(OOC: Hope this works...this is my first RP experience so I'm still trying to find the balance of too much and too little info)
When she was a child, Zurna loved Summer in the Tundra. As a child, summer meant being allowed to play outside for short periods of time instead of being cooped up in her family's tent. Summer meant candies and new toys from the passing caravans. It meant new stories of exciting lands she had never seen, stories that would fuel her imagination for the cold months ahead. But, now as an adult all Zurna can think about is the amount of work she has yet to accomplish. With her brothers gone and her parents ailing she is now in charge of her family hearth.
'I wish Yotar had not married. Things would be so much easier if I did not have to look after his family as well as our own. If he was not married he would not even have his own boat to fish in and would instead be the one harvesting the peat moss right now,' she bitterly thought as her feet sank into the muck of the bog.
"Aunt Z! Aunt Z!" screamed the voices of her tiny twin nieces. "Aunt Z, the caravans are coming!" They excitedly exclaimed as they waded through the peat bog towards her. Zurna smiled as she was torn from her disgruntled thoughts. "Careful you two! If you fall in, I'm not pulling you out." She called back playfully.
'Then again,' she thought 'I could never resent him the happiness he has earned nor the joy his twins bring everywhere they go.'
Grabbing her basket and strapping it to her back she headed over to the girls taking them each by the hand and out of the bog.
"Now what is this I hear you saying about caravans?" Zurna asked as the trio headed towards camp.
Sasha whistled quietly to himself.
Okay, so...right now? Right at this moment? His life was pretty near perfect. Even the weather was being kind to him - if he had't needed to keep at least one hand on the reins, he would have been sprawled flat on his back on the back step of the wonder-tent, working on his tan.
"Aunt Z!"
Oooh, that was loud! Only little children could ever be quite that piercing!
Taking a deep breath, he let his voice go. Big, as big and loud and booming as possible.
"I think I hear some little girls...did someone say my name?"
Zurna heard the booming voice and smiled. "I don't know," she called back. "That depends on whether or not you're the caravan trader who always comes around this time of year." The twins giggled at their aunt's antics.
"Aunt Z, hurry up! All the good stuff will be taken if you keep up this pace."
"Yeah, Aunt Sir, you move slower than a snow crab stuck in the ice," piped in the other twin, Cara.
"Alright, alright you two I'm coming," she laughed spying the caravan up ahead.
"Good day to you!" She called to Sasha, "Got anything good to interest these two little monsters?"
The twins giggled as Zurna chased them about, tickling them as she caught them.
"I'm sure I can find something to suit such fine young ladies as yourselves, yeah!"
Sasha leapt down off the front of the front of the wagon, dropping into a crouch to be at eye level with the two little girls. They really were very little. He glanced at one, then the other, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"I've just come up from Connlaoth. They're very good at making things down there, especially toys. They make wonderful toys, and I try to bring some of them north for boys and girls just like you. If I open up the tent, would you like to have a look and pick something out?"
He turned his attention to the woman with them. The mysterious Aunt Z, weighed down by a tiny body in the curl of each arm. He nodded at her politely, smiled. Still on his knees as he was, it could have been decidedly embarrassing. He mouthed a few words. Winked.
I have candy too...shhhh
The truth was that he had a bit of everything in the back of the wagon. Food supplies for winter, the things that just wouldn't grow in a place as cold as this. Flintlock guns and metal tools; everyone knew Connlaothians were the best metalworkers around. Some timber - no trees up here. The toys and candy were a bonus, but...really, who could fault him for stocking up on those. when they made the kids smile and gave them something new to do over the long winter indoors?
"I'm sure I can find something to suit such fine young ladies as yourselves, yeah!"
Sasha leapt down off the front of the front of the wagon, dropping into a crouch to be at eye level with the two little girls. They really were very little. He glanced at one, then the other, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
"I've just come up from Connlaoth. They're very good at making things down there, especially toys. They make wonderful toys, and I try to bring some of them north for boys and girls just like you. If I open up the tent, would you like to have a look and pick something out?"
He turned his attention to the woman with them. The mysterious Aunt Z, weighed down by a tiny body in the curl of each arm. He nodded at her politely, smiled. Still on his knees as he was, it could have been decidedly embarrassing. He mouthed a few words. Winked.
