My first impression of papa was his incredible size, he was taller and stouter than any of the domns in our caravan. His response to my being there was a shrug of his shoulders “It happens, lay with enough dogs, eventually you get the fleas.” He was at least encouraged that I had picked up the common tongue and not Balok. Living in Krezk you would think Balok would have been a necessity, but there was enough of a Gundar community that unu could go a lifetime speaking only Luktar. As I only spoke Patterna and the common tongue this was of little help to me, but at least papa and I could communicate.
The next few years were uneventful enough, father was involved with the rebellion, and was gone most of the time. Other than the assigned chores of having his dinner ready and harvesting the garden, I had most of my days to my leisure. The streets of Krezk were full of many such children, orphans in fact or defacto of the rebellion.
My olive-skin, gender, and funny accent made me any early mark for easy ridicule. My quickness and tenacity in fights ensured I wouldn’t stay that way. I found I was easily a match for at least half the boys and enough of a threat to serve as a deterrent to most others. On the streets of Krezk I learned Luktar and learned to fight. I developed my sympathy for orphans, all orphans, for regardless of the causes that make them such, many fall into lives of crime and spirits dependence. I also learned the respect that can be earned by being able to defend yourself and the gratitude that can be earned by defending those that can nu. I was respected, if nu liked, and that was enough.
At least for a few years…
