The Travels of Anadrasata Nearabhigan: Day 47
Here we are on Day 47 of Anadrasata's travels and matters slowly progress.
This piece runs to 2,555 words and I hope that you enjoy it.
Index page.
Skaithosday, 28 Naisen, 1893 C.E.
Eheid, 15 Sajibu, 2157 T.M.L.
8 Tlanoluaoy, 2 Coatl, 6.11.2.1.8.3.3
Dear Journal,
As soon as I woke I remembered that tomorrow is another rest day, and made sure to clarify with Nais that I do not expect to have a bath then. She assured me that she would make sure that I was not down for one - and something about her expression made me ask if I ever was. She told me that, generally speaking, downstairs I was regarded as a thoughtful lady, if distinctly foreign and that the staff both accepted that I would occasionally need guidance and were pleased that I seemed willing to accept it. I told her that I was grateful for everyone's effort to stop me making a fool of myself, and we left the conversation there.
As an aside that occurs to me now as I write this, I wonder if the consulate is close enough to here that the servants' gossip network stretches between the two houses? The two buildings seem close enough that, if we were at home, I would expect to hear about a death or a birth, or a deadly disease, from our servants before any official announcement was made. Not close enough to hear what the servants think of house guests which might be a pity - Lord Elnaith's manservant seems content in his employment but it would be useful if not eye opening to know what the consulate's servants think of him. Of course, he may feel the same way.
When I went down for breakfast, Mitzli was waiting for me. He got straight to the point and asked me what I knew about Lord Elnaith's military service. I did my best to recall what Lord Elnaith and Half Colonel dh'Khaitheer had told me and made it clear that they were my only sources. I know that Half Colonel dh'Khaitheer is currently in the 3rd Regiment Imperial Foot Guards but he may have been posted there after being promoted - and the internal workings of the Imperial Army are opaque to me. Mitzli said that was only to be expected if I had no relatives i9n the Army, and I, I don't know, why pointed out that Cousin Ghrus is the senior of my closest male relatives after my sole brother, and that Lord Elnait could explain to him why that is important under Imperial law. He raised his eyebrows at me and asked if we truly had no other male relatives on my father's side, and I assured him that we had no relatives left on that side of the family at all. He apologised for delaying my breakfast and left for his club then.
Matlal served me breakfast while Cousin Ghrus and Axolin discussed something in the morning paper. They did pause their discussion for us to exchange greetings but then they went back to their discussion which involved someone called Itstlillamadas, althepetl money or funds or finance (the coin root word was in there), and another person called Chicceteskatl. I don't think they were talking about theft, but some sort of action being proposed and they will be expected to have an opinion, or so I understood. Mitzli had not returned before I went upstairs to get ready for my morning in the office parlor and I hope that wherever he was, they fed him.
After my absence yesterday, there were several passages of Ghaistonyc waiting to be translated. Mr Chicmacyeimetetlitecolotl told me that they now expect to have a local language expert starting with them early in the next tzolk, so possibly as soon as in six days' time. He commented that the gentleman has found himself unexpectedly available before the end of the academic year. Several more cryptic pieces of Ghaistonyc were found during the morning but I spent most of my time working my way through the simple portions of the newspaper and beginning on my religious pamphlet.
At lunch Cousin Poktlilui announced that we are inviting Lord Elnaith to dinner on the 10th - two days' time. She has already sent him a note of invitation and expects everyone who normally dines with the family to be present, properly dressed for visitors, and on their best behaviour. Mr Chicmacyeimetetlitecolotl mentioned the end of the academic year which is not the same as Sura's end of academic year. Sara finishes her end of year examinations ten days before the solstice but it seems that newly graduated language academics will be available for work here half a haatstli before the solstice and the universities that teach the relevant courses are all well on the other side of the Circle Mountains. He, Cousin Ghrus, Great-aunt, and Cousin Poktlilui the discussed whether these young men would be offered accommodation here until they until they can organise their own living arrangements or if they will be expected to have their own rooms from the beginning. I asked whether there were any female students in the relevant courses, and was told that although there are increasing numbers of female university students, they tend to study medicine, the commercial sciences(?), or agricultural science.
After lunch I changed into my red visiting dress with the dark green sash and paid calls with Great-aunt, Cousin Poktlilui, and Tehaneume on the older ladies' friends and acquaintances. We called on six households, two of them the houses of ladies who visited us yesterday, and one where we were received by the sister of the elderly gentleman who attends Great-aunt's conversation classes. Three of the households included ladies who I suspect might be good matches for Axolin or Mitzli. Umeoztotlteskatl Intlilmoctez, one of the young ladies in question, asked me what I thought of a current political issue, and when I confessed that I was unaware of it was happy to explain it to me in simple Coac-htl and Imperial. She did express some surprise that I was not aware of this already, but seemed understanding hen I explained that my written Coac-htl was as not yet good enough to allow me to read more than simple, short newspaper articles. She, and a newly arrived friend of hers asked if there was anything in the papers that I had read that I would like explained, so I asked about one of the locations frequently mentioned in the short, tart column that I can translate. It seems that I embarrassed them because that's a scandal column, not a gossip column, and the locality in question is known for its establishments of ill repute....
