Fanfic:Lessons in Daes Dae'mar: Part 1
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Their father paced, restless, through the small, cramped, dirty space that served as their living room, glowering at his children and lost in his lecture. The children, Latonia, blond haired and blue/violet eyed, and Caddoc, raven of locks and bright emerald eyes, were parted in appearances only by these differences. Other than that, the twins shared the same high cheek bones, the same noble seeming brow, sharp look to their eyes, and toned body. Latonia, just beginning to bud at fourteen, was becoming quite the beauty, and Caddoc, only slighter behind her, was obviously going to be darkly handsome.
“Daes Dae'mar,” their father said, “otherwise known as the 'Game of Houses' is practiced all over the world, and through countless cultures. However, it is mostly practiced...where, Caddoc?”
Caddoc's head jerked up, pulled suddenly from his inner daydreams. “Ummm...” He said, eyes shifting to his sister. She was trying to whisper the answer, Cairhien, to him. However, Jeirad Svan slid his slender build between them, purposefully blocking Latonia from Caddoc's view.
“Well?” their father demanded, fists already balled threatening at his sides. Caddoc hazarded a guess.
“Here in Tear, Father?” He guessed, trying to hide the uncertainty from his voice.
The resounding sound of fist hitting flesh echoed through the small room as Jeirad's fist collided with Caddoc's cheek. The strike, though Caddoc had been wary of it, came to quickly for the boy to block it, and Caddoc was knocked violently from his seat in front of the table that doubled as a place to eat as well as 'learn'.
Jeirad Svan rounded on his daughter. “Do you know, girl” He snapped, ready to strike her as well, eyes narrowed dangerously.
“Cairhien, Father.” She said quickly. Out of the corner of her eye she watched Caddoc pull himself back up to the table. The strike had left him dazed, and he moved slowly, shaking his head as he went. To save her brother from punishment at being so slow, Latonia continued, speaking quickly and keeping her father's attention on her.
“In Cairhien,” She continued, “Daes Dae'mar is not only a 'past time' but a way of life. It is practiced from the lowest serf to the highest noble, each trying to use it as a tool to pull himself or herself above his or her personal station of life.”
“Good girl.” Jeirad crooned, a self satisfied smirk upon his thin features. His hand fell upon the girl's head, sifting through her hair and sliding down the length of her cheek until it fell upon her shoulder. Latonia shivered, her father's touch had... disturbed her recently, for reasons the fourteen year old, sadly, understood far to well. She did not, however, pull away. That could bring her father's amusement or anger, and both were dangerous. Jeirad resumed his pacing, taking time to cast a dark, warning glance at his son, who was now settled once again behind the desk.
“Daes Dae'mar,” he continued as if there had been no interruption, “Is a tool used primarily in political maneuvererings. However, it is also wonderful practice for whenever you may have to... bend the truth. It uses what, Latonia?”
“Subterfuge provided both verbally, Father, as well as through body language and emotions, sir.”
Jeirad nodded, “To what end, Caddoc?” He snapped, looking at his son.
“To blue the truth, misleading and fooling your opponent. OR to outright lie.” Caddoc responded immediately, not wanting to be hit again. “Also, it can be used when telling the truth, fooling your opponent into thinking you were lying.” He added.
Jeirad Svan nodded, but fixed his son with a look so black that it said clearly that Jeirad hadn't forgotten Caddoc's earlier mistake, nor had he forgiven. Instead of averting his eyes, Caddoc stared back into his father's gaze, green eyes meeting green. As Jeirad's face began to cloud with rage, Latonia thought quickly.
She kicked her brother's ankle beneath the table. Caddoc flinched and looked down. Their father, thinking Caddoc had submitted, allowed the moment to pass, thankfully.
A distant bell, within Tear proper, began to toll. Jeirad looked up as the hour was marked. “That is all for studies today.” He told his children. “Caddoc, follow me. We need to practice your sword technique. Latonia, you help your mother with chores.” Latonia scowled. Their mother, Elena Svan, was an invalid, hardly able to lift the laundry to fold it, and their father doted upon her. Latonia would be doing chores alone. However, Latonia knew better than to argue. Dutifully, she went in search of her mother while Caddoc followed Father outside.
