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 Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:43 pm
His methods were unorthodox at best, but no worthy teacher could complain; he still arrived at the correct answer, even if he did loop about on himself a few times in the process.
Ask why. Well, that should be fