy, and the style of fighting."
She became a touch serious again. "Don't be too hasty to say yes. If you are my student, I will be your teacher; and when we are together to learn I will be that and nothing else. I will not be your friend. I will push you to the edge of your endurance and then make you give more. I will tell you to do things that seem ridiculous and have no relation to combat. And you will have to trust me."
She smiled a bit again. "Also, the toughest part? If anyone gives you a hard time about learning under a girl you have to let me be the one to teach them the lesson."
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis stretched his legs out under the table. He could feel the sudden tension of his tendons and nerves when she spoke. He might have been a mercurial boy; one that changed thoughts and desires on a whim. He might have fought under the yoke of Enuyu's rules as a child. He certainly did with his sister.
He was not a mercurial man.
He had learned the hardest lesson already. Knowledge was never gained without sacrifice. If she wanted him to carry rocks to and fro? Well, he would carry rocks and trust she had a reason.
Enuyu was right about that last bit, too. Much as he disliked thinking about it. She would amass no respect as a teacher if he fought the battles for her.
He sighed silently and released the table.
"I am not being hasty. I have wanted to ask you about such training before."
Trust was not easily built and it started by being honest with her.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Apr 21, 2013 10:18:28 GMT -5
Enuyu was a bit taken aback by Diegis' revelation. It felt like a compliment. It also buoyed her self-confidence some. If she could impress a warrior like Diegis, then perhaps there was hope of attracting students. Of course there was still the matter of what sort of teacher she might prove to be.
One step at a time.
"Then we can begin your training. Tomorrow, or perhaps the day after. Today we'll reserve for friends and good company."
Today, and hopefully many days to follow. He was a balm to her loneliness, and she was sure she wanted more. But that would certainly have to wait. And it would certainly complicate things as well. She'd already decided that wasn't going to stop her.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis nodded at her and stood up. He could not sit still any longer. His mind was going in a dozen new directions and his body wanted to follow them. He rested his hands at his sides. She had said tomorrow. He did not want to leave. But, he would rather give her a chance to find some type of balance instead of invading her space.
"Should I let you rest?"
Idiot, she just said you were a friend. Diegis had the sinking feeling that did not come easily to her, at all. So, say something quick before she changes her mind.
"I mean... I enjoy your company but you must have been working on all day on this..."
He made a gesture to encompass the house and kept talking.
"I don't have any..."
He cut that sentence off quickly, too. His mouth was doing a damn good job of getting him in trouble already.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Apr 21, 2013 20:58:56 GMT -5
Enuyu blinked as it struck her that Diegis seemed to be having an awkward time with his words. Could he?... No, foolish girl. You're reading something into it that's not there, something you want to see. Or was she? Damn it.
"I'm not particularly tired. The work is done, for now. This is actually the first day without workers being here."
She looked him up and down, unable to hide the fact she was trying to appraise him, to wrap her head around whether or not she was sensing what she thought she might be from him. She was utterly unable to divine any clue from her quick examination and gave herself a mental shake. She got up, went over to a corner of the room and retrieved a pole with a hook on one end.
"If you've nowhere to stay you can stay with me. My house is open to you, as my friend, my guest, and my student."
As a nomad he certainly understood the obligations a host had to their guests. Friends seemed to be friends everywhere; it appeared to be a universal sort of bond that came with many benefits. But he'd already admitted to knowing nothing of where she came from. As such she seriously doubted he had any inclining of the obligations a master had to their students. She smiled inwardly. He would learn.
She used the hook to lower a ladder that was cleverly latched and hinged between two of the ceiling joists. From the loft space she retrieved the two glorified sleeping rolls. For a long moment she thought about bringing down only one of them. But no, that would just...No, it would be wrong to do it that way. No dishonesty. Never dishonesty. Besides, the loft space was only formed by a few planks sitting loosely across the joists. Most of it was still open air. Something else that needed finishing. If one looked carefully up from below the second bed roll would be clearly seen.
