16. Pascan Fashion
The girls walked up the road that led to Pasco.
It is so unfair, Tien seethed, as she strode alongside Berry. Berry’s only treating me like a human being because it suits her purpose. Can’t the others see that? What possessed Fen to let us go into Pasco alone? She clenched her teeth. A whole morning shopping with Berry will be a nightmare. I wish Saka and Fen were coming with us.
She gazed up at the peak of the Stra. The mountain cradled the red walled city of Pasco, like a rough ruby set in stone, but Tien was oblivious to its beauty. I can just imagine what wares Berry will be interested in, she grumbled to herself. The pricey kind. Great! And the only thing I’ll get from it all is more freckles. Her scalp prickled uncomfortably under her scarf. At the base of the mountain, the girls joined the traffic to the city.
Tien’s irritation evaporated as she looked about her. The road teemed with people and livestock, from surrounding Pascan villages. Long-skirted women staggered under the great baskets of fruit, which hung heavily from wide straps around their foreheads. Horse herders with long staffs, strode along behind their flocks. They shouted with hoarse voices to keep the animals moving steadily in the right direction, occasionally bending down to slap the rump of any horse that strayed from the herd. The young horse herders led the foals along by a length of rope, with the youngest ones draped across their shoulders. Tien’s eyes widened as leopards, ostriches and peacocks stalked calmly alongside their owners, content to be on a leash. A little capped monkey, ridiculous in a purple vest, scampered past. Clutching a piece of paper and a purse to its chest, it screeched loudly at all it passed. Immediately, every one fled to the extreme left of the road.
Soon after, a four-poster litter borne by strong bare-chested servants swept past. The litter’s curtains were tied back, allowing the lounging Pascan inside to see and be seen. Show off. The gritty road rose and dipped, growing steadily steeper, as they drew near to the walled city. Narrow barriers protected them from a steep drop on their right. The craggy mountain range rose high above them to their left.
Tien looked across at her companion. Since leaving their camp, Berry’s whole demeanour had transformed. Her pout was gone, and as she gazed around, she seemed almost joyful. Her eyes sparkled and her smile was no longer forced or scornful. She made eye contact with Tien. “Listen, when we get there, just point out that landmark we talked about, and then you can go wherever you want,” she suggested generously.
“I’d rather stay together, if that’s alright.” Tien replied. She cringed as she heard how stiff the words sounded to her own ears.
Berry’s smile tightened. She shrugged. “Suit yourself. Just try to keep up.”
There was no time to get annoyed. Pasco’s entrance was just ahead, and the crowd surged towards its narrow gates. Everyone was pressed in close together. The sun gleamed high above, and Berry slipped off her cloak. She took out the pin which held her hair in place. It fell down her back in glossy waves. Berry pulled gold hoop earrings from her pack and fastened them in place, all the while working a path expertly through the swarming mass of humanity. She didn’t once look around for Tien. Tien thought wistfully of how she could have once shaken out her own waist length curls. Instead she massaged her bristle through the scarf, and pinched her cheeks to bring a bit of colour to her face. She touched her neck to make sure the scarf’s ties concealed her mark.
The markets were easy to find. The girls just let themselves be carried along with the crowd towards the sounds and smells. Market day was in full swing. The wide street, which Tien only vaguely remembered crawled with people. Stalls filled every available space on either side. The only pace that could be managed in the throng, was a shuffle. Tien didn’t mind, for it allowed plenty of time to gaze at the stalls. Every fruit, spice, and candy imaginable lay in great baskets. Fat cobs of maize roasted over hot embers. Street vendors sliced plantains and cassava roots thinly, and fried them into crunchy chips. Graziers and potential buyers haggled loudly over livestock. Hats, scarves, shawls and jewellery, much of it silver, dangled and glittered alluringly. Soft fabrics fluttered. Children held out delicate glass bottles of scented oils, perfumes and lotions to be sampled.
A waist-high flash of purple caught Tien’s eye. She turned to see the monkey they had seen earlier scamper over to the owner of one stall. It solemnly handed him the list and purse Tien had seen it holding so close on the Stra road. While the man packed the listed items into a basket, the monkey peered around over hunched shoulders. Its scrawny paws strayed towards its armpits as thought longing to enjoy a good scratch. Suddenly the vested monkey screeched loudly to itself, smacked its paws hard, and then clasped them firmly together behind its back. Obviously a no-no, Tien thought grinning. The stall owner counted out the change. He handed it back, with the purse and the basket of purchased goods. The monkey executed a graceless bow, before darting across to the next stall, the basket balanced precariously on its head. Amazing, Tien marvelled! I’d love to have my own monkey, it’s so sweet. I wonder who gets the blame, if the money in the purse runs out before the items on their lists are all purchased.
