Brief bit of Sray then back 10 years as they enter Jon
Sray paused to light the central lamp on the big round table before setting her bags at the foot of her bed and then lighting the rest of them. The sky still had some color to it, but the forests' shadow made everything else dark outside. The construct was still woven into the wall and windows. It was probably easier to leave it there than to spend the hours it would take to dismantel it.
Once everyone had their things settled they moved to the hall for dinner.
Kayrin left Kallon and Sray camped with Teigan and rode into the town on her own, Janef tucked securely in the wrap around her chest and her rifle across her back. Storilohn was too close and easy to get to from Kamenlohn, she didn't speak Envan at all and crossing the mountains eastward would have been more dangerous than the Anlizers, plus she didn't speak any Byajintoran or Mihnei'an. She at least claimed a little Ela'yan and she just hoped it was enough to get them started.
It was early enough there were only a couple people moving about. The town consisted of roughly a dozen buildings cobbled together with a hodge podge of masonry, stone and wood. The wood must have been imported from elsewhere as they had left the forests behind a week ago and hadn't seen any significant stand of trees for days.
As she carefully read and re-read the signs on the buildings she was grateful Ela'yan shared most of the Kamenan alphabet. A wagon drawn by a team of horses passed her as she walked her horse slowly down the dusty road. The team jogged ahead some distance before halting at a storefront and the man driving hopped down and entered as a teenager stepped off the wagon and stood at the horses' heads.
As she caught up and started to pass the wagon two men, the teen, and a boy were loading a couple barrels and crates in the back. They paused, the older man in the bed of the wagon leaned over one of the barrels towards her. "Do you need some help finding where you're going madam?"
She halted level with him, but a few feet away, the other two had also paused in their work and the boy was staring curiously up at her. The chance of them speaking Kamenan this far south was incredibly slim. Help, where, going, it was enough to go off of. "I seeking here to dwell. Where I have place to land get?"
"Well then!" The man stood and leaned into the back of the front seat of the wagon as he folded his arms. "You definitely are not from around here are you?"
She gave a short, frustrated grunt. "No, not from around here."
The group looked at each other and Kayrin tensed slightly, causing her horse to shake it's head and shuffle a few steps until they facing them head on. She exhaled and softly touched the mare's neck, willing her own muscles to relax and soften and the mare responded in kind, blowing out a long snort.
"What's your name?" He asked.
She had half a mind to just ride past them. She could find it on her own or perhaps someone else less inclined to be distracted by how she spoke. "May name is Kayrin-" she stopped herself before she said "Sollit," after nearly fifteen years it was a solid habit, but that name wasn't safe here. "Kayrin Hillenbohn," she finished.
"Ah, a 'bohn' name, you must be from Kamenlohn." He concluded.
"Yes, from Kamenlohn." She confirmed.
"What are you doing in Jon?" He asked.
"Already speak, seeking here to dwell." She said. "Please, where have I place to land get?"
"Are you here alone?"
Kayrin frowned at him. While she didn't quite understand the last word, it was more than that, she was getting impatient with him not answering her question. She looked to the other man and subtly shifted her horse's position towards the back of the wagon. "Know you place where I land get?"
The other man laughed up at the one in the wagon. "She doesn't like your prying questions, Mr. Chalmin." He turned back to Kayrin. "Well, Miss Hillenbohn, I think young Tosef here can help you find the office." He put his hand on the boy's shoulder who made a slight face at his name, but quickly shed his look of distaste as the man addressed him. "Go, help her find your Papa Jon while I finish up with the Chalmins, please."
"Yes, sir." The boy nodded.
"Good man." He clapped the boy on the back who hopped off the walkway and stopped near Kayrin.
"Thank you, your name, please?" She asked.
"Tosef Savin, and that is my son by the same name. The man in the wagon is [name] Chalmin with his oldest son [name]. Welcome to Jon, Kaerin Hillenbohn." He gave a slight bow and then rolled the barrel to [teenage Chalmin].
"This way, Miss Hillenbohn." The younger Tosef moved off down the road.
She had been the mouthpiece of great men, governors, masters of trade and commerce, leaders of the highest rank and here she was struggling to find words to communicate with a thirteen year-old boy.
"What type of woman rides around with a gun and a baby?" The man asked.
"A woman who can struggle." Thry weren't the words she wanted, but hopefully it carried the meaning she intended.
This must be how Teigan felt when they first met and he had so few Kamenan words.