She set them a safe distance from the hearth, where they would be warmed by the fire but not become uncomfortable.
"It isn't much, but it should suffice."
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis took a breath. He forced his body and brain onto the same path during her appraisal. Clever hiding place for the bedrolls. He glanced up determined not to read anything into her scrutiny. He had no place to go. No place to stay here in Wistvale. Enuyu knew that already. Truthfully, he preferred it that way. He nodded at her somewhat surprised by the inclusion of student in her suggestion of a place to stay.
She was obligated to offer him a home because she had chosen to teach him? If she gained more students her house would need some expansion. Enuyu had placed the bedrolls by the fire.
He had to stop watching her move. He felt like a voyeur glancing in on her nighttime ritual even though she invited him. He quickly gathered up the bowls and cups from dinner to distract this preoccupation.
"No, umm... it is more than welcome. Better than any inn would have to offer."
There. He was behaving normally again. No sidelong looks to see the fire gleam on her skin, no watching the easy movements of her hands, and no sweeping his eyes over her backside.
Diegis coughed.
"I could clean the dishes up for you?"
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Apr 23, 2013 10:49:44 GMT -5
Enuyu gave him a bit of a wry grin. "A bed in an inn would likely be a bit softer and raised off the ground. But I suppose the right company makes anything better."
That was the simple truth. Having him in her home made it feel... well, more homey. It banished the feelings from earlier in the day. Though it brought to the fore those feelings for him she was trying to suppress. They were not bad feelings, much the opposite. But she didn't know if she could trust herself with them yet. She didn't want to end up clingy or crying and both seemed like they could well up if she let her guard down too much.
His offer to clean up the dishes certainly didn't hurt. Where she came from the men never did anything in the kitchen. Mostly this was because of long social tradition, partly is was because the women felt the men were utterly hopeless and would just bungle everything. On the other hand she hoped he didn't feel obliged to do things for her because he was under her roof.
"It would be appreciated. Thank you."
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
"I would agree with you if I had slept in one. But, you are right about the company. Where do you clean your dishes?"
He did not remember seeing any other water but what he had washed up in. Diegis was not going to use that if she had other means. This was her home and she had already put a lot of work into it.[/i]
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on Apr 24, 2013 12:04:02 GMT -5
"Just in one of the empty buckets. Throw some water in and give them a rinse with one of the wash clothes. You can stack them by the ale and cheese to dry."
The words came out, despite the vivid picture she was having of sitting behind him in front of the fire and combing out his still damp hair. It would give her a perfectly logical reason to be touching him, to tame his hair. And he'd been on the road, his shoulders could certainly use a massage.
She coughed and found a reason to work the fire instead. It needed banking, yes, preparation for the night so it could be fed in the morning.
Besides, what would he think of her if she went and started pawing him up and down so quickly? No, it would certainly be too early to twine herself around his body... Gah! She had stop this line of thinking or she would turn into some clingy harridan.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis gathered up the few dirty dishes and washed then rinsed them off. It took him more time to gather them up than it did to clean them. He did as Enuyu had suggested as well, stacked them upside down to dry beside the cheese and ale.
The water was tossed out and both towels folded over a chair rung by the fire to dry. He glanced across the room at her. As much as he enjoyed the time he could find no words to say. Conversation usually came easily to him. He was one of those that people gravitated to when the day was slow. He had always been able to find a game or idea to keep others entertained.
Maybe it was the radical difference in their worlds. Diegis did not think so, though. If anything they were both outsiders in this place. It should be a bond.
"What did the workers think of this place?"
Maybe conversation about the small chapel would spark enthusiasm in her. He did not care for the thought of her going to sleep unhappy.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on May 24, 2013 9:44:36 GMT -5
Enuyu was surprised by Diegis's question. It didn't seem to have any connection with what they'd just been talking about. And she wondered if that was the point, a change of subject? Was he uncomfortable, or thought she was? Hmm. She had no idea. Still, it wasn't a bad thing to speak of.
