[Fic] "Seduction" -- original, Ekanu
I love these things. I think I may end up writing most of Ekanu's life via these words and pictures. I particularly love them because they spark new ideas off the old, basic framework of her life. For example, the visual image in this one was something that would never have occured to me on my own. And the diplomacy idea? That comes from another 15minuteficlets word a few months back.
So here we are. Ekanu finishes her education and begins to pay off her debt by working for the University.
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Seduction
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Until she sailed to Vinaeo, Ekanu didn't understand the jaguar. The cat's-head was part of the University seal, gazing impassively from a sunburst, but nobody explained why beyond Master Correntesse's muddled lecture on symbols of wisdom from various cultures. Apparently in Vinaeo they thought jaguars were wise.
This seemed so culturally-linked as to be meaningless in any other country, and Ekanu wondered occasionally why the University didn't choose a scroll, or perhaps a written motto. True, in some chapterhouses the jaguar was ringed by words as well as the sunburst, but the cat itself was the constant, not the words about knowledge or truth.
When Master Sintarris declared her education complete -- she had mastered instruments, musical theory from five different cultures, and at least the rudiments of nine languages -- the council packed her off to the Motherhouse in Vinaeo to begin paying off her knowledge in service.
"Why Vinaeo?" she asked. "Why can't I stay here?"
Master Sintarris snorted. "Think, snow-girl! You know languages and songs -- if you travel, you learn new ones. You've already proved that you can adapt to foreign cultures just by fitting in here. We're always short of good diplomats. They'll know where to send you in Vinaeo."
Ekanu was speechless. A diplomat? She'd never dreamed of such an important position. But she held her tongue, took a carriage to Sinnesta port with Denifar to help carry her bags, and boarded the ship on which the council had booked her passage.
The voyage itself was fascinating and she took full advantage of the respect owed her as a University representative. By the time they reached Vinaeo, she could work a sextant, plot courses on nautical maps, and manage at least some of the basic duties of sailing. Her only regret was that the crew refused to let her aloft in the rigging.
"Can't take the risk, mistress," the captain said. "We've promised the University, and the rigging isn't safe."
Ekanu was tempted to tell them about her vision quest, surviving days alone in the midwinter darkness on the Ice, and about the time she and Denifar had climbed the clock-tower just to prove they could, but she held her tongue. She was representing the University. There were rules.
In Vinaeo, she paid to leave her bags in a dockmaster's office and followed his directions to the Motherhouse. This was the heart of the University, the seat of knowledge in all the world. This was the beginning of wisdom. The ancient stone gateway guarding the complex breathed the weight and serenity of secret teachings, capped by the knowing eyes of the eroding animal carved on the keystone.
They knew she was coming, and when she snagged a student for directions to Master Irova's office, the girl nodded and said the Master was expecting the diplomat from Estara. Ekanu blinked, but recovered before she could say anything to reveal her surprise.
The Master himself was busy, either teaching a class or a pledged student, but his office was unlocked and Ekanu let herself into the small stone room. It was surprisingly cool for Vinaeo, but she supposed the stone helped keep out the tropical heat, and the wide windows and open corridors allowed breezes free access.
Master Irova decorated his office sparsely, the only furnishings being a wide desk, a guest chair, a bookcase, and stands under the windows for a row of brilliant orchids. On the far wall he hung his credentials as a Master of the University, specializing in the care and breeding of plants. On the corridor wall he hung a tapestry of gaudy parrots. And on the near wall, facing his desk, he hung a painting of the jaguar.
Ekanu leaned against the desk, studying the painting. It was the first time she'd seen anything approaching a life-size representation of the University symbol, seen anything to distinguish it from an ordinary housecat, albeit a housecat with peculiar spots. The jaguar gazed out from its canvass cage, eyes liquid and whiskers silvered in the moonlight that streamed across it from the left. There was a heavy power in its body, but what drew Ekanu, what pulled her across the room to raise a tentative hand, was the calm certainty in its eyes.
"I am ancient," the jaguar said with its eyes. "I am eternal, and you are not. Join me. Perhaps I will let you live. Perhaps not. Either way, you may learn secrets I will never tell another soul."
"It is a little hypnotic, yes?" a voice broke into her thoughts.
Ekanu spun around to face the small man in the doorway. "Master Irova?"
"Of a certainty. And you are Ekanu Thousandbirds of the Estara Chapterhouse, who has been admiring the jaguar." His deep-set eyes twinkled. "It is worthy of admiration, yes?"
"Yes," Ekanu said, meaning it for the first time.
"Ah, it did catch you with its eyes," Master Irova said, walking to his desk. "Well, you must recall that any predator has such eyes, a knowledge of what it wants and its power to take its desire. But that is neither here nor there. Sit and let us speak of your new duties as a sworn representative."
Ekanu sat and listened, learning of her temporary position in the Motherhouse, but in the back of her mind the jaguar still paced, its eyes, calm and heavy with secrets, waiting to catch her again.
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Inspired by the 2/29/04 15minuteficlets picture
And there we are. Ekanu is definitely on the frontburner at the moment; the writing is flowing easily. Meanwhile, I am avoiding editing my two mostly-finished Harry Potter one-shots, doing a little background work on the Jossverse fic that just had to pop into my head and demand equal time, and paying no attention whatsoever to my Harry Potter WIP. It's not abandoned! It's just way on the backburner right now.
