Feb 23 03:50:32 109 PA - Splitting a Staff in Two

From Chronicles

Feb 23 03:50:32 109 PA.

PAVEL'S FORGE AND MEADOW

The temperatures have once more taken a significant dive. Depending on which scale is being used, it's either below or just barely above zero. The skies are crisp and clear of clouds, which would largely explain the lack of heat. Clouds make a decent insulation. Pavel's meadow is still piled thigh-high with snow, his massive Friesian Zoyenka currently over at the small stream, lapping away at the water that continues to flow. Within the simple forge itself, the man stands, whacking his hammer away at something inside of what is an absolutely blazing fire that nearly encompasses his own body. By the sound of it, he's singing along with his pounding with a rhythmic Russian tune, possibly a working-style beat to keep himself on track.

The crisp cold is only a nuisance to those not prepared for it. Aya is warm enough in her cloak as she enters the snow-covered meadow. She approaches the forge and forger, metal stave in hand in use as a walking aid.

By the stream, Zoyenka offers a little whinny, being Pavel's equine watchdog. The big fellow looks up and spots one of his newest customers. With almost impossible speed, the flames above the coals wink down do a minimal level, with the piece of metal remaining inside, whatever it is, or will be. Dressed in his working gear, he flips off his goggles and wipes two giant hands on his apron before waving. "Allo, Aya! Stahf has prohblehm?"

"Hello, Pavel," Aya returns the greeting. Her head shakes to answer his question. "No. There is no problem, but a different need." She lifts the staff to display it. "Can you make it to separate in two? To be a staff or a pair of batons?"

Pavel reaches over to heft the staff himself, an eyebrow popping up. "Ees ahsk stahf ohr bahtohn? Ees ahlreahdy staff, da? Cahn mehk nev bahtohn, eef Aya vahnt?" The staff is spun quite well as he examines his own work. "Vahnt nev? Ohr noht oohndehrstahnd?" That's quite possible. His American isn't fantastic. He usually understands it well enough, but there are times when things get lost.

Aya shakes her head again. "Can you make that," she gestures to the staff, "into two batons? I did not trade you for it, and will not ask you to make others without payment."

"Da," Pavel acknowledges. He adds, "Vyery seempohl, vhaht Aya ahsk. Noht mooch mohney, evehn. Could mehke nov, Aya peh Pavel lehtehr vhehn cahn." He emphasizes the simplicity of the object being asked. "Boot veel noht ahrgyoo. Mehbe, could mehk to bosz? Hahv stahf, ahlsoh hahv bahtohns? Szees byettehr?"

"Both is better," Aya nods. "A staff," she lifts her hands as if holding one horizontally, then moves them apart, "that is also two batons. I will pay for this." Her last comment is a firm fact.

Pavel bobs his head. "Cahn mehk so ees stahf, szehn geev good tveest -" he motions at the center of the staff, hands countering against each other "- cohm to be tvo bahtohns. Need to prehs smahl boohtahn, boot vyery eesy. Poot bahk? Ees prehs agaehnst, szehn lohcks." He repeats the motions of separation and construction. "Da? Szees vould vohrk? Sehm hoort fohr bahtohns? Laheek eh svorhd?"

Aya echoes his nod yet again. "Yes, that would work. Very well. You are a skilled smith."

The large fellow smiles, "Aya vyery kaheend. Veel stahrt aftehr szees plov." He indicates what is apparently a farm implement in the making with his head. "Cohm bahk een deh? Tvo, eef noht hoory?" Pavel looks the staff up and down again, then sets its butt smartly against the ground.

"I will return in two days. There is no hurry." Aya acknowledges and agrees. "It is only a short walk here from my camp."

Pavel dips his head and takes the staff up over his shoulder. "Veel vohrk to mehk, as fahst pohseeble. Szehnk fohr cohm, Aya. Ceety styel good? Sehf?"

Aya shakes her head. "The city is no more safe than anywhere else. It is strange. The walls keep some dangers out, but breeds others."

"Mmm," Pavel responds. "Laheek ovtsaheed vahlls. Vahlls too... cohnfaheeneeng. Heer?" He uses the staff to wave around and indicate the the meadow, hill and surrounding wilderness. "Heer, cahn gyeht ovt, roohn. Seeng. Feel veehnd ohn fehce, no strehge smehls, da? Byettehr szahn ceety, Pavel szeenk."

Aya's nose wrinkles in agreement. "The city reeks. Too many are pressed too close. It is very confining. I do not like it."

With a solid nod, Pavel offers a bit of silent agreement, agreeing with what he already said, essentially. "Aya knov to leev een veeldehrness? Mehk hohm ahmohng trees, lahkee Pavel? Vould ahks fohr steh, boot ahlrehdy hav guest. Szough Aya steel hav roohm, eef noht need mahny."

"Yes. I have never stayed in a city." Aya motions to the south. "Kingsdale is the first and only city I have seen." By definition, then, she has always lived in the wilderness.