There was a smile at the edge of her mouth, and the edge of her voice as well. It seemed there was some cheer in the thought that this was all really hers. "Most of them thought of it as just another job; though there were a couple who refused the offer. They said something about letting sleeping dogs lay, that the place was abandoned for a reason and it should stay that way. They wouldn't elaborate on what they meant. And there was a mason who would say a prayer and sprinkle a little salt at the start and end of each day he came. In the end I think they were all as happy with their work as I was."
She finished banking the fire and took another look around the little building, turning a bit to take it all in. She was definitely smiling at the thought it was hers. It was a good little building, and come what may it would make a good little home. There might not be family to share it with, and again that thought tugged at her with sadness, but it didn't seem so bad now and it wasn't enough to take the small smile from her.
Hell, she had her first student already. All she needed was a few more worthy souls, the training ring, and some regular income. With a little luck and some hard work it would all sort itself out. She could have a real life.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis' eyebrows knitted together and a slight frown pulled the corners of his mouth down. People were sprinkling salt before and after work? That sounded very much like a protection ritual against ghosts if he hadn't forgotten his teaching. Granted, most of his lessons included weaponry and tactics against the creatures, but he knew a salt circle was something they supposedly could not cross.
There was a small graveyard along with the chapel. He remembered Enuyu pointing it out and mentioning something about wanting to trim it back and clean it up, out of respect for those that had gone before. A small chill went up the back of his spine. Diegis was not a man given to superstitions, though he had seen several displayed on his trip across the ocean, sailors were notorious for such things.
Were Enuyu's people superstitious? Religion was a terrible topic of conversation. Diegis scuffed at the top of his head and considered just how to broach this subject.
"Sometimes... people use salt to protect themselves from ghosts."
Diegis turned his head in the direction of the tiny cemetery.
"It might be that your worker needed the job, even though he might have been scared to be here. So, he decided the best compromise was the salt. No matter if the other workers thought it silly."
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.
Post by Enuyu Suhishi on May 27, 2013 14:01:02 GMT -5
Enuyu sat down near the fire, with her back to it, and let the heat seep into her body, relax the muscles, and lull her into a sort of sweet and comfortable languidness. It made her voice softer.
"I know. And it's part of why I want to take care of the cemetery. Spirits of the departed can become angry if they are forgotten, though I haven't seen any sign of angry spirits here. But maybe the people of this land and their spirits are different enough from my homeland that I wouldn't know the signs if I saw them. Where I come from angry spirits tend to be very obvious, what with the beheadings, drownings, pestilence and such. They're really rather terrifying, and if you are not a powerful priest there isn't much you can do but appease them."
Maybe it was the simple comfort of the warm fire, or the comfort of Diegis's company, but something finally said it would be okay to touch him, that she could keep it friendly without becoming clingy. She motioned for him to come over and sit in front of her. He could use a massage, something to loosen his back from his day of travel, and a comb drug through the unruly thatch of hair on top of his head. She could do this and not make a mess of it.
Ha HA! I kill you with my flaming sword of doom. You die.
Diegis took the offer for what it was, he moved in front of Enuyu and closer to the fire. He was not cold, far from it, but the warmth seeped into his bones with a welcomed sigh. Her voice was softer. It surprised him. Not that she had lowered it, only that he was able to recognize the difference. It had been a long time since he had paid attention to the changes in a woman's voice.
He lowered his accordingly.
"I do not know this land or their spirits. But, in my world, ghosts carry a very real hostility for life. Regret, jealousy, anger, for whatever reason they chose to haunt an area or person who can say. They do not belong in the land of the living. This is why my people set fire to our dead during a grand gathering. We give the body freedom to depart for the next world and allow the soul to find a new home."
He had folded his knees over his thighs with his hands loose at his sides. The day was gone. He should suggest that she rest, but his mind was charmed by the new information her words had offered him. Plus, he was trying not to think about how that smoky voice of hers might sound during other pursuits.
Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.