I have candy too...shhhh
The truth was that he had a bit of everything in the back of the wagon. Food supplies for winter, the things that just wouldn't grow in a place as cold as this. Flintlock guns and metal tools; everyone knew Connlaothians were the best metalworkers around. Some timber - no trees up here. The toys and candy were a bonus, but...really, who could fault him for stocking up on those. when they made the kids smile and gave them something new to do over the long winter indoors?
The twins stared up at their aunt pleadingly. "You know," Zurna began, "I think if you made your eyes any wider they would pop right out of your heads. Go on you two." She swatted them on the behinds, letting them free. Aliyah and Cara squealed with delight. Laughing, Zurna called after them,"behave!"
Drawing her attention away from her rambunctious nieces, she held her hand out to the man before her. "I'm Zurna Nali. I don't think I've had the pleasure of meeting you before. Thank you for being so indulgent of them. Not many would share your kindness."
Sasha took the offered hand willingly, pulling himself to his feet. In the back of his mind, something made an approving little murmur - this young woman was stronger than she looked.
"Well you see miss, the plain truth of it is that I'm not really very good at being a grown up. Better that I should just face the facts and be an unusually big, hairy child...oh, and before I forget to intruduce myself altogether, I'm Sasha."
Zurna let loose a belly laugh. "Better a child who never loses his wonder, than an old man jaded by the trodden path, I always say. Now," she began, taking on a more business-like tone, "besides toys and candyfor children, do you also carry other supplies. My family has some things we will be needing. Of course, I will not have any way to pay you back. Unless" she let her voice trail off as she contemplated the idea.
'Mother never minds another body at her hearth. But, would he be willing to come? The family is rather large and intimidating. I can't afford anything now. I only have the peat and we need that. I can't just leave though. We need the supplies.'
"Would you like to join my family tonight? It would be a change of pace I'm sure, to be able to sleep in a home versus a wagon." She smiled sweetly, giggling slightly at hearing the twin's exclamations of wonder from within. "I would be better able to trade with you then."
"If you'll have me, I'll gladly come. Lead the way."
She had a point about the home thing, too. There were comparatively few people up here who bothered with a permanent home for long - he himself had been born in a summer hunting shelter, so he was well and truly used to the nomad life by now - but it was always nice to find somewhere other than the Wonder Tent for a little while!
He took hold of Maddox's halter, giving it a gentle tug to lead her. If he guided her along, she'd pull the wagon happily enough...and with those little girls inside, they might well enjoy the ride.
"I can probably sort you out with the supplies you need. I've been going back and forth between here and Connlaoth since I was younger than you are now, so I've got a fairly good idea of what people want me to bring back up. Now, what was it you were wanting?"
"Excellent," she replied, a beaming smile lighting up her face. Zurna eyed the moving wagon critically, slightly concerned about the girls inside. The soft giggles and Aliyah's suggestion that they both sit down quickly reassured her though.
"Well you see, I am not the only one who needs supplies. I am not quite sure what my brothers will need. I know I need a new hinting knife." Zurna pulled it out own to show him. The blade was thin and and harshly crinkled and chipped in places, showing both age and use. The handle was also cracked nearly in half, held together with a small amount of twine. "I'm afraid I'm a bit harsh on my tools. Is there anything in particular you trade for or with?" she inquired.
'Can we afford him? I really do need a new knife. It has already been too many winters I have held off getting one. I know the others also had some things they are running low. I just hope we can find an accord,' she worried, biting her lip slightly.
"Tools and weapons I definitely have. There's no point going to Connlaoth to trade unless you look in on their metalwork, it's the best thing they have to offer...anything else? I have food, stuff that lasts over winter. I have a bit of timber if you need that. When we get to your family, I'll open up the back of the cart and then can have a look for whatever it is they think they might want."
Sasha smiled. He knew how this went...and as hard as she was trying to hide it, he wasn't really finding it too difficult to pick up on a trace of unease. That little bite down on her lip. The set of her shoulders. It was all there.
