Chapter 14: Ch. 14: Giltarian Culture

The next morning Kate rose just after dawn. Io was as good as any alarm clock, flickering wildly inches from her face and mentally shouting her name until she was tempted to smash a pillow over it.

Someone had prepared a warm bath for her, and she soaked in it until she was all pruney, knowing she might not have such a luxury again for some time. Marla had washed and dried her clothes and found an extra set for her to alternate with, and many willing hands had prepared a bag of supplies for her journey.

Despite the early hour, it seemed half the family was waiting to wish her farewell.

As soon as everyone had managed to get a hug in, Gren stomped over and propelled her towards the barn. “Come on, come on, you're wasting daylight.”

“You'll come back, won't you?” Hal suddenly blurted from where he stood holding tight to his mother's hand. For a boy that had seemed to be taking everything that had happened to him more or less in stride, he suddenly seemed close to tears. “You'll visit? When you're stronger, I mean.”

Kate grinned at him. “Obviously. I have to come back and show off. And Io will miss you all too much, won't you Io?”

Do not ask this one to do a parting performance.

“Io says it'll miss you bunches.”

Hal grinned back. “All right, it's a promise. After you save the world, come back and tell us your stories.”

“Heartwarming,” Gren muttered, giving her another impatient push.

Kate had learned by now not to take his bad moods too seriously. “If I didn't know any better, I'd think signs of affection make you uncomfortable,” she teased. “Which is too bad, because I'm determined to hug you too before I leave.”

“Try it and see what happens,” he said darkly.

Kate forgot to respond, because just then Yasu came out of the barn, leading the strangest animal she'd ever seen.

“I was expecting a horse. Or a donkey. What is that?”

“Are you making up words again?” Gren nodded towards the animal. “It's a tarras, of course.”

“Sure. Of course.” Kate stared up at it. It was definitely as big as a pony, and it had hooves, but there the similarities more or less ended. It had six legs instead of four, its short curly coat was deeply black, and the head it swiveled towards her in bland curiosity looked more like a furry turtle's, complete with curved beak. “Nice, u, taurus.”

“Tarras.” Yasu gave the creature a friendly pat on the shoulder. “You don't have them in your world?”

“Nope. Definitely not. Is it, uh, going to bite me if I try to pet it? Because it looks like it could take a few fingers off.”

“Tarras are very mild-mannered,” said another man who came out of the barn carrying some sort of leather straps. He began quickly and efficiently hitching the animal to a small cart. He was skinny and a shade taller than Gren, with long spider-like fingers that worked deftly at the buckles and leather. “Patient, too. They're completely unbothered even by small children crawling all over them.”

“Right. Niiiice tarras.” Kate reached out and gave the animal a careful pat on its neck. It blinked at her slowly, cow-like, and looked away.

Yasu pointed at the other man. “I don't think you've met my brother Sethi. We'll both be escorting you to Ganstown. We'll try to help you find someone to get you to Yelkston after we do some trading.”

Kate peeked in the back of the cart. Most of the floor was covered in sacks and rough wooden crates full of goods: furs, unfamiliar vegetables, and even wool from the little yellow sheep she'd seen before. There was room for two on the narrow seat up front, and just enough space for someone smaller-- herself, presumably –to curl up in the back with the sacks as a cushion.

Io began bouncing around excitedly from crate to crate. Come on, Kate! It's time to start your adventure in earnest!

“Bea here is ready,” Sethi claimed, rubbing the tarras's strange beak. “How about you, Kate, ready to go?”

“Yes, I think so.”

Gren had been hanging back, but he stepped forward and wordlessly offered one strong hand to help her up into the cart. Once she was up high, though, conveniently eye-to-eye with the big man, she spun around and threw her arms around his neck in a hug before he could stop her.

“Thanks for saving my life, Gren,” she said quietly.

His shoulders had stiffened immediately, his hands landing on her shoulders as if to push her back, but he didn't. “Yeah, well. I figure you saving Hal makes up for it,” he said, his voice gruffer than normal. “Even if I'm starting to wonder about your magic. Try to stay out of trouble, and listen to that little firebug every now and then.”