“Tien!” Berry was gleefully rifling through a rack of silk garments. “Isn’t this beautiful?” She held an emerald green gown to her chest. Tien nodded. It was beautiful, and so was this new Berry, so alive and happy. Berry’s so different here, she thought. Almost likeable. Maybe she can leave her sadness for a while, and be herself. “I’ll try it on.” Berry declared. She disappeared into a flapping tented cubicle, which served for a dressing room. She emerged, and twirled elegantly, holding out the skirt with one hand. Berry looked like a fabled dryad from Dins Hallow. Her dark Tiran features stood out among all the fair-haired Pascans already. Swathed in delicate green she was a showstopper. Several passers-by paused to stare. Stop gawking, Tien thought, rolling her eyes. All Berry needs is a bigger head. Yes, there she goes, primping and posing for her admiring audience. Eventually, Berry went back to change. She emerged, the dress hanging off her arm, looking deflated.
“I just saw the price tag,” she muttered, placing the dress back on the rack. “I don’t have nearly that much money. What a shame”.
The stall owner sidled up to them. “Something is wrong with lovely dress?,” he wheedled. “It looks so nice on missy, I think,”
“Is the dress a set price, or can you do a special bargain for me?” Berry asked. She spoke slowly as if he could not speak Tiran. “This is my first visit to your beautiful city. I will tell all my friends in Tira of your garments. They have loads of gold coins.” She smiled at him, her dimples flashed charmingly.
But the man was already shaking his head firmly. “No. Prices I do no changing. No bargaining. Absolute no. I am poor man, missies. Must be that I get what owed I be.“ He was silent a moment, scratching his bald forehead. A gleam came into his eye. “But is like that dress made is for you especial, missy.“
Tien shook her head. “Don’t fall for that line,” she whispered against Berry’s ear. “He is a pro. Plus, I think he is playing up his accent especial.” Berry ignored her, and leaned towards the man. Her eyes shone. “I am finding in my thinking head,” the stall owner continued. “There maybe is a how you can earn this dress.”
Berry smiled and nodded her head encouragingly. The man pointed to a piazza area at the end of the market’s street. A purple length of carpet stretched up to a fluttering canopy. “See. Very nearly, much what I am sewing is twirling in parade on pretty ladies. You,” He pointed at Berry, ” can twirl in dresses, this one and two more what I have sewn. Then you can have dress for what money comes from your bag. “
Brushing off Tien’s protests, a jubilant Berry shook on the deal and collected the outfits she would be modelling. She skipped to the carpeted area the man had pointed out. Young women drifted in and out of the makeshift changing rooms.
Tien glanced up at the sun. Oh no! She hurried after Berry. “Berry, it is almost midday. the ziggurat is probably ten minutes walk from here. And we’ll need to allow extra time to get lost. We can’t be late!”
Berry stopped and turned to face Tien, her hands defensively on her hips. “Oh for goodness sake. It’s just a couple of changes, and a stroll down the carpet. It won’t take a minute. Anyways, I’ve committed now. I have already paid the good man for my dress. Don’t panic,” she laughed, as she vanished into the cramped interior of the changing tent.
Tien rubbed her hands over her scarf. I knew something like this would happen. Stupid, stupid girl! A small crowd had gathered, drawn by the lively tunes from a quartet of pipers, and the promise of a show. Soon the first girls sashayed down the carpet. Berry floated out in a glittering silver robe, lissom and glowing. She stalked up and back, drawing enthusiastic applause. Tien gritted her teeth. Will Saka and Fen wait at the ziggurat till we come? Of course, she reassured herself. A niggling doubt squirmed uneasily in her gut.
There is no reason for them to wait for either of us, really. I’m certainly expendable. And Berry doesn’t even want to be here. Fen let Berry get her trip to the markets, with barely a whimper. They didn’t plan to lose us. Did they?
Panicked adrenalin surged through her body. She pushed her way through the onlookers, searching for Berry. Tien found her fiddling with the flowing sleeves of a pale blue tunic shirt. “Berry,” she said, almost shouting. “We need to go. Look,” she pointed at the sun. “We’re late.“
Berry shook her head distractedly. “In a minute. There’s no rush. That lot are usually late anyhow. What do you think?” She swept her hands down the outfit, and then looked back over her shoulder to see how the black pants sat on her hips. ”This shade of blue would probably suit you better. It‘s perfect for a more sallow complexion. Oops, I’m on. Gotta go!” She disappeared back into the tent.