"As for payment... you can relax. Giving me a place to sleep will cover a lot of it, and whatever you have spare will be fine for the rest. I trade things to Connlaothians too - they'd go mad for stuff you and I don't even think of as valuable. Dried fish. Furs. Bits of bone that I can carve up into trinkets. Soapstone. I don't do this to get rich, lass."
Zurna tried to smile but, could only manage a half-grimace. In the distance she could already see the columns of smoke indicating home was close. "You are kind Sasha but, I doubt you have ever seen anything quite like my family. I doubt a night's rest, some food, and a few trinkets will pay for all we need."
In her mind she was totaling up the things she already knew they needed and eliminated the things they could do without for one more season. 'I'm sure we can do without some metals and just use bone tools for the winter. Tarogato is not going to like that much but, what else can we do? That kind of equipment in those quantities doesn't come cheap when you have your own village for a family. Things that seem simple for him to just talk about trading we have so little excess of as it is. I'm going to have to go hunting tonight, I guess.'
They rounded the familiar snowbank, revealing a series of tents surrounding one very large one. 'Home,' her mind whispered happily. Turning to Sasha she smirked a little with pride. "I think you can understand now why things might be a bit difficult for us."
"Breathe. We can work this out. I told you already, I don't do what I do to be a rich man."
So she had a big family. By the number of tents - he did a quick mental count - she had a very big family. She was proud of it, too - look at that smirk, and the hot little spark of almost-defiance in her eyes.
"Sometimes I give things away, just to know that somebody who needs it has it. You have nothing to worry about."
Zurna conceded nodding her head. "When the time is more appropriate we can discuss business. Now is the time for food to be eaten and rest to be taken," she smiled. At the mention of food, two tiny heads popped out of the wagon. Aliyah jumped down, leaving Cara behind and began to take off.
Moving quickly her young aunt was able to catch her and hold her in place. "Aunt Sir!" she whined. "What do you say Aliyah?" The little girl pouted up at Zurna, who refused to budge on the matter. The twin rolled her eyes, uttered a quick thank you to Sasha, and then took of running again.
If it had not been for Cara, looking nervously from inside the wagon, Zurna would have given a few choice words to her petulant niece. 'She's just like Sonya.' Cara was quickly helped down and also asked to thank the trader. Unlike her twin Cara, gave a softer and more meaningful thank you before burying her face in Zurna's shoulder.
"Come, I can introduce you to the rest of my family. Although," she paused, faltering slightly in her step. "I should warn you, I have twenty-five elder brothers. Don't take offense to anything they say. Boys will be boys," she huffed, throwing up the arm that was not holding Cara, before letting it slap back down against her thigh.
Zurna finally put the little girl down when they reached the entrance of the main tent. The flap door opened and Minali exited to embrace her only daughter. "You're home early dear. I thought you weren't coming back until tonight." The elder woman eyed the newcomer up and down, sharing a friendly smile.
"Momma this is Sasha. He is a trader. I was hoping he could share our hearth tonight."
"Of course! Come in, young man. Warm yourself by the fire. Zurna, how inhospitable of you, letting the poor boy freeze out here like that. Inside now both of you!" she scolded, chasing the laughing woman inside.
Twenty FIVE?!
Sasha's eyebrows shot up to hide in his hair. He hardly noticed, and then when he finally did all he could really do was hope no one else had picked up on it either. Twenty five brothers? For real? Her mother must have been pregnant for pretty much every moment of her adult life to manage that, or else had a lot of multiple births. Either way, this older woman with the kind eyes was almost certainly a lot more durable than she appeared.
Hm. Best to treat her with deference then. More than normal, anyway.
"I thank you for the kindness, ma'am. If there's anything in my stock that you think your family could use, feel free to take it in repayment."
Minali laughed patting Sasha on the arm. "Don't be lookin' so worried boy. In these temperatures your face will freeze for sure. It could be years before it thaws out again. By then you could be an old man," she winked.
Inside the tent, Zurna removed her wrap and placed it on her bedroll. The spacious tent was moderately occupied considering the time of day and its available space. Her eldest sisters-in-law worked at one end of the large central fire gossiping and mending fishing nets. Across from them the men sat on crates carving bone tools and smoking from pipes. Zurna smiled greeting them each, before stirring the stew pot on the fire. "Mmm, food should be ready soon," she said gleefully, reaching for bowls.
