Random Challenge #9
Feb. 19th, 2005 01:45 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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yrae
Title~ Non-Healers
Author~ Annarti
Disclaimer~ Mine, as always
Notes~ Doing these. This one set by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
xella: "Nimay and a speech councillor."
~ ~ ~
Nimay folded her arms and cast one last disparaging look at her friend.
“You never know,” Nolryn said with a shrug, “Stranger things have happened.”
The swordswoman shook her head and gave a defeated sigh, then forced herself to push the canvas door aside and walk into the small building. She glanced around the room, bare except for a dusty, Kazinian-made rug and a heavy-duty table carved from acacia. A doorway led to another room, but before Nimay could crane her neck around to explore this second room, a slender woman appeared from it.
Nimay raised an eyebrow at the woman’s cream, healer’s-style robe and plain gold band around her upper arm. It never failed to amuse her how these mind-tricky people tried to ass themselves off as healers, when all they did was talk.
The woman failed to notice Nimay’s disapproving look, and smiled at her instead. “Nimay, yes?”
The swordswoman considered shaking her head and leaving, but the imitation-healer was already ushering her into the side room before she had a chance to respond. This room was much like the first, but there were two cushiony chairs on either side of the table.
“I’m Orila,” the woman told her, seating her on one of the chairs and taking the other herself. “Now, Nimay, what brings you here?”
Nimay blinked slowly, levelling unimpressed eyes on the speech councillor. It was the kind of impassive look that could make King Mithé or General Rau turn away uncomfortably. Not surprisingly, it worked wonders on the non-healer.
‘Ask a stupid question…’ Nimay shrugged to herself.
Orila cleared her throat and busied herself with the contents of her desk drawer. “Have you had any traumatic experiences that may have triggered your lack of speech?”
Nimay shrugged indifferently. She had no idea. Something may have happened before she lost her memory and appeared at the palace, but how could something she didn’t even remember have an effect on her a decade or more later?
The non-healer tapped one finger on the tabletop, he face lost in thought. Evidently she’d never had a… patient, if that was the right word, who had no reason for not talking.
“Have you ever felt the need to speak out and say something?”
Nimay shrugged again, nodding vaguely. Occasionally, but the problem could usually be solved without words. If all else failed, everyone she knew was able to read, anyway.
“Does anyone ever get frustrated with you for not talking?”
The swordswoman grinned. Those who didn’t know her were always astonished to find that a girl who never said a word could still give a very effective silent treatment. Those who had known her for a while always got frustrated.
“Do you ever find that others struggle to understand you?”
Nimay frowned. She had to think about that one. Finally she shook her head. Some people took a little longer than others to get used to her lack of speech, but they all came around sooner or later.
Orila turned an intense, questioning stare on the swordswoman. Nimay raised her eyebrows in question. “Do you want to be able to talk?” The question seemed more like an accusation in that tone.
Nimay turned an equally piercing glare on the non-healer and gave a stiff shake of her head. Words were a waste of… something. Why bother with words when a raised eyebrow or shake of the head told just as much?
The non-healer grinned abruptly. “Well, in that case, there’s really no point in you being here.”
Nimay rolled her eyes and slouched back in her chair. That’s what she had been telling Nol since they’d left the palace.
Orila held out one hand, smiling pleasantly. “Three gold pieces,” she said sweetly, “I’m charging you half price since nothing has come of the session, and doubtless nothing ever will.”
The swordswoman turned a sour look on the speech councillor before forking out the gold pieces. Not only was it a waste of time, but money as well. Genuine healers didn’t charge their patients at all, and they almost always had success.
“That was quick,” Nol remarked when she stepped back out into the sunlight.
Nimay displayed three fingers to the prince, shaking them expectantly.
Nolryn sighed and fished out the respective coin, then mounted his horse.
The swordswoman grinned and pocketed the three gold pieces. Honestly, what was the point of words?
