The Tale of Lilliark

JP with Omni and Lorem:

“About that… we are fortunate indeed. I should thank you, for initiating the negotiations. There was no telling how they would react. I didn’t intend to take over, but... besides pearls, we didn’t exactly discuss what was up for trade? I’m sorry about Amu…” she said regretfully, her eyebrows contorted in a pleading expression that begged forgiveness.

“Glad you did. Much better than me speak and wiser in getting good deal.”

He gave her hands a gentle squeeze. “Forgiven. Amu be trying to trade me for better life long time. She get wish now.” He chuckled.

“You ok miss Litany?”

She chuckled softly at the thought of Amu trying to be rid of Gonyaul.

“Yes… I will miss Litany dearly, but she will be fine with these people I think. So long as they let her root around or give her occasional treats. It’s difficult not to get attached to animals you spend a lot of time with, nnn? I have never heard the name Amu before, does it mean something in Vauxian?”

He nodded. He would miss Amu even though it was a loaner horse that Alexis procured for him and Islana assigned. It was his first horse and they had been through a lot in a short period of time together.

Gonyaul looked sheepish. “It means Horse.” He smirked apologetically. “No award for most creative name.”

She suppressed a hearty laugh with her hand covering her mouth and forcing it inward, swallowing the laugh and turning it into a pulsing squeak, not wanting to disturb the others in the convoy.

“I see now why she wanted to trade you.” she joked. “Reminds me of a bird I once knew named ‘bird’.”

Gonyaul’s heart did a backflip of joy hearing her squeaking laughter. It was one of the cutest sounds he had ever heard in his life.

He couldn’t help but chuckle along with the contagious noise.

“Is story wish telling?” Any story that brought him into the life of Voah’s past was a relished delicacy. It helped him to understand her better.

“Do I wish to tell the story? Of the bird named bird? Oh, it’s a wonderful story!”

She put a finger to the side of her mouth and pursed her smirking lips.

“Why yes, you will be the first person to ever hear the tale of a naughty little girl named Voah… and a beautiful captive bird.”

She regaled Gonyaul with a hushed oral performance, recounting her times with the bird she freed and named Lilliark. With exaggerated words and frequent gesticulation, the retelling would have rivaled that of Helka Sehn, a master storyteller in the Grand Revelry.

“I’ve never confessed that to another soul. Poor Kliis must have spent a fortune on her. But I just couldn’t tolerate her being stuck inside a small cage in a stuffy wagon full of strange wares.”

Gonyaul was washed in an enchanted glow hearing her story. He was captivated by her animation and lively passion, making it come to life. He would occasionally close his eyes and listen, her storytelling ability enabling him to picture it clearly. His heart sent a message to his ears that this woman had free reign to say as much as she ever wanted in his presence, it was beyond pleasurable.

“Is amazing story. I particularly like parts where share little Voah’s thoughts. I like way she do things.” He winked; he was getting better at it.

“Noble Voah setting captive free. Thank you for share. I so want save Lilliark for a special naming now. If you allow? Your name … nnn … after hear story I think name is most precious.”

He paused, “I wonder if that what really change you mind about arbiter? Not me. …nnn… little Voah seeing beauty in the world and want set free instead of suffer in cage?”