Tauren Tale

Chapter 6: Slave Auction

Jorga was picking up Common quickly, but Kazbo absorbed Taurahe like a new-born calf. They never had to teach him a word twice and he picked up phrases that they had not even explained.

But despite all his linguistic skills, both Sanja and Jorga could not help giggling whenever the Gnome said the word “Tauren”. It was supposed to be boomed from the bottom of the speaker's hooves, and said with a rumble. There was just something disjointed about hearing “Tauren” squeaked like a mouse.

“I'm really impressed,” Sanja said, “with how quickly you are learning our language.”

“Thank you,” the Gnome grumbled.

She bent over as she walked and put a hand to his back. “I would think you'd be proud, but you seem...” She cocked her head sideways. “Is something upsetting you? Apart from walking, I mean?”

“Very funny,” he squeaked in Taurahe. “I am fine.”

“So then why the sad face?”

Kazbo sighed and seemed to search for the right words. “I do not like Taurahe.”

“You don't?” Jorga said. “Do you think it's difficult?”

“No, it is easy. But I hate it.” He crossed his arms and walked in silence for a while. “Speaking Taurahe words is like...” He made little fists and looked from one of the siblings to the other. “It is like biting your ears.”

They put their hands over their ears in unison. “It's like you're biting my ears?” Jorga gasped.

“How do you mean?” he sister added.

Kazbo squeaked in frustration and his face turned slightly more pink. “I do not know many Taurahe words. I can not make words... line up.”

“'Line up?' You mean that you can't make rhymes?” Sanja asked.

“Yes, that is it.” He seemed a little relieved to get the thought conveyed. “I do not know Taurahe words to make rhymes.”

The Taurens sighed in relief.

“Oh, I see what you mean. I never really understood why you bother to do that anyhow,” Sanja said. “What's the point? Why do you even try to speak in rhymes?”

Kazbo seemed annoyed once more. Not angry at his fellow travelers, but frustrated with his inability to communicate his thoughts. “That is how Gnomes talk. Babies speak without rhymes. Without rhymes, it is not words.” He flailed in frustration. “Is biting ears.”

Sanja and Jorga shared an irritated look.

“I make you angry?” the little man squeaked.

“A little, yeah,” Sanja gruffed. She fixed the Gnome with a knitted brow while her brother stomped ahead in silence. “It sounds like you think that my people are just stupid barbarians because we don't play idiotic games when we talk!”

She put her fists on her slender hips and came to a complete stop. Kazbo knew that she was serious, since the pair only stopped walking when the Gnome needed to rest.

“Well, I'm sorry if you think that,” she fumed. “Perhaps we just have more important things to do than to see who can make up better rhymes.”

“I am sorry. Not mean to make you angry,” Kazbo apologized. “Not think Gnomes better than Tauren because of rhymes. Only Gnomes talk in rhymes. Do not...” He made a tiny growling sound. “Not have word... Do not need people to talk like Gnomes.”

Kazbo started walking again and gestured for his two friends to come with him. “At home,” he asked Sanja, “you make food?”

The girl set her jaw for a moment before deciding to answer. “Do I cook? Yeah, sure, sometimes. I like to cook.”