Tien buried her head in her hands, groaning. What should I do? She did some quick calculations. There are twelve girls parading, and about twenty-four more outfits. So, even if each only takes one minutes per dress, Berry won’t be free to leave for close to half an hour. That’s too late! Tien made a split second decision. Turning her back on the music and colour, she ran in the direction of the ziggurat, following its peak with her eyes. Thank goodness it is so tall, she breathed. Within five minutes she was there.
The ziggurat dwarfed all the other buildings around it. It was shaped like a pyramid; mammoth squares of sandstone piled on top of each other like a giant child’s blocks. Steep stone ramps led up to each level. Lush gardens hung from every flat surface. Tien stopped in front of it and turned slowly around, her eyes scanning the entire parameter. Fen and Saka aren’t here! My one chance to find Mama and Papa is lost.
She brushed a frightened tear away with her sleeve. No, but that is ridiculous. I can’t panic yet. Maybe they’re late. Or waiting at a different side of the ziggurat. It is so huge. She slowly skirted the building, looking in the surrounding lawns and gardens. People sat on the stone benches and against trees, reading. Every head was the silvery blond of a Pascan. Saka and Fen were not there Tien stomach churned. We’ve been abandoned.
She ventured through the main doors of the Ziggurat. It’s dark in here after the brightness of midday. Cool and quiet. Shelves of books lined the library’s walls, reaching up to the low ceiling. Broad tables and sturdy chairs surrounded a great staircase which spiralled up from the centre of the room. A sign next to the staircase read:
Tien walked back into the sunshine. It is definitely well past noon. They must have already come and gone. If they came at all. What a mess. She began to trudge back in the direction of the bazaar. Hot tears stung his eyes. Sorry, precious family. For a while, it seemed too good to be true. And it was.
A hand grabbed her arm.
© 2006 by Shelly Taylor
It is so unfair, Tien seethed, as she strode alongside Berry. Berry’s only treating me like a human being because it suits her purpose. Can’t the others see that? What possessed Fen to let us go into Pasco alone? She clenched her teeth. A whole morning shopping with Berry will be a nightmare. I wish Saka and Fen were coming with us.
She gazed up at the peak of the Stra. The mountain cradled the red walled city of Pasco, like a rough ruby set in stone, but Tien was oblivious to its beauty. I can just imagine what wares Berry will be interested in, she grumbled to herself. The pricey kind. Great! And the only thing I’ll get from it all is more freckles. Her scalp prickled uncomfortably under her scarf. At the base of the mountain, the girls joined the traffic to the city.
Tien’s irritation evaporated as she looked about her. The road teemed with people and livestock, from surrounding Pascan villages. Long-skirted women staggered under the great baskets of fruit, which hung heavily from wide straps around their foreheads. Horse herders with long staffs, strode along behind their flocks. They shouted with hoarse voices to keep the animals moving steadily in the right direction, occasionally bending down to slap the rump of any horse that strayed from the herd. The young horse herders led the foals along by a length of rope, with the youngest ones draped across their shoulders. Tien’s eyes widened as leopards, ostriches and peacocks stalked calmly alongside their owners, content to be on a leash. A little capped monkey, ridiculous in a purple vest, scampered past. Clutching a piece of paper and a purse to its chest, it screeched loudly at all it passed. Immediately, every one fled to the extreme left of the road.
Soon after, a four-poster litter borne by strong bare-chested servants swept past. The litter’s curtains were tied back, allowing the lounging Pascan inside to see and be seen. Show off. The gritty road rose and dipped, growing steadily steeper, as they drew near to the walled city. Narrow barriers protected them from a steep drop on their right. The craggy mountain range rose high above them to their left.
Tien looked across at her companion. Since leaving their camp, Berry’s whole demeanour had transformed. Her pout was gone, and as she gazed around, she seemed almost joyful. Her eyes sparkled and her smile was no longer forced or scornful. She made eye contact with Tien. “Listen, when we get there, just point out that landmark we talked about, and then you can go wherever you want,” she suggested generously.
“I’d rather stay together, if that’s alright.” Tien replied. She cringed as she heard how stiff the words sounded to her own ears.
Berry’s smile tightened. She shrugged. “Suit yourself. Just try to keep up.”