So here we are. Ekanu finishes her education and begins to pay off her debt by working for the University.
---------------------------------------------
Seduction
---------------------------------------------
Until she sailed to Vinaeo, Ekanu didn't understand the jaguar. The cat's-head was part of the University seal, gazing impassively from a sunburst, but nobody explained why beyond Master Correntesse's muddled lecture on symbols of wisdom from various cultures. Apparently in Vinaeo they thought jaguars were wise.
This seemed so culturally-linked as to be meaningless in any other country, and Ekanu wondered occasionally why the University didn't choose a scroll, or perhaps a written motto. True, in some chapterhouses the jaguar was ringed by words as well as the sunburst, but the cat itself was the constant, not the words about knowledge or truth.
When Master Sintarris declared her education complete -- she had mastered instruments, musical theory from five different cultures, and at least the rudiments of nine languages -- the council packed her off to the Motherhouse in Vinaeo to begin paying off her knowledge in service.
"Why Vinaeo?" she asked. "Why can't I stay here?"
Master Sintarris snorted. "Think, snow-girl! You know languages and songs -- if you travel, you learn new ones. You've already proved that you can adapt to foreign cultures just by fitting in here. We're always short of good diplomats. They'll know where to send you in Vinaeo."
Ekanu was speechless. A diplomat? She'd never dreamed of such an important position. But she held her tongue, took a carriage to Sinnesta port with Denifar to help carry her bags, and boarded the ship on which the council had booked her passage.
The voyage itself was fascinating and she took full advantage of the respect owed her as a University representative. By the time they reached Vinaeo, she could work a sextant, plot courses on nautical maps, and manage at least some of the basic duties of sailing. Her only regret was that the crew refused to let her aloft in the rigging.
"Can't take the risk, mistress," the captain said. "We've promised the University, and the rigging isn't safe."
Ekanu was tempted to tell them about her vision quest, surviving days alone in the midwinter darkness on the Ice, and about the time she and Denifar had climbed the clock-tower just to prove they could, but she held her tongue. She was representing the University. There were rules.
In Vinaeo, she paid to leave her bags in a dockmaster's office and followed his directions to the Motherhouse. This was the heart of the University, the seat of knowledge in all the world. This was the beginning of wisdom. The ancient stone gateway guarding the complex breathed the weight and serenity of secret teachings, capped by the knowing eyes of the eroding animal carved on the keystone.
They knew she was coming, and when she snagged a student for directions to Master Irova's office, the girl nodded and said the Master was expecting the diplomat from Estara. Ekanu blinked, but recovered before she could say anything to reveal her surprise.
The Master himself was busy, either teaching a class or a pledged student, but his office was unlocked and Ekanu let herself into the small stone room. It was surprisingly cool for Vinaeo, but she supposed the stone helped keep out the tropical heat, and the wide windows and open corridors allowed breezes free access.
Master Irova decorated his office sparsely, the only furnishings being a wide desk, a guest chair, a bookcase, and stands under the windows for a row of brilliant orchids. On the far wall he hung his credentials as a Master of the University, specializing in the care and breeding of plants. On the corridor wall he hung a tapestry of gaudy parrots. And on the near wall, facing his desk, he hung a painting of the jaguar.
Ekanu leaned against the desk, studying the painting. It was the first time she'd seen anything approaching a life-size representation of the University symbol, seen anything to distinguish it from an ordinary housecat, albeit a housecat with peculiar spots. The jaguar gazed out from its canvass cage, eyes liquid and whiskers silvered in the moonlight that streamed across it from the left. There was a heavy power in its body, but what drew Ekanu, what pulled her across the room to raise a tentative hand, was the calm certainty in its eyes.
"I am ancient," the jaguar said with its eyes. "I am eternal, and you are not. Join me. Perhaps I will let you live. Perhaps not. Either way, you may learn secrets I will never tell another soul."
"It is a little hypnotic, yes?" a voice broke into her thoughts.
Ekanu spun around to face the small man in the doorway. "Master Irova?"
"Of a certainty. And you are Ekanu Thousandbirds of the Estara Chapterhouse, who has been admiring the jaguar." His deep-set eyes twinkled. "It is worthy of admiration, yes?"
"Yes," Ekanu said, meaning it for the first time.
"Ah, it did catch you with its eyes," Master Irova said, walking to his desk. "Well, you must recall that any predator has such eyes, a knowledge of what it wants and its power to take its desire. But that is neither here nor there. Sit and let us speak of your new duties as a sworn representative."
Ekanu sat and listened, learning of her temporary position in the Motherhouse, but in the back of her mind the jaguar still paced, its eyes, calm and heavy with secrets, waiting to catch her again.
---------------------------------------------
Inspired by the 2/29/04 15minuteficlets picture
And there we are. Ekanu is definitely on the frontburner at the moment; the writing is flowing easily. Meanwhile, I am avoiding editing my two mostly-finished Harry Potter one-shots, doing a little background work on the Jossverse fic that just had to pop into my head and demand equal time, and paying no attention whatsoever to my Harry Potter WIP. It's not abandoned! It's just way on the backburner right now.