Beshenna
Sunlight beamed down on wide cobblestone streets, burning away the puddles left by several days of rains. It was humid, but the heat of the sun promised that it would dry up soon. A long train of horse drawn carriages exited the forest and crawled morosely through the streets, the surly guardians who walked alongside it not quite able to meet the eyes of any of city's inhabitants.
A woman in bright and clean orange clothing jogged out to meet the man at the head of the column.
"Master Gerrick," she called out with a welcoming smile. "Welcome to Beshenna."
He was a big man, even when he stood next to a woman of Form. The leathery look of his skin and the seediness of his clothing did nothing to take the edge off his manner.
"Glad to be here," Gerrick replied with a frown, giving her a once over. "My orders are to see this delivered to Binyata, Second of Iron."
Gerrick might or might not have met Binyata, but even a man would know that a woman who had attained the rank of second would be wearing clothing of blue.
"My name is Elya," the woman replied with a formal lightness. "I'm an Officer of Iron. Binyata had been waiting but was called away by an urgent matter -"
"More important than this stuff?" he asked with a jerk towards the curtained carriage at the head of the long column.
"Keep moving!" he shouted to the man guiding the carriage. "Let's get this delivered."
Gerrick continued walking alongside the caravan, forcing Elya to run to catch up to him.
"You people certainly do like your towers, don't you?" he asked, surveying the city scape.
Elya's lips firmed up. This wasn't really behaviour that was appropriate for a man to use when speaking to a woman, even if Gerrick was a Master Merchant. But then ...
"How was the journey from Turiksa?"
"Long," Gerrick sighed, darkness taking his features. "Muddy."
The caravan was over a day late. They had sent runners ahead to warn the people in Beshenna. An unexpectedly wet summer was likely to blame.
"Any injuries to report?" Elya asked.
This was her business now, collecting the most important pieces of data and taking care of such matters.
"Three men exhausted," Gerrick told her. "Otherwise we are all well."
It should have been a six day journey from Turiksa, but the weather had stretched it to over seven. Even the best of men, spending so long away from a Temple, could have difficulties.
"And your Temple contingent?"
Gerrick stretched, rotating his head to get rid of a likely fictitious crick in his neck, and sighed heavily.
"The H'rem are fine," Gerrick said. "A bit worn out. Not too unusual under the circumstances. They could use a few days rest, just like the rest of us."
That part of the report was perfunctory. During transit, the Master Merchant was responsible for all of the women and men in his retinue. It was polite therefore, to give him the impression that his report on the condition of the women -- as well as the men - was taken to heart.
"And the cargo?"
Always last. Never put things, no matter how valuable, before people.
"The wagons are secure, their cargo undamaged," he stated. "The carriage's contents were undisturbed, whatever's in there."
It was polite to pretend that he hadn't heard the clearly identifiable noises that periodically issued from that carriage.
"Excellent," Elya replied. "We'll follow a route past Sweetness gate to -"
"The cargo should go immediately to Form," Gerrick interrupted her.
Elya winced, compressing her lips. There was only so much latitude she would grant the man, no matter how difficult his journey or how long his H'rem had been out of contact with a Temple.
"Master Gerrick," she said. "I assure you, the shortest route through Beshenna to Form's gate will take us past Sweetness. It will be the briefest stop to offload your wounded."
Gerrick grimaced and closed his eyes. When he opened them, they were looking at Elya's feet. With another blink, he met her eyes.
"Sorry," he said, his tired gaze unwavering. "You're right. The wounded come first."
People, even men, came before things.
They learned that one before they even knew what all the words meant.
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Gern
Mathematics was an irritating subject.
As women were natural mathematicians, Talla had enjoyed the study of numbers since childhood.
So, sitting in this engineering class, studying tensile strengths and applying the numbers to the construction of roofs, walls and towers, ought to have been enjoyable.
It wasn't.
Why even bother studying when she could just look at the design, see the size of the timbers and the stones and tell whether it would stand or fall? Why should she bother measuring the angles, looking up a table of sines and calculating the force on each member?
Despite having this innate ability, she was still required to do the math longhand.
Irritating.
But at least it ended.
Their teacher, satisfied that they were doing the math correctly, dismissed them for the afternoon. There would be enough time to find dinner and Talla had plans to meet up with Tina for one of those rare evenings in which neither of them was due to Serve.
It made her happy to see that Yua was tagging along.
"Hey, Talla."
"What's up, Yua? Hungry?"
"Yeah, sure," Yua answered distantly. "You Serving tonight?"
"No, you?"
"Nope," Yua replied. "Must be an Initiation or something."
