Ryzar looks towards Hulfe, and his dark eyebrows shoot upwards in
amazement.
"But...but you are a MAN!", Ryzar exclaims in a shocked and surprised
tone -- then quickly shuts his mouth, and places his gloved hand over
his lips, as his pale cheeks burn with embarrassment.
"Please forgive my friend here, brother Hulfe," Dharak blurts as soon
as the word "Man" leaves Ryzar's mouth. "As is obvious from his speech
and dress, he is from a distant settlement of our people, and is not
used to our ways".
"Yes, please forgive me." Ryzar apologises, bobbing his head in
supplication, "It's just that, in Estcarp -- where I'm from -- it is
Women who hold the positions of Holy Ones and spiritual Leaders. I
was simply....surprised, that's all".
"I accept your apologies, brother", Hulfe replies softly, "Estcarp is
not settlement I know of, but I have known more than one community
where all the holy people are women".
"As for our fallen brother", Dharak continues, "I regret that I did
not know him long enough to learn what the proper rites and rituals
are in his community. From what I do know of him, I can state
unequivocally that he would be honoured to take his final rest here,
among free people and true".
"Tell me, what are your ways regarding the honoured dead?".
"We do not have a lot of formal rituals", Hulfe replies, "We bury the
body in the field of freedom, and commend his spirit to join the One
True God, accompanied by the deceased closest friends and family.
Everyone present must say a few words saying what the deceased mean to
them. After that, there is a celebration in his honour, to which
everyone in the village who can attend is invited".
* * * *
Hank thinks of something else to ask the healer.
"I owe my travelling companion a 'round', for carrying Kylar", he
says, indicating Roy, "Is there a tavern of some kind, around here? I
suppose I'll need to trade something for money, too- unless they take
credit..." He grins.
Her face also spreads into a grin.
"We don't really have a tavern, not like in a city", she says, "Since
we're not on a road that leads to anywhere but here, we have few
visitors. There is the hall, the stone building you must have noticed
when you came in. It's the only place in the village that's not a
someone's house. It's our temple, tavern and everything else all
rolled into one!".
--
Tim Hall
Weblog: http://www.kalyr.com/weblog
Photos: http://kalyr.fotopic.net/