Crimson Blossom of the Ninth exchanged remarks at the second last home we visited. I admires the tasteful disposition of her wrap, and she asked me why I had taken to local clothing and hairstyles. I replied that I was following Great-aunt and Cousin Poktlilui's advice in expanding my wardrobe, noting that the process allowed me to enjoy fabrics and colours that weren't available to me at home. I also observed that my maid had introduced me to several local hairstyles that were more flattering to me than the style I was used to fashioning for myself. She agreed that a flattering style could be too important to dismiss over a matter of cultural connections (I think that she implied that I need all the help I can get, and I must agree that I am nothing much to look at by Confederation standards of beauty). I agreed with her and added that sometimes hairstyles in the Imperial fashionable circles were somewhat ridiculous - my mother had her hair arranged and then stitched in place for her wedding day. Crimson Blossom of the Ninth gave a short bark of laughter, and then asked how my father died. No-one has asked me that in years - so I explained that he had gone to an auction to buy a new stud bull for his estates, then had fallen ill on his return home as had the three manservants who'd gone with him and many others who'd attended. My father was one of a dozen people who'd died, although his valet, footman, and coachman had made full recoveries. I added that the disease had not spread to anyone else in the household, but my father had been three days after they'd returned home. Crimson Blossom of the Ninth told me that it had taken her family two Imperial weeks to find out what had happened to her father and brother after they had been grabbed off the street by Imperial special constables - they'd been executed almost immediately. I said that sounded as bad as watching my father die and being unable to help him not die, but different. She agreed and we just sat there sipping our drinks to the end of our respective visits.
Crimson Blossom of the Ninth doesn't like the Empire, and, I think, by extension me, but she has her reasons. I rather like her plain speaking but I don't think that she wants us to be friends.
The last visit of the day was with the household of one of Cousin Ghrus' professional associates, and it was very clear that Tehaneume and I were small fish from these ladies' point of view. I understand that Tehaneume's connections are excellent but these ladies were unimpressed, and I thought them almost dismissive of both of us. However, other visitors who were there when we were there were four priestesses or religious sisters in the service of the Lady of the Waters. The two more senior of the four stayed in the conversation of our hostesses while the other two talked to Tehaneume and I. It seemed to me that our hostesses wanted the religious ladies gone, and didn't care what Tehaneume and I did as long as we didn't push ourselves into their conversation. It didn't take much to get the two junior priestesses to explain that they were making fund raising calls, one for a seawall repair and one for the maintenance of a publicly accessible cistern. I am fairly certain Tehaneume was trying to get me to stop, but I encouraged them to explain to me why the funding of these things falls upon their temple. Those explanations took most of our visit and stopped me, at least, from being bored. They also explained a little more of how this city, and perhaps the greater Confederation, works. I only had the change in my reticule with me, but I was able to give both causes the equivalent of a day's wages for a labourer, so not a lot but not completely negligible. I was asked why when we were leaving and I cannot remember who by, why I had given them any money at all, and I replied that both causes were a public good that should be supported. One of our hostesses said, "Obviously, yes, but why would you give them money?" Her husband will make a payment after they receive a third request. I said quietly that the length of my visit is still uncertain and I might not be here long enough for three requests to be made, and that I am happy to make a small donation to benefit those who are being so kind to me on this visit. Cousin Poktlilui was guiding us out of the room at that point, but I suspect that I will not be taken to that house to pay calls again.
I was seated at dinner next to Mitzli and a new arrival, Cousin Chiccetlalli who is one of Cousin Ghraimh's sons (Cousin Ghraimh is the older of Cousin Ghrus' two sisters.) Cousin Chiccetlalli told me that is the familiar form of his name, to differentiate him from various paternal cousins, and that his full given name is Matlalihuitlchiccetlalli and their family name is Suchitl. I believe he was being cautious, I gathered that he is not fond of the Empire, and we spoke mainly of our hometowns and briefly of our parents and siblings. I found his Imperial to be good if strongly accented - I am not clear if it is a deliberate choice or a reflection of his regional accent in Coac-htl. I did notice that he seemed to speak more freely to Tehaneume on his opposite side in Coac-htl but he only spoke to me in Imperial, even when I initiated conversation in Coac-htl.
Flowers had arrived for me while we were at dinner, which seems very late to me, and they were from Lord Elnaith. After the flowers were admired and discussed, our afternoon visits were also discussed. I am unsurprised that there are some families that Cousin Poktlilui does not was to be related to. One family still has the reputation they gained from playing both sides in the War of Secession (we did not visit them today) [the Tentlitecatls], and the last household that we visited today [the Techalotzis] because they think themselves more elevated than they are. Great-aunt commented that they have always been like that, will never back down, and without being part of the various factions and movements working against Imperial rule, they managed to instigate over half the events in Tlemutsiko that led the city into open rebellion. Cousin Poktlilui added that they are difficult but no-one wishes to cut them.
I asked about Crimson Blossom of the Ninth and was told that over the last twenty years of Imperial occupation all the male members of her family died at Imperial hands by both accident and intent, with several side orders of inaction. She and her sister, the family heiress, and two cousins, were the only ones left of their generation, and her sister later went mad. Crimson Blossom of the Ninth is married to a very reclusive gentleman with whom she has several children, and is also a well known poetess in the local tradition. Cousin Poktlilui expressed surprise that she and I had managed apparently civil conversations over two days, I observed that I believe she is entitled to her views on the subject of the Empire, and I had agreed with her that the events surrounding her father and brother's deaths had been horrible for her.
The gentlemen rejoined us at that point, and Cousin Ghrus, hearing my remark about Crimson Blossom of the Ninth, made a remark about sympathy for wrongs done in the Imperial era should not necessarily be extended to current circumstances. I thought that was a little cryptic, as I know nothing of the lady's current circumstances. It is possible, of course, that the comment wasn't being made to me.
More of the domino-like game tonight. I am getting better at recognising the pieces. Apparently there is an overlaying rule where you can lay a piece with more than two ends over a two ended piece as long as the overlaid parts match. I expressed my doubts that this is a rule, but the other players at the table assured me that it is indeed a real rule for this game - after my attempt to use it to my own advantage, I remain unconvinced.
I believe I can hear thunder in the distance as I finish tonight's entry, and I will turn in now with the hope of a good night's sleep.
Anadrasata Nearabhigan