Kate released him, and he surprised her by reaching into his pocket and offering up a small scrap of worn leather.

She took it curiously. It looked like a simple handmade leather bracelet strung with painted wooden beads dulled with age. It was clearly too small for Gren's thick wrists.

“If you ever run into a young man named Rav out there in the world, tell him...” He hesitated, then seemed to force the words out. “Tell him I said sorry. And if you need help, ask him to give it to you. Tell him it's the last favor I'll ever ask of him.”

Kate opened her mouth, full of questions, but Gren spun on his heel and marched back towards the cabins without another word.

Yasu had been lingering close enough to hear, and when Kate shot him a confused look, he smiled a little sadly. “Rav's his son. He left home three or four years back. He's not much older than you are. We're not sure what he went, but we all hope he's doing well.”

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Sethi had been shamelessly eavesdropping. “They had a big fight when Rav left. It tore Gren up something awful. I think it's been good for him having you around, even for such a short time. It reminded him to care about other people. Made him come back here. I hope this time he stays. The man could use a family.”

Kate nodded, her throat feeling thick and blocked. She sat down on some of the stacks, tugging the bracelet onto her right wrist. It clashed a little with the ring, but she didn't care.

“All right, let's get going then,” Yasu said cheerily, obviously trying to lighten the mood. He and his brother climbed up onto the bench seat, and Yasu shook the reins, clicking his tongue. “Let's go, Bea.” The cart gave a little jolt as it started, and it began to rumble away. Many of the children instantly broke away from their parents to chase them to the line of ward stones, shouting goodbyes. Kate waved to them, but found her eyes tracking past them. From the porch, Yala lifted her hand and placed it briefly over her heart. Gren stood beside her watching the cart go with a face made from stone. A moment later he mimicked the gesture: the Giltarian greeting for friends. And also a farewell, it seemed.

Kate barely remembered her own father.

But suddenly she missed him very much.

~*~

Kate worried about taking the cart through the woods, but it turned out there was a faint dirt path just wide enough for them to ride on. “This is the way we always go when we need to reach the main road,” Sethi explained. He pointed to the side of the path, but Kate had already felt the familiar buzz under her skin. “See, it's been warded.” Every few yards there was a stone sunk in the ground, just like the ones surrounding the farmstead.

“Who did all of these wards anyway?” Kate asked curiously, leaning over the edge a little to look at them. Each one was roughly the size of an overturned bucket. “Can someone in your family use magic?”

“Rav did it, actually. Even as a lad he had talent. With him gone, we've had to hire a traveling mage to renew them every couple of years. It's not cheap, but the peace of mind is worth it.”

“It might get a bit cheaper and easier now, though, with Heroes back in Giltar,” Yasu said. “There's sure to be some fledgling Hero Mage willing to take the trip. They love romping through the woods killing creatures for free anyway. They may as well stop by our place.”

Sethi nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, we should post something in town about it. Offer a bit of coin or something.”

Like a side quest, Kate thought with a small grin.

Making herself more comfortable against the sacks, feeling secure within the wards' protection, she watched the sunlight trickle through the leaves overhead and enjoyed the beautiful day. It wasn't all bad, she decided, being trapped in some weird magical fantasy world. She mourned the loss of her phone, she was craving sugar and chocolate something awful, and she even missed her roommates. But if she lived through this she could go home again, and these were memories that would last her a lifetime. She was sure to see fantastical things, and she could do actual magic. No one from her hometown would ever have an adventure like this. It sure beat homework and her crappy part-time retail job. No fake smiles or “how may I help you today”s for awhile, that was for damn sure. If someone got in her face and yelled abuse at her for some stupid reason in Giltar, she was pretty sure no one would charge her with assault if she slapped them good. Preferably with her gauntlet. She let her eyes drift shut, enjoying the pleasant weather.

So of course Io darted up to hover in front of her face and declare it was time for another training seminar. This is no time to be daydreaming, Kate. This one thinks it would behoove you to learn more about the culture of this world. You will be meeting many more Giltarians soon, after all, and you wouldn't want to embarrass yourself.