The twins bounced about inside, telling anyone who would listen about the newcomer and his wares. Their aunt smiled. 'I haven't seen them this excited since the new grandchild was born. Perhaps after all the tools are bought I can scrap together some trinkets to buy them a toy or two. They deserve that much.'
Okay. He liked this one!
"Sweet thing, when I'm frozen hard enough to look like an old man, I guarantee you'll be the first to know about it. I might even have to come back and sweep you off your feet...or if you prefer, I could do that bit now?"
He grinned. It was lovely to have company. Having someone around he could do a little verbal sparring with was perhaps the one pleasure he genuinely missed when he was between trading stops. Having nearly thirty people would be fantastic. Besides, he never really meant any offence by it.
"Zurna? Is there anything this food of yours is missing? I'd be a wretched guest if I just turned up and ate you out of house and home without contributing something."
One of the twins - the bolder one - left off her frantic whirlwind of joy for a minute and indignantly chirped. "More CANDY!"
Sasha laughed.
"Oh. you two fine ladies spotted that, did you? I'll have to ask your mama and papa first, but maybe, if you're very good and finish everything else you're given...maybe then, there might be some."
Zurna sent Sasha a beaming smile. 'Now that kind of generosity, I haven't seen in a long time.' She handed him a bowl filled to the brim with sweet-smelling stew. "The only thing this food needs is good company to share it. Do you think you can help us with that?"
Aliyah eagerly danced around at the idea of getting candy after her meal while Cara, infected by her twin's enthusiasm joined in the bouncing. "If I didn't no better I would say you two have already been in the sweets," a voice called from the doorway.
"Papa!" the girls sequealed, running to embrace the wiry man. Laughing, he pulled them close and lifted them towards the high ceiling. "What have you done to my daughters, sister?" he teased.
Zurna rolled her eyes, poining the cooking spoon at him. "The youngest of my brothers, Yotar," she introduced to her guest. "Yotar, this is Sasha. He will be our guest tonight.
Yotar raised a brow in amusment. "Oh? Your guest?" Zurna's eyes widened in realization. "Not like that you idiot!" she cried, thwacking the taller boy on the head with the spoon. "Go eat!"
She shook her head, shrugging her shoulders in apology. "I warned you about my brothers. I guess we're just lucky the triplets are out on the boats today. Those three can take even the most innocent thing and turn it into something very much, not so."
Smiling, she finally poured herself a bowl and sat down on a mile of furs. "So Sasha, what made you chose this line of business?" Zurna looked over at him curiously, blowing on her spoonful of soup to cool it.
"Honestly? I got bored of sitting inside all winter, and I know that people up here sometimes need things to get through the year that we can't make. Connlaoth sometimes needs reminding that there are people up here too, not just big scary monsters."
He shrugged. It was hard to explain exactly why, and he was too hungry to really find the words. This soup was awesome, too. It was all very distracting.
"So that's what I do. It has a few perks. Sometimes I meet pretty girls who bring me home to meet the family."
"Pretty girls? Who are you kidding Sasha? This is the tundra, there are no pretty girls around here." Zurna snickered slightly, trying to cover it up and failing. Instead she gave in and laughed, shaking her head. "Can't say I blame you about the winters though. They can be quite brutal. Although, I think they are much better than the summers. All the lost travelers seem to come up here then and expect it to be warm."
She rolled her eyes in slight aggravation before taking a bit of food. "You must have seen many things in your travels. What is so fascinating about Connloath? My sister-in-law is from there but she treats me like I'm troglodyte with no understanding of what the world beyond Hyoite is like. Of course, we are not going to admit that this is not far from the truth." Zurna winked at him playfully, stage whispering the last part.
"Just take the compliment where it was offered, lass. I mean nothing untoward by it." Unless of course she wanted him to, but the simple truth of the matter was that Sasha genuinely liked women. They were interesting, all so very different. They were beautiful, whether they saw it that way or not. Telling them so...well, why wouldn't he?
He shrugged.
"And to be fair, a lot of the Connlaothians who come up here are running for their lives. Mages and all that. We can probably forgive them for not packing properly when they left in such a hurry, hey?"