There was no time to get annoyed. Pasco’s entrance was just ahead, and the crowd surged towards its narrow gates. Everyone was pressed in close together. The sun gleamed high above, and Berry slipped off her cloak. She took out the pin which held her hair in place. It fell down her back in glossy waves. Berry pulled gold hoop earrings from her pack and fastened them in place, all the while working a path expertly through the swarming mass of humanity. She didn’t once look around for Tien. Tien thought wistfully of how she could have once shaken out her own waist length curls. Instead she massaged her bristle through the scarf, and pinched her cheeks to bring a bit of colour to her face. She touched her neck to make sure the scarf’s ties concealed her mark.
The markets were easy to find. The girls just let themselves be carried along with the crowd towards the sounds and smells. Market day was in full swing. The wide street, which Tien only vaguely remembered crawled with people. Stalls filled every available space on either side. The only pace that could be managed in the throng, was a shuffle. Tien didn’t mind, for it allowed plenty of time to gaze at the stalls. Every fruit, spice, and candy imaginable lay in great baskets. Fat cobs of maize roasted over hot embers. Street vendors sliced plantains and cassava roots thinly, and fried them into crunchy chips. Graziers and potential buyers haggled loudly over livestock. Hats, scarves, shawls and jewellery, much of it silver, dangled and glittered alluringly. Soft fabrics fluttered. Children held out delicate glass bottles of scented oils, perfumes and lotions to be sampled.
A waist-high flash of purple caught Tien’s eye. She turned to see the monkey they had seen earlier scamper over to the owner of one stall. It solemnly handed him the list and purse Tien had seen it holding so close on the Stra road. While the man packed the listed items into a basket, the monkey peered around over hunched shoulders. Its scrawny paws strayed towards its armpits as thought longing to enjoy a good scratch. Suddenly the vested monkey screeched loudly to itself, smacked its paws hard, and then clasped them firmly together behind its back. Obviously a no-no, Tien thought grinning. The stall owner counted out the change. He handed it back, with the purse and the basket of purchased goods. The monkey executed a graceless bow, before darting across to the next stall, the basket balanced precariously on its head. Amazing, Tien marvelled! I’d love to have my own monkey, it’s so sweet. I wonder who gets the blame, if the money in the purse runs out before the items on their lists are all purchased.
“Tien!” Berry was gleefully rifling through a rack of silk garments. “Isn’t this beautiful?” She held an emerald green gown to her chest. Tien nodded. It was beautiful, and so was this new Berry, so alive and happy. Berry’s so different here, she thought. Almost likeable. Maybe she can leave her sadness for a while, and be herself. “I’ll try it on.” Berry declared. She disappeared into a flapping tented cubicle, which served for a dressing room. She emerged, and twirled elegantly, holding out the skirt with one hand. Berry looked like a fabled dryad from Dins Hallow. Her dark Tiran features stood out among all the fair-haired Pascans already. Swathed in delicate green she was a showstopper. Several passers-by paused to stare. Stop gawking, Tien thought, rolling her eyes. All Berry needs is a bigger head. Yes, there she goes, primping and posing for her admiring audience. Eventually, Berry went back to change. She emerged, the dress hanging off her arm, looking deflated.
“I just saw the price tag,” she muttered, placing the dress back on the rack. “I don’t have nearly that much money. What a shame”.
The stall owner sidled up to them. “Something is wrong with lovely dress?,” he wheedled. “It looks so nice on missy, I think,”
“Is the dress a set price, or can you do a special bargain for me?” Berry asked. She spoke slowly as if he could not speak Tiran. “This is my first visit to your beautiful city. I will tell all my friends in Tira of your garments. They have loads of gold coins.” She smiled at him, her dimples flashed charmingly.
But the man was already shaking his head firmly. “No. Prices I do no changing. No bargaining. Absolute no. I am poor man, missies. Must be that I get what owed I be.“ He was silent a moment, scratching his bald forehead. A gleam came into his eye. “But is like that dress made is for you especial, missy.“
Tien shook her head. “Don’t fall for that line,” she whispered against Berry’s ear. “He is a pro. Plus, I think he is playing up his accent especial.” Berry ignored her, and leaned towards the man. Her eyes shone. “I am finding in my thinking head,” the stall owner continued. “There maybe is a how you can earn this dress.”
Berry smiled and nodded her head encouragingly. The man pointed to a piazza area at the end of the market’s street. A purple length of carpet stretched up to a fluttering canopy. “See. Very nearly, much what I am sewing is twirling in parade on pretty ladies. You,” He pointed at Berry, ” can twirl in dresses, this one and two more what I have sewn. Then you can have dress for what money comes from your bag. “
Brushing off Tien’s protests, a jubilant Berry shook on the deal and collected the outfits she would be modelling. She skipped to the carpeted area the man had pointed out. Young women drifted in and out of the makeshift changing rooms.
