Savages of the Sacred Salvage
The old man's name is Haithim, and everyone says he's the stingiest and greediest person who ever lived. It's generally regarded as a great injustice that he wound up with a daughter as charming and beautiful as Akema. He's quite fat, also, an impressive feat to pull off in a society that hasn't even invented couches yet.
Chameek, however, or at least so he claims, has not showed up to argue about his marriage choice for his daughter, or anything else.
"As if I would even deign to hear the whining of such a useless whelp!" Haithim snorts. "Why, the only reason you two bumpkins were even allowed inside was because I'm waiting for my dinner, and bored. So be off with you now! Unless you know any new songs or dances or such things you can entertain me with in the meantime. I'm very open minded," he says, looking at you with what is probably supposed to be a smile and a wink...but of course, with the way the left side of his face droops with the drool gathering at the corner, it's hard to tell.
"Sir?" interrupts a timid man in a herder's tunic, peeping around the corner.
"Is my dinner ready yet? Bah, you're not the cook...what is it?"
"There are three men here who wish to see you."
"Hmph. Unless they're carrying my food, I'm not interested."
The man crinkles his brow, shifting from foot to foot and looking nervous. Or rather, almost terrified. "Ah, but sir, they traveled a very long way, and...they have news...regarding your daughter."
"What, Akema? Fine, fine. let them in. But if they're from young...young what's his name's tribe, they've already got her and I'm not giving any of the bride price back."
As you and Bainto seem to have been forgotten about and this is going nowhere anyway, you're about to slip away quietly when three travelers walk in with such a care-worn look of weariness and grim resignation on their faces that you both freeze in your tracks and have to stay and listen.
Chameek, however, or at least so he claims, has not showed up to argue about his marriage choice for his daughter, or anything else.
"As if I would even deign to hear the whining of such a useless whelp!" Haithim snorts. "Why, the only reason you two bumpkins were even allowed inside was because I'm waiting for my dinner, and bored. So be off with you now! Unless you know any new songs or dances or such things you can entertain me with in the meantime. I'm very open minded," he says, looking at you with what is probably supposed to be a smile and a wink...but of course, with the way the left side of his face droops with the drool gathering at the corner, it's hard to tell.
"Sir?" interrupts a timid man in a herder's tunic, peeping around the corner.
"Is my dinner ready yet? Bah, you're not the cook...what is it?"
"There are three men here who wish to see you."
"Hmph. Unless they're carrying my food, I'm not interested."
The man crinkles his brow, shifting from foot to foot and looking nervous. Or rather, almost terrified. "Ah, but sir, they traveled a very long way, and...they have news...regarding your daughter."
"What, Akema? Fine, fine. let them in. But if they're from young...young what's his name's tribe, they've already got her and I'm not giving any of the bride price back."
As you and Bainto seem to have been forgotten about and this is going nowhere anyway, you're about to slip away quietly when three travelers walk in with such a care-worn look of weariness and grim resignation on their faces that you both freeze in your tracks and have to stay and listen.