Zurna bowed her head and conceded to Sasha. "Fair enough, I'll take your word for it. Ironically though," she continued, chuckling to herself, "I believe all the travelers I have met this past summer were Serenians. But, I do understand what you are saying. My youngest sister-in-law, Sonya, was from Connlaoth. She too was driven out because of her magic and came to us unprepared. I'm just surprised when the ones who have every intention of being here for whatever reason are not more prepared." She shrugged her shoulders though.
"Who knows? Certainly not me. Is there anything in particular you are looking to trade for Sasha? I am sure my brothers and I can find something you would need. Out of the twenty-six of us, there has to be something useful."
"You'd be surprised what they'll buy from me down there. Let me think..."
Sasha stroked his chin thoughtfully.
The markets in Connlaoth would take all sorts of things, even the useless little trinkets that people only ever carved to pass time in the winter darkness. Bone, soapstone - they had a bit of a thing about the pale, icy shade of blue that soapstone turned when it was polished - skins from the animals. Amber beads, or jet from the volcanic fields. The little twinkling sparkles of gold that were sometimes found in streams, no bigger than a speck of dust. Preserved fish. Honey. Alcohol, definitely. Felted harness for horses, cloth. Anything like that.
If it was exotic, if they couldn't find anything like it elsewhere, some rich old bastard in Connlaoth would want it.
"With such a family, you have to have at least one carver. Whatever nonsense he made last winter, they'd love that. Same goes for any cloth you have spare, any skins...even seashells if you have any. As far as I can tell, most of them have never seen the ocean. If you tell them about a whale, they can hardly believe it - a beast as big as a house!?"
Food would work too of course, but he wouldn't suggest food. They had so many to feed as it was, it would have to be a struggle even with nearly thirty adults to share the load.
"Believe me, love. It's worth almost nothing to us, it's just how things are, but it's fascinating for them. Those strange foreigners from up north and their heathen ways..."
Her mind turned to the several casks of strong mead she had made the past winter. 'I wonder if those would fetch a good price. I have heard of some who enjoy the "stronger stuff." Sasha could probably try it and see for himself. He would know better what will sell and what will not.'
Yet, the mention of skins had her also thinking of one in particular kept hidden and safe in a trunk in the smoke tent. 'It would fetch more than a fair price. I am sure we could barter it for all the supplies we need. But, do I really want to do that? It is all I have left of Ezra's memory. Do I even want that memory after what happened at the sacred grounds? Maybe it is best to let it go. Better check about those casts first. Maybe Fiscorn has bone hooks and things he could sell. I can always hunt and give him more elk bones later. I really need a new knife though.'
"I think I may be able to convince one of my older brothers to part with some of his bone hooks and things. He does get a bit finicky about these things," she told Sasha, sharing a small wink with him. "Although I do have some homemade mead if that will sell. You can try some with dinner if you would like. I do warn you however, it is quite strong. It would be best if you only partake in a little bit, if you have any at all. Shall I get you some?" Zurna offered, moving to get to her feet.
"Homemade mead will ALWAYS sell, lass. They love it. You'd think they never brewed anything themselves with how excited they get over it. If you're willing to part with it..."
Come on now. Really. He was only human. He was never going to say no to a free drink. Besides, his time here so far had been pretty fantastic - free food, now free booze, what on earth could there possibly be to top it?
"Aye," she laughed patting him on the shoulder, "I'm more than willing to part with it. The stuff only becomes stronger it sits here and I would rather not find my brothers all lying in a heap because they decided winter was too boring." Zurna's brow raised in jest as she teased her brothers and retrieved a cask.
Cracking it open she filled two mugs with the burning liquid and passed one to Sasha. One finger raised up in warning before he could put it to his lips. "Drink slowly or you will end up spending more than one night here." A knowing smile played across her face as she disregarded her own advice and knocked back the entire mug like it was nothing. Mischievous eyes glowed in the firelight as she watched and waited.
"You tell me that and then slam it back as though it's small beer..." Sasha laughed. "I'd almost think you were trying to get me to stay longer. Some scheme of your own, lass?"
Looks could be deceiving of course, but she wasn't all that big. If she was telling the truth about what to expect, either she had a truly magnificent alcohol tolerance for her size, or her liver would be raising a little white flag right about now!
