The Northern Tribes

10

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After Karia takes me to eat lunch, she tells me that I am off to my next lesson. She leads me to a room that I believe I will never ever be able to find without help. We had to navigate many halls and turns to find even the entrance leading up to it. It's a small room lined with books in the top of one of the many towers that sit atop the main building. Karia leads me up a small winding staircase with very few windows and almost no light to a dusty stone room filled only with books and a small wooden table with two chairs.

Karia looks at me with her usual disgust and orders me to wait, leaving without so much as a farewell.

I approach the table in the middle of the dark room, running my fingers over its grooved surface. I then wander over to the books, looking at the titles. My mother taught me to read when I was little, which is not common for simple villagers, so I was considered even more of an asset to potential future suitors. But I can't read any of these. They are all in different languages.

The door flies open and knocks against the stone wall with a huge thunk and I jump in alarm. When I spin around I see an older man enter the room, looking to be in a hurry. He sees me and my surprised state and chuckles in response.

"I was hoping to get here before you but it seems, as usual... I am late," he sighs. He appears to be about middle-aged for the Cencith, which seems to be a bit older for the tribesmen. He has gray hair littering his brown beard, and full dreadlocks that are swept back into a loose ponytail. And like the others, he has tattoos. Although unlike the others, save for the Reth, he has a tattoo on his face. It's a symbol on his cheek. I only stare in response, still trying to recover from my shock. He gives me a quick smile and walks over to a section of wall not covered in books, pulling off a cover from a small window.

There is no pane in the window, so light and fresh, crisp air rushes in to fill the dank, dark room. And when he turns around, his dark green eyes sparkle.

"My name is Catall," he says softly, his voice deep and aged. "And you must be Esme." I notice now that he barely has any discernible accent. His ability to speak Cenci is even better than Karia or the Reth's.

"Are..." I say softly, still weary of everyone I meet here. "Are you Cencith?" I ask. He gives me another smile and approaches the table.

"I am a tribesman. Just well-read, and experienced in travel," he answers. He must see the disappointment on my face because he gives me a warm look.

"Take a seat," he says, gesturing towards the opposite side of the table. I approach the table cautiously, and sit. He stares at me for long moments in silence and I feel my discomfort increase. He senses this and chuckles again.

"I apologize for making you uncomfortable. I just wasn't expecting you to be so reserved. You were rather brazen during the sorting," he says. I glance up at him now.

"You were there?" I ask. He nods and I stare at the aged wooden table in front of me, my eyes following the grain.

"It was a long, difficult journey."

"Yes." The way he answers makes me suspicious and I look up at him now again.

"You did it? You told me you are a tribesman." And when I say it out loud, I realize he never told me that he was born a tribesman. He is still watching me warmly, and I realize there is much more to this man. His eyes hold many tales and secrets. But he doesn't answer me.

"Who... who are you?" I ask.

"I am Catall, one of the Reth's advisors. And I will be responsible for teaching you our language."

At first I am shocked. I didn't think I would be taught their language. But there are many things I've overlooked. I know there are things I would only learn after being initiated, and it almost makes me want to try. Almost. But for now I figure I will pass the time by doing my lessons, only prolonging my stay to plan my attack.

Catall begins our lesson by explaining that each tribe used to have their own dialect, and that some dialects still remain. He informs me of something I had already guessed- that each tribesperson has a role, and each role is written in their tattoos. Even slaves.

"The higher the rank, the more the tattoos," he says. It's why the Reth has the most. He also tells me that every person here also has a title, and each one means different things.

"Like Moorian?" I ask. "Or Demda?" He gives me an amused nod.

"Moorian is the person responsible for the slaves. And Demda is the title for the Reth's Personal slaves." But I had already figured as much.

"Does Kami have a title?" I ask. He pauses for a long moment, pondering.

"Kami is her title," he says vaguely, standing and approaching the window. As he looks outside, I notice what seems to be an air of longing. And although I'm still weary of all tribespeople, I feel like I can talk more freely with Catall so I ask him without thinking.

"Do you miss it? Traveling?"

He gives me a surprised look, which turns into a smile.

"Valaric will have his hands full with you, won't he?" he mutters quietly, still seemingly amused. Then his attitude changes and he glances out the window again.

"Have you visited the northgate gardens yet?" he asks. I look at him questioningly.

"I haven't seen most of the building," I tell him. He sighs.

"Karia must dislike you greatly, leaving you so uninformed and vulnerable," he says, approaching the table again.

"She does," I answer bluntly.

"Disrespecting the Reth is considered one of the most grave offenses," he tells me. "You made many enemies by doing that, so be careful."

"Are you one?" I ask, although I know the answer already. I don't sense any malicious intent from Catall. He is one of three people besides the Reth I don't sense any hatred from. The other two are Kami and Aven.

"I'm too old for such things," he responds, although I don't sense any fatigue from him that I would expect to accompany the statement. I know the truth. He's different from the others.

"If it's such a great offense, why did the Reth choose me?" I ask. I know if he wanted to make my life more miserable, he would've let me be sold after my outburst. But it seems since I've been here, he has ordered my protection. I've been treated quite well, especially for a slave. Catall gets quiet, his gaze now distant.

"I wonder," he answers softly, appearing to be lost in thought.

"Well, you are chosen, so it appears if Karia won't help you, I will have to make up for it." He snaps out of his daze and heads towards the door. "Let's begin with a tour."