She sighed, gently waving it away. “Can you not float right in front of my eyeballs? You're like a little penlight, it's very distracting.” As much as she wanted to forego the lesson, however, she could see the point it was trying to make. “Fine. But I don't want some long history lesson. Just tell me what I need to know to more or less blend in when I get to town.”

Io took up its customary spot near her shoulder. This one is afraid you will have a hard time blending in, the way you look. But this one can at least keep you from offending the locals with your ignorance.

“Yeah. Great. I guess I should ask right now if there's any common human gesture or habit that's going to get me instantly ostracized.” She paused. “Just how much do you know about human culture, anyway?”

This one was extensively briefed. Also, this one was Guardian to a human Hero during the last culling.

“Culling? You mean the periodic cutting down of the monster population that you said we're brought here for?” She shifted her weight more comfortably. “Okay, so I'm not your first human. What was your last Hero's class?”

He was a Fighter class, but that is not important.

“Is this your first time with a Support?”

No, but--

“How'd you mess up before? I mean, why are you so afraid of getting banished if you mess up with me?”

Io began bobbing about, flustered. None of this is pertinent! Please focus.

“I kinda think it is pertinent,” Kate insisted. “No offense, Io, you've grown on me, but we didn't have the best start, and I'm starting to worry that you got your last Hero killed.”

She regretted the words the instant they were out of her mouth. Io went silent and sank down almost out of sight amid the sacks. She sat up, pushing one aside to see it better. “I'm sorry, Io, that was mean. You've really helped me. I don't know where I'd be without you. Dead, probably. I guess this is all just stressful and I'm worried about living through it. We can talk about something else.”

Io didn't answer for several moments, and she was afraid she'd mortally offended it, maybe for good. But finally the little Guardian rose back up near her shoulder, though its light was a little dimmed and its voice ever so slightly subdued. You have already learned about greetings here. If you try to grab a Giltarian's hand for what you think is a friendly handshake, they will think you a little deranged at best or assume you're trying to attack them at worst. This one would also advise against any more hugs. It was fine with the Piltens because they have accepted you as something akin to family and this place is secluded, but Giltarians have always viewed the hugs between human friends as uncomfortable to witness. Too personal.

“Like PDA. I mean, public displays of affection. People get uncomfortable back home sometimes if they see a couple kissing in public.”

Yes, like that. You have had an unusual first encounter with your first batch of Giltarians. Close family units are free with affection, but in public Giltarians are much more reserved. Had you met the Piltens in a town and not their own remote homestead, you would not see them be as rambunctious and affectionate outside the privacy of their house.

“All right, no hugging party members unless I want to get stared at, and no hugging helpful Giltarians unless I want to shock them and everyone in sight. Got it. Any other human habits I should curb?”

Can you whistle?

“No. But now I'm curious, because what an odd question. Why do you ask?”

Giltarians as a whole cannot whistle, and they find the noise extremely irritating and childish.

“Okayyy, adding that to my neat little practically useless factoid list.” She sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees, watching a colorful bird flutter from branch to branch overhead. “Let's try the other way around. Give me an example of a Giltarian custom that might be odd to me.”

Io made slow circles around her as it thought. Well... You may have noticed all the women in the family wore skirts and dresses.

“Yeah, I did. Do women not wear pants here? Are you serious?”

Only if it's deemed more practical for their occupation. A woman who rides on a tarras all day would wear pants, but then change into a skirt at home. But do not worry, they will become accustomed to seeing human women in pants. You may get a few looks, but it is doubtful anyone would object. They see it as necessary for your 'job'. You can't be expected to run from monsters in the long skirts Giltarian women favor.

“Okay, good. Because that's pretty much exactly what I was thinking. Skirts are nice sometimes, but I don't want to fight or run in one.” She thought a moment. “Though this explains why Gren seemed almost apologetic about giving me those pants. I just assumed it had something to do with them being so obviously ill-fit.” The pang she felt at mentioning Gren caught her off guard. “Io, I need you to promise me something.”

Yes?

“Make sure I find the time to come back here later. Even if I have to drag a party all the way out here. I told them all I'd visit again, and I don't want to get so caught up in this saving the world stuff that I forget.”

This one will be sure to remind you, Io promised solemnly.