Saying that makes you sound like someone I knew a long time ago.
[And speaking of which, here's a memory!]
It's still not easy for Ali to blend in with people. The Eternal Freeze had ended five years ago, and nowadays this previously empty stretch of land boasted several log-and-stone buildings as well as plenty of space for caravans. This little settlement is quickly becoming a trade town, but even with years of practice Ali is still hesitant to try striking up conversation with travelers. He knows his accent isn't quite right, and he still has to remember the right word order for his sentences. He'll get it eventually, but right now his struggles make him reluctant to try.
There is one person he's not reluctant to talk to though. After a long day of going over building plans and drawing up payment contracts- a careful task, given the scarcity of the paper used to make scrolls- he finally goes looking for a dear friend of his.
Down in one of the taverns is a familiar face. Golden hair, bright blue eyes, and a kind look about his face. Ali smiles as he sees the man, though he does pause for a moment when he sees just how he looks. The babyface has finally disappeared...Ali's friend is finally looking like a man at nearly thirty years of age.
Ali slips into the seat next to the man before he's prompted to do so. "I see you're not wearing your crown, Ulrych."
The crown of thorns, a gift passed on from a unicorn that shows the rights of the bearer. Only the appointed person can wear it, otherwise it twists and contorts until the false wearer is choked to death. Wearing the crown of thorns without being harmed is a mark of divinity, of the right to rule. It is an honor that isn't passed on by birthright, but rather by a person's character. Only a unicorn can choose the ruler, and the unicorn who chose this man chose wisely.
Ulrych chuckles as he shakes his head. "Not yet, my friend. Once a proper castle is built and all of the residents are housed, then I will take one the role of king. Until then, I am a laborer the same as everyone else."
Ulrych isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He had grown up working at his father's mill, then training to become a swordsman. Now those hands worked to improve the lives of those who lived in this newly-founded kingdom. No better man could have been chosen to be the king, Ali thinks.
Before Ali can make a quip back, the barkeep walks down to their end of the long table and says to Ali, "What'll you have?"
In all honesty, Ali has never had alcohol before. Lost, he glances to Ulrych, silently asking for help. That look just makes Ulrych laugh a deep belly laugh before telling the barkeep, "Get him a glass of that red, the same as I have."
The barkeep nods and walks away, and Ali gives Ulrych a questioning look as he says, "Red?"
"Red wine," Ulrych clarifies, "Beer is always fine, and mead would be good if it weren't so expensive to import from the south. Wine, however, is manufactured in the valley just east of here, around the shorter mountain range. In fact, we might be able to make it in our little town, once it grows enough for a grape vineyard to be built."
"So...red wine is grapes," Ali asks.
"Grapes and a few other things, plus some time in a keg," Ulrych clarifies, "It's best when aged too, so the two-week transit from the vineyards to here only makes it better." After a pause, Ulrych looks a bit sheepish as he adds, "Wine has always been a favorite of mine. It would be nice to make it here."
"Well, perhaps it will be a favorite of mine too."
The barkeep returns, and Ali picks up the glass by the stem, holding it between his thumb and index finger. Ulrych quickly corrects him before he drops it, and Ali shifts his grip to the more traditional way to hold a wine glass.
Ulrych swirls his glass a little as he tells Ali, "Swirl it around a bit like this, it helps make it taste better."
Though he is a bit skeptical of the method, he tries it. He swirls the glass, then puts it to his lips and takes a sip.
"So? How is it?"
Ali pulls the glass away from his mouth and licks his lips, tasting the flavor for a second time. "Absolutely delicious."
It was. Seven centuries later, and a thriving country exists in that area. The place where this town once was is now part of the capitol city, and the castle still stands too.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2025-03-11 04:32 am (UTC)[And speaking of which, here's a memory!]
It's still not easy for Ali to blend in with people. The Eternal Freeze had ended five years ago, and nowadays this previously empty stretch of land boasted several log-and-stone buildings as well as plenty of space for caravans. This little settlement is quickly becoming a trade town, but even with years of practice Ali is still hesitant to try striking up conversation with travelers. He knows his accent isn't quite right, and he still has to remember the right word order for his sentences. He'll get it eventually, but right now his struggles make him reluctant to try.
There is one person he's not reluctant to talk to though. After a long day of going over building plans and drawing up payment contracts- a careful task, given the scarcity of the paper used to make scrolls- he finally goes looking for a dear friend of his.
Down in one of the taverns is a familiar face. Golden hair, bright blue eyes, and a kind look about his face. Ali smiles as he sees the man, though he does pause for a moment when he sees just how he looks. The babyface has finally disappeared...Ali's friend is finally looking like a man at nearly thirty years of age.
Ali slips into the seat next to the man before he's prompted to do so. "I see you're not wearing your crown, Ulrych."
The crown of thorns, a gift passed on from a unicorn that shows the rights of the bearer. Only the appointed person can wear it, otherwise it twists and contorts until the false wearer is choked to death. Wearing the crown of thorns without being harmed is a mark of divinity, of the right to rule. It is an honor that isn't passed on by birthright, but rather by a person's character. Only a unicorn can choose the ruler, and the unicorn who chose this man chose wisely.
Ulrych chuckles as he shakes his head. "Not yet, my friend. Once a proper castle is built and all of the residents are housed, then I will take one the role of king. Until then, I am a laborer the same as everyone else."
Ulrych isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He had grown up working at his father's mill, then training to become a swordsman. Now those hands worked to improve the lives of those who lived in this newly-founded kingdom. No better man could have been chosen to be the king, Ali thinks.
Before Ali can make a quip back, the barkeep walks down to their end of the long table and says to Ali, "What'll you have?"
In all honesty, Ali has never had alcohol before. Lost, he glances to Ulrych, silently asking for help. That look just makes Ulrych laugh a deep belly laugh before telling the barkeep, "Get him a glass of that red, the same as I have."
The barkeep nods and walks away, and Ali gives Ulrych a questioning look as he says, "Red?"
"Red wine," Ulrych clarifies, "Beer is always fine, and mead would be good if it weren't so expensive to import from the south. Wine, however, is manufactured in the valley just east of here, around the shorter mountain range. In fact, we might be able to make it in our little town, once it grows enough for a grape vineyard to be built."
"So...red wine is grapes," Ali asks.
"Grapes and a few other things, plus some time in a keg," Ulrych clarifies, "It's best when aged too, so the two-week transit from the vineyards to here only makes it better." After a pause, Ulrych looks a bit sheepish as he adds, "Wine has always been a favorite of mine. It would be nice to make it here."
"Well, perhaps it will be a favorite of mine too."
The barkeep returns, and Ali picks up the glass by the stem, holding it between his thumb and index finger. Ulrych quickly corrects him before he drops it, and Ali shifts his grip to the more traditional way to hold a wine glass.
Ulrych swirls his glass a little as he tells Ali, "Swirl it around a bit like this, it helps make it taste better."
Though he is a bit skeptical of the method, he tries it. He swirls the glass, then puts it to his lips and takes a sip.
"So? How is it?"
Ali pulls the glass away from his mouth and licks his lips, tasting the flavor for a second time. "Absolutely delicious."
no subject
Date: 2025-03-13 05:44 pm (UTC)... Huh. Was the town and its castle completed?
no subject
Date: 2025-03-14 05:16 am (UTC)