Author~ Annarti
Disclaimer~ Mine, as always
Notes~ Doing these. This one set by
xella: "Nimay and a speech councillor."Nimay folded her arms and cast one last disparaging look at her friend.
“You never know,” Nolryn said with a shrug, “Stranger things have happened.”
The swordswoman shook her head and gave a defeated sigh, then forced herself to push the canvas door aside and walk into the small building. She glanced around the room, bare except for a dusty, Kazinian-made rug and a heavy-duty table carved from acacia. A doorway led to another room, but before Nimay could crane her neck around to explore this second room, a slender woman appeared from it.
Nimay raised an eyebrow at the woman’s cream, healer’s-style robe and plain gold band around her upper arm. It never failed to amuse her how these mind-tricky people tried to ass themselves off as healers, when all they did was talk.
The woman failed to notice Nimay’s disapproving look, and smiled at her instead. “Nimay, yes?”
The swordswoman considered shaking her head and leaving, but the imitation-healer was already ushering her into the side room before she had a chance to respond. This room was much like the first, but there were two cushiony chairs on either side of the table.
“I’m Orila,” the woman told her, seating her on one of the chairs and taking the other herself. “Now, Nimay, what brings you here?”
Nimay blinked slowly, levelling unimpressed eyes on the speech councillor. It was the kind of impassive look that could make King Mithé or General Rau turn away uncomfortably. Not surprisingly, it worked wonders on the non-healer.
‘Ask a stupid question…’ Nimay shrugged to herself.
Orila cleared her throat and busied herself with the contents of her desk drawer. “Have you had any traumatic experiences that may have triggered your lack of speech?”
Nimay shrugged indifferently. She had no idea. Something may have happened before she lost her memory and appeared at the palace, but how could something she didn’t even remember have an effect on her a decade or more later?
The non-healer tapped one finger on the tabletop, he face lost in thought. Evidently she’d never had a… patient, if that was the right word, who had no reason for not talking.
“Have you ever felt the need to speak out and say something?”
Nimay shrugged again, nodding vaguely. Occasionally, but the problem could usually be solved without words. If all else failed, everyone she knew was able to read, anyway.
“Does anyone ever get frustrated with you for not talking?”
The swordswoman grinned. Those who didn’t know her were always astonished to find that a girl who never said a word could still give a very effective silent treatment. Those who had known her for a while always got frustrated.
“Do you ever find that others struggle to understand you?”
Nimay frowned. She had to think about that one. Finally she shook her head. Some people took a little longer than others to get used to her lack of speech, but they all came around sooner or later.
Orila turned an intense, questioning stare on the swordswoman. Nimay raised her eyebrows in question. “Do you want to be able to talk?” The question seemed more like an accusation in that tone.
Nimay turned an equally piercing glare on the non-healer and gave a stiff shake of her head. Words were a waste of… something. Why bother with words when a raised eyebrow or shake of the head told just as much?
The non-healer grinned abruptly. “Well, in that case, there’s really no point in you being here.”
Nimay rolled her eyes and slouched back in her chair. That’s what she had been telling Nol since they’d left the palace.
Orila held out one hand, smiling pleasantly. “Three gold pieces,” she said sweetly, “I’m charging you half price since nothing has come of the session, and doubtless nothing ever will.”
The swordswoman turned a sour look on the speech councillor before forking out the gold pieces. Not only was it a waste of time, but money as well. Genuine healers didn’t charge their patients at all, and they almost always had success.
“That was quick,” Nol remarked when she stepped back out into the sunlight.
Nimay displayed three fingers to the prince, shaking them expectantly.
Nolryn sighed and fished out the respective coin, then mounted his horse.
The swordswoman grinned and pocketed the three gold pieces. Honestly, what was the point of words?
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Date: 2005-02-18 08:09 am (UTC)Really, really enjoyed this one X)
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Date: 2005-02-19 07:11 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-19 11:02 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2005-02-20 01:02 am (UTC)