Learning the Language

Writers: AL, Heather
Date Posted: 8th November 2015
Series: The Unwanted Sister

Characters: Coran, Relea
Description: Relea seeks her husband's advice.
Location: Green Valley Hold
Date: month 2, day 23 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Qorri, Arippa

Relea

Although Coran was late, that didn't worry Relea. The healer often
found himself called away suddenly when it was his turn for after
hours rounds. As always, she awaited her husband patiently and passed
the time teasing her little friend. With great gusto, the diminutive
creature pounced after the yarn, determined to conquer the fearsome
foe. The delight such antics brought her was evident in the beaming
smile upon her face as she tugged and danced the string here and
there. The little feline did help ease some of the loneliness, though
even it's gentle, rhythmic purring couldn't soothe deeper aches that,
despite all the turns without, sometimes bubbled to the surface.

She did not hear him, but rather saw out of the corner of her eye
movement which caused her to turn as Coran finally passed through the
door way. The smile that had been aimed at her furry companion was
now reserved for her husband as she rose to greet him.

"There you are." She signed, drawing closer. "How was your day?"

There was a tiredness about Coran's eyes but his smile was genuine as
he crossed the room, setting his satchel down on the way, to press a
kiss to Relea's forehead, "Not bad, just long." He signed, "How was
yours?"

"It was good. Got three hats made." Simple ones were quick and easy
and she could turn those out a bunch at a time and even get up to
seven if she got into a rhythm and they were particularly easy. For
that day, however, she had several complex designs that required a lot
of concentration. Her kitten had tried to 'help' by batting at
dangling strands of ribbon and pouncing on a stray feather. "Do you
think the hold will get more healers soon?" Poor Coran was far too
overworked for her liking, even though she could understand the need
for him.

Coran shook his head, "I don't know. Reven said he gets letters from
female healercrafters all the time, but if he were to allow more than
one you know how people around here would react." He wasn't opposed to
female crafters, mostly because his own sister, Renette, had pursued
the harpercraft and he saw how talented she was at it, and how happy
it made her.

"I can understand why he would be hesitant." As for herself, Relea
had mixed emotions. Part of her enjoyed the idea that women could
prove they could do anything a man could do. Another part of her also
realised that women played an important part in family life as well.
"Are there no male healers available?" She signed as lowered down
onto the couch, then patted the cushion next to her.

"I think Reven's going to have to set up a stall at one of the gathers
to garner interest. A lot of people don't know how much Green Valley
has grown and progressed in the past couple of Turns." Coran sank down
onto the couch beside of his wife and pulled her against his side, his
arm wrapping snugly around her shoulders.

Relea settled into his embrace, quite glad of it. Even if both had a
bad day, simply to sit with someone she cared about helped ease the
burden. After a moment of calm, she signed again, this time taking a
different turn in the conversation. "Qorri made a suggestion a while
ago."

It took a moment for Coran to remember the hand signal that Relea had
created for the Headwoman's name, but once it dawned on him he raised
his eyebrows a little. "Oh? What's that?"

"She suggested I teach others my language." Although Relea wasn't
sure it would be well received, she had at least decided to broach the
subject with her husband and hear his thoughts on the matter.
"Starting with Arippa."

Coran's eyebrows raised, "What if other people don't want to learn?
Specifically Arippa."

"I don't think people will, honestly." Relea admitted with hesitant
motions. The fact that Coran had been so willing to learn had been an
anomaly in of itself. "She thinks I should try, though. I wanted to
know your opinion."

"Why don't you let me mention it to Arippa at Pippa's next
appointment?" He reached up and tenderly tucked a strand of his wife's
hair behind her ear. Coran hated the thought of Relea getting her
hopes up only to have them dashed if people didn't respond with
acceptance.

"That sounds like a good idea." Relea wasn't certain about it
herself, but at least she was willing to consider the idea. If Arippa
was unwilling, then she could say she had tried. She paused in her
signing and canted her head to the side a moment before asking, "Do
you think anyone at all would be willing?" As much as she loved and
her little feline friend, Relea still longed for friends. Friends she
could talk to in her own way. She'd had them once, but life had driven
them apart and now they rarely saw each other. Letters just weren't
the same.

The question tugged at Coran's heart. He knew his wife had to get
lonesome, especially when the only people she really had to "talk" to
was himself or Reven. "I don't know, sweetheart. There might be."

Last updated on the November 9th 2015

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