Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [88]
Liriel scowled. This was unlike Fyodor. The young Rashemi seemed to sense that proclamations of this sort were beyond her dark-elven sensibilities, and he usually respected her emotional boundaries.
"What's your point?" she demanded.
He responded by sweeping a hand toward the wildly beautiful island, the snug wooden cottages, the grim-faced folk dressed in simple, brightly colored clothes.
"These people are my far kin. From all i have heard, their ways are very like those of my ancestors. You must believe me when i tell you to tread carefully."
Liriel eyed him coldly. She might not like his words, but she had to admit there was wisdom in them. No stranger to Menzoberranzan could hope to understand its intricate layers of protocol and intrigue; this place no doubt had its own peculiar customs. She accepted Fyodor's advice with a brusque shrug.
"What do i do?"
"Do not use magic unless you have no other choice," he cautioned her. "i am sure Hrolf has told them you are a wizard, and many will be watching you. Do not give them any more reason to fear you than they already have. Try to remember that everything about you is strange and frightening to these people-your magic, your elven features, the reputation of your people, the silence of your step, the sound of music and wind in your voice. For a time, it is best that you speak but little. Listen and watch. Allow me to speak when it is time to tell them of our quest."
"Tell them? This is wise?"
Fyodor nodded somberly. "it is best to speak plainly. Warrior folk prefer words that are simple and direct. Nor should we try to hide our purpose; they would not take kindly to dishonesty. Also, Olvir has given me to know that they are likely to welcome a Rashemi warrior on dajemma," he said, naming the coming-of-age journey taken by all young men of his homeland. "Like my people, the Ruathen enjoy hearing of far places, and a wandering warrior is expected to carry tales of valor."
"But you said you weren't sure how they would receive us. What you really meant was not us, but me," Liriel observed.
The young warrior shrugged. "it is much the same. We travel dajemma together; i will not go where you cannot. Hrolf will surely make this known to them."
Liriel absorbed this in silence. She had indeed come to trust Fyodor, but she had never imagined she might have to depend so completely upon him or any other person. The proud drow was accustomed to controlling her life, making her own way. She accepted that Fyodors grasp of the situation was probably accurate, but it grated on her nonetheless. "There is one more thing," Fyodor said hesitantly. "Olvir tells me that the womenfolk of Ruathym tend to hearth and family, leaving most other matters to the men."
The drow sniffed. "So they are fools. What of it?"
"You will need to show proper respect." When Liriel continued to regard him blankly, Fyodor elaborated. "You have told me the womenfolk rule in your land. In Ruathym, the tables are turned, and you might expect the same sort of treatment a drow male might receive in your homeland." "Nine Hells!" the drow muttered, clearly appalled by this revelation. She turned a defiant glare upon her friend. "i will limit the magic and listen more than i speak, but i'll be damned as a yochlol if i'll bed any bearded human herothe that beckons for me!"
Fyodor blinked and fell back a step as he absorbed this new fact about drow culture. "Perhaps i was hasty in comparing the lot of dark-elven males and Ruathen women," he said with a bit ofwry humor. "Believe me when i say you need not fear anything of the sort."
"Because…" Liriel prompted, hearing the rising tone in Fyodor's voice.
Again the young man hesitated. "Since you and i travel together, they will assume you are my woman. Trust me, it is better than the only other assumption they would make about a lone female aboard a pirate ship. There is more," he said, raising a hand to cut off Liriel's ready tirade.
"in this land, warriors hold the highest rank. The