Tien glanced up at the sun. Oh no! She hurried after Berry. “Berry, it is almost midday. the ziggurat is probably ten minutes walk from here. And we’ll need to allow extra time to get lost. We can’t be late!”
Berry stopped and turned to face Tien, her hands defensively on her hips. “Oh for goodness sake. It’s just a couple of changes, and a stroll down the carpet. It won’t take a minute. Anyways, I’ve committed now. I have already paid the good man for my dress. Don’t panic,” she laughed, as she vanished into the cramped interior of the changing tent.
Tien rubbed her hands over her scarf. I knew something like this would happen. Stupid, stupid girl! A small crowd had gathered, drawn by the lively tunes from a quartet of pipers, and the promise of a show. Soon the first girls sashayed down the carpet. Berry floated out in a glittering silver robe, lissom and glowing. She stalked up and back, drawing enthusiastic applause. Tien gritted her teeth. Will Saka and Fen wait at the ziggurat till we come? Of course, she reassured herself. A niggling doubt squirmed uneasily in her gut.
There is no reason for them to wait for either of us, really. I’m certainly expendable. And Berry doesn’t even want to be here. Fen let Berry get her trip to the markets, with barely a whimper. They didn’t plan to lose us. Did they?
Panicked adrenalin surged through her body. She pushed her way through the onlookers, searching for Berry. Tien found her fiddling with the flowing sleeves of a pale blue tunic shirt. “Berry,” she said, almost shouting. “We need to go. Look,” she pointed at the sun. “We’re late.“
Berry shook her head distractedly. “In a minute. There’s no rush. That lot are usually late anyhow. What do you think?” She swept her hands down the outfit, and then looked back over her shoulder to see how the black pants sat on her hips. ”This shade of blue would probably suit you better. It‘s perfect for a more sallow complexion. Oops, I’m on. Gotta go!” She disappeared back into the tent.
Tien buried her head in her hands, groaning. What should I do? She did some quick calculations. There are twelve girls parading, and about twenty-four more outfits. So, even if each only takes one minutes per dress, Berry won’t be free to leave for close to half an hour. That’s too late! Tien made a split second decision. Turning her back on the music and colour, she ran in the direction of the ziggurat, following its peak with her eyes. Thank goodness it is so tall, she breathed. Within five minutes she was there.
The ziggurat dwarfed all the other buildings around it. It was shaped like a pyramid; mammoth squares of sandstone piled on top of each other like a giant child’s blocks. Steep stone ramps led up to each level. Lush gardens hung from every flat surface. Tien stopped in front of it and turned slowly around, her eyes scanning the entire parameter. Fen and Saka aren’t here! My one chance to find Mama and Papa is lost.
She brushed a frightened tear away with her sleeve. No, but that is ridiculous. I can’t panic yet. Maybe they’re late. Or waiting at a different side of the ziggurat. It is so huge. She slowly skirted the building, looking in the surrounding lawns and gardens. People sat on the stone benches and against trees, reading. Every head was the silvery blond of a Pascan. Saka and Fen were not there Tien stomach churned. We’ve been abandoned.
She ventured through the main doors of the Ziggurat. It’s dark in here after the brightness of midday. Cool and quiet. Shelves of books lined the library’s walls, reaching up to the low ceiling. Broad tables and sturdy chairs surrounded a great staircase which spiralled up from the centre of the room. A sign next to the staircase read:
Level 1: Philosophy
Level 2: Pascan Histories and Periodicals
Level 3: Pascan Literature
Level 4: Museum of Historical Relics.
Tien sat at a table and looked surreptitiously at the others reading around her. No Fen or Saka. Should I look upstairs? But if they are moving around, and I am moving around, we’ll be sure to miss each other. This whole plan to split up was ridiculous! What should I do? Wait here. Or go back and wait with Berry? I suppose two is always better than one, even if one of the two is Berry, she decided.
Tien walked back into the sunshine. It is definitely well past noon. They must have already come and gone. If they came at all. What a mess. She began to trudge back in the direction of the bazaar. Hot tears stung his eyes. Sorry, precious family. For a while, it seemed too good to be true. And it was.
A hand grabbed her arm.
© 2006 by Shelly Taylor
posted by michelle at 9:57 PM
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