The Travels of Anadrasata Nearabhigan: Day 3
So, here we are at Day 3 of Anadrasata's travels. Other passengers come and go, and she widens the circle of her acquaintance. Or not.
She has a few more days on the Pearlish Star before she needs to change ships, so we'll see how that goes.
This piece runs to 824 words.
Here is the Index Page.
Thuwnday, 13 Ochd, 1893 C.E.
Dear Journal,
I slept very well last night. Warm water for washing was delivered to my room at seven, and I was washed, dressed, and at breakfast by eight.
The breakfast buffet was magnificent from my point of view: three sorts of porridge; six cooked meats; two types of eggs; three types of fish - two hot and one cold; stewed and fresh fruit; toast; butter, cream, and milk; preserves and honey; and five different beverages. And none of it had to be organised by me! Except for choosing what to put on my plate, of course.
I noticed that the military gentlemen all ate a prodigious amount - recovering from injuries probably requires a lot of nutrition. I chose to sit at a table on my own so as not to inflict myself on new acquaintances, but I was joined by Mrs dh'Ghainthear's companion, the dh'Ghainthear boys, and the boys' tutor. It was an interesting conversation - the boys are aged from nine to sixteen and are, it seems, being introduced into their appropriate levels of eating ion polite company. As it was an informal meal, I was able to converse with the companion, Miss Rhiwaigan, and discovered upon inquiry that she is cousin to one of my sister's professors at the university. I was able to tell Miss Rhwaigan that Sura had spoken highly and respectfully of her kinsman.
The youngest of the dh'Ghainthear boys, Daurus, was seated on my right and was assiduous at passing me the butter and condiments on my request. He also leapt to his feet and helped me with my chair when I rose to leave the table - I made sure to thank him for his assistance.
I gathered from the boys' conversation that their father is a member of the Inspectorate who is being transferred to Satdrel, so they will be leaving the ship today at Haigrial.
After breakfast I took a walk around the promenade deck, exchanged greetings with by fellow travellers, then returned to my cabin to apply myself to my Coatl primer.
I spent an interesting hour with the book before I decided to take a break. Apparently we imperials have lazy ears and tongues because the language is really called Coac-hatl and when we try to write it down, we usually miss some of the internal sounds of words. Dropping their words into Imperial, we're just as bad - the words that I thought I already know, I don't. The standard word order is different to Imperial and Brestlic, the two languages I already know, and that may be interesting to get used to. Finally, they have their own alphabet and script, and there isn't a direct correspondence with either of the two that I already know - in fact it deals with completely different sounds in some cases.
I may be able to work out street name signs by the time I arrive at Great-Aunt's.
We docked in Haigrial a little before noon, and I was interested to see that is is smaller than Glastriel and about the same size as my hometown, Umbrial. The dh'Ghainthears disembarked, as did passengers from second and third class, then after an hour, the incoming passengers boarded.
Lunch was a repeat of the previous day. The incoming passengers were a group of high-ranking religious scholars travelling to or from a symposium and a gentleman travelling alone, except for his valet, who was already known to the half colonel.
After lunch I took another turn around the promenade deck, started planning the design for a table runner Mother wants embroidered, and took afternoon tea in the balcony parlor with the Abheerghin ladies.
At dinner I was seated at the Second Officer's table. This time I was flanked by a religious scholar who applied himself only to his food - I am wondering if he is an Asnorite, which would explain his lack of conversation or even an introduction. [Me! A wanton temptation to godless behaviour! Imagine!] My other dining companion was Major Aghulgaid who, properly, spent half his meal in conversation with the gentleman on his far side.
The religious gentlemen did not join us in the balcony parlor for the tea tray, and indeed our tea drinking was cut short by the stewards clearing things away and asking us to return to our cabins because we were heading towards a fast-moving storm and the captain wasn't certain that he'd be able to rise high enough to miss it.
I went back to my cabin and prepared for bed straight away. I was already in mt night rail and wrap when the chambermaid came to make sure that my room was squared away for rough weather. She saw to everything that needed doing, told me that I could lock the door but not impeded it, and left. I followed her advice, and now I am going to bed.
Anadrasata Nearabhigan