He tipped the mug up in a salute, savouring the burn of the alcohol in his mouth. "S'good shit...oof -" he coughed as the kick she'd warned him about finally hit and a dull curl of heat uncoiled in the pit of his stomach, "this is really good shit!"
Zurna smirked but said nothing in reply as she waited for her guest to drink. Laughter bubbled up at his reaction to it though. "It doesn't quite have the same affect when you've been drinking it all your life. Takes more than one to make that kick feel like dragon's fire."
"You should watch out for her sir," one of the other brothers piped up. "Z has drunk us all under the table over the years. Makes no sense but its the truth." The young man shrugged his shoulders and raised his hands in helpless fashion.
"Oh hush you!" his sister finally spoke up. "Don't listen to them, they're just sore that I'm going to trade it." The woman shook her head and chuckled. "Of course, if you wanted we could drink that is, if you don't consider it unprofessional. I'm not opposed either way." There was a playful, challenging gleam to her eyes. Zurna knew she probably could out-drink him, it was just a matter of whether or not he believed she could or not.
"Bah, who cares about professionalism? I'm a trader, not a lawyer. How unprofessional can I really be as long as I don't cheat you out of a deal?"
This stuff was really good. He'd get quite a lot for it down south, but taking it down there would mean he never got to have any, and that would just be sad. So very sad. He may have to cry if that turned out to be the case.
He could see the look on her face too. There was definitely a challenge there. Fine. He had no problem with that whatsoever. If she wanted to play...it was on for young and old.
"Top me up would you please, lovey?"
The worst that would happen was that he'd wake up with a sore head. Right?
Zurna snickered and did as requested, bringing the heavy cask over with her as she returned to sit by the fire. "Are you sure you can handle this Sasha? Such an honorable man like yourself could turn truly interesting once given such a potent drink. Can you live with the consequences that may come morning?"
Pacing herself, she took a small sip of her drink, humming in appreciation of the burn it left in her throat and stomach. "To your health," she toasted with a laugh, raising her mug in his direction. "May the best woman win." With a wink she stared him down over the rim of her drink, waiting for his move.
"I'll try to behave myself."
May the best woman win, she said...hahaha no. Sorry, but no. Tough as she undoubtedly was, he wasn't about to let that happen.
She drained another mug of it, savoring the burn that it left in its wake. "Behave? Excuse me for doubting you." The men in the tent exchanged looks with each other and quietly began to take bets as they stilled to watch their little sister.
"Are you a betting man Sasha? Perhaps we could play a bit of game since you are going to be here until morning for sure now." Zurna was fighting the urge to laugh as she sat there calmly, waiting. She loved putting a man in his place, especially when he thought he was better than her at something.
"Name your prize. Or, you know, you could tell me what I get as a prize?"
It was so much fun to stir her up. So much.
"What you get? Why you lazy bum! Figure out what you want yourself, I won't do it for you." Around them some of Zurna's more vocal brothers hooted and hollered at their sister's gibe. "But, as for my prize," she trailed off pursing her lips in thought.
Zurna took a sip of her drink as she thought about what she wanted or needed. 'I shouldn't use this as a way to cheat him out of a deal. It wouldn't be right and mother would never forgive me. But, what then do I want from him?'
"Perhaps we should decide terms when we have imbibed a bit more and are a bit more free of tongue. It would be more fun that way don't you think?"
"I can live with that. Whenever you feel the urge, you know, just name your terms."
He did love games. Games with pretty girls were an excellent way to pass the time. When they involved copious amounts of excellent alcohol...well, there wouldn't be any complaints here. Not from him!
Come to think of it, he'd have to pass by here again. This booze was MAGNIFICENT.
Zurna raised her mug and arched her brow. "Will do." Then, just as quickly as before she tossed back another round. Two more followed in rapid succession before she paused to breathe. The warm burn that was accumulating in her throat and belly made her smile lazily as she filled the mug up again.
"Still sure you can keep up Sasha? You're looking a little glass-eyed already," she goaded playfully. "Not ready to stop already are you? I can if you wish. I'm not opposed to winning." Her tongue poked out from her lips as she quickly stuck it out in jest.