Calumbra 23 - Book 1: The Maid

30 - Languages We Speak

Delaware smiled as Trinidad moved away from her.
"Samson, long time no see."
"I can say the same... You haven't changed since I saw you the first time."
She nodded and he walked up to her. Delaware gave a nod of greeting and then looked back at Trinidad.
"I think it's best we all go in. I'm sure there will be some sort of feast to welcome the soldiers back."
"True... How was the army?" he asked, looking up at Trinidad.
Exciting but scary. Death looked me in the face all the time. he signed and Samson nodded.
"Sounds great. Wish I could have gone."
No you do not. It is the last place I wish to ever go again.
"I do wish you would teach me sign language so I can understand what you're talking about." Delaware said with a smile.
Trinidad grinned and tapped Samson on the shoulder to translate as he signed.
"He says that it wouldn't be fun anymore if you knew what he was saying all the time. Uh... you have your secrets and he has his."
Delaware made a face and then shrugged. "Denique. Latine loqui sicut ego omni tempore."
"You speak Latin?"
"Non dico eum occultis meis..." she said as she put her finger over her mouth with a wink.
Samson, who had studied Latin, nodded with a grin. Trinidad made a face at their secret as they walked on and looked like a little child again as he tugged on Samson's shirt, seeming to repeatedly sign the same thing. Samson just shook his head and continued on.

"To our heroes who have returned safe and sound from the front lines, we tribute this feast to you. Enjoy!" Tavit said, displaying the table in front of them.
Everyone raised their glasses and the food began to be passed.
"So, Delaware, what have you been doing these passed years? You were gone for quite a while and since you seemed to have invested in some very nice things, why not tell us of your travels?" Tavit said with an interested look toward the maid.
Delaware looked at Samson.
"Num Latine scit?"
"Paululum."
"Novit aliam quamdam linguam translatae?"
"Ms. Tate?"
"Gallico arbitror scire etiam..."
"Delaware." Tavit said with a bit of anger in his voice.
"Hold on." She said and turned back to Samson. "Aliud quid?"
"Didicit Hibernica propter aliquam causam..."
She nodded and then turned to Tavit. "Is féidir leat a thuiscint dom?"
Tavit jumped at the sudden Irish words flowing from her mouth and looked at her.
"Yes...?"
"Ní bheidh Oileán na Tríonóide mhúineadh dom a shíniú teanga. Tá mé a phionósú mar gheall."
It looked like it took Tavit a minute to translate the language in his head but when he did he laughed and looked at Trinidad, who was catching on quickly. He acted like he was ignoring them but Tavit knew that being ignored was getting under his skin. They discursively talked in Irish until Trinidad slammed a fist into the table. Everyone looked at him as he held up a sign.
Stop it! I will teach you sign language if you just please speak in English again.
Delaware grinned and nodded. "As you wish, Lord Blackwood."
"Thank you... It was hard to translate that in my head. I haven't done it in a while."
"Can we hear about your travels now, Ms. Tate? I have heard so much about you and yet we never hear what it is that you do?"
Delaware nodded. "Well, I traveled Europe again before the war started and crossed over into Asia. The last time I went trapsing the world, I went to the Sound Americas where the natives were. It was very interesting and I am sad to say I was quite surprised the Incas and the Mayans are gone. Fascinating bit of people... Anyhow, this time I decided to go and look at Asia. It was very different and very enlightening."
"Sounds so adventurous." July said, eating a bit of turkey. "I wish I could visit Asia."
"Well, I don't see why you can't."
"We have finances to deal with here at the manor and me being away while Father is in such a condition is out of the question."
"Then I'm sure you wouldn't mind if your son went on a journey?"
Huntley choked on his water and looked up.
"I beg your pardon?" he asked in surprise.
"I was just asking if you would like to go on a journey if you had the chance?"
"S-sure but I mean, like Father said, the finances-"
"I have plenty to send you on your way if you liked."
"Is there a point you're getting at, Delaware?" Tavit said with a taut smile.
"I was just saying that when he got better, if he wanted to travel then I would help him. There is so much in the world to learn..."
"All of a sudden you're wanting my son to go on a journey? He's not like you, Delaware, he had duties that he will need to attend to and things to do in order for the dukedom to be passed on."
"Which is why I say he should journey about so that when he does become the duke, he will know more than most."
"Are you trying to say that I don't?"
"Tavit, you're jumping to conclusions." Delaware said, glaring at him. "I only say this because the world is changing so much quicker than you think. There will be things that need to be known by the hierarchy in the future to settle affairs. Things are not going to be easy."
"And you think investing in knowing about the Asias will help him?"
"I think learning about anything he can will be of benefit. I have the finances to do it in this sinking economy and until he should be the duke, I think he should learn these things."
Tavit looked at July who looked a little scared. Samson cleared his throat and everyone looked over.
"I think it's a great idea. Delaware is right; the world is changing quicker than anyone would have ever expected. No offense, Tavit, but the dukedom might even become obsolete in the years to come. There may be no class distinction and he will need to know these things to stay in higher society. If I had the resources, I would do it."
Tavit looked a little conflicted and then looked at Trinidad.
"What do you think?"
That is up to you. I can't decide that.
You are not much help.
What am I to say? He's your son and this is your house now.
"It was yours originally." Tavit hissed.
"Stop." Trinidad growled, standing up. Enough of this. Excuse me, please. he signed to the rest of the table.
"Tavit, why did you bring that up. You know he hates that."
"Hates what?"
"He brought up the dukedom." July said with a sigh. "If I may be so bold, Tavit, I don't think it's a good idea at the time for Huntley to be going off on his own to learn about things. There is a war going on still."
"Agreed." Delaware said with a nod. "Tavit is right, I did not think about the fact. My apologies..."
"Even so, the idea is still good. When the war ends you should let him go." Samson said.
They nodded and the meal progressed without incident.

As Delaware snuggled into bed in the garden house, she sighed, happy to be where she belonged again. Everything had stayed the same and she was surprised that it had been cleaned.
"If it were me I would have used it for a storage building in a heartbeat..." she said to herself as she braided her hair. "I can't believe that kept it clean."
There was a knock on her door and she opened it, finding Angelica with a gun in her hand.
"Ah, Angelica, lovely to see you again. And you brought your little friend."
"I know what you are, you witch! You're a demon!"
"Oh, please, woman, you're delusional and still off your rocker."
"How did you escape?!"
"That's easy." She said with a look behind Angelica.
She turned and saw Trinidad looming over her.
"Master Blackwood!"
"Gun." He growled, holding out his hand to her.
"Master Blackwood, I was just-"
"Gun." he snarled, grabbing her wrist and snatching it. "Get."
She ran away and Trinidad emptied the gun of the bullets.
"Why are you here?"
He kicked the bullets aside and walked in, ignoring Delaware's question. He set the gun on the dresser and then sat on the bed.
"Trinidad..."
He motioned for her to come over and then grabbed her hands. He moved them around and then smiled.
"What was that?"
He grabbed his writing pad and wrote to words: My language.
Delaware smiled and he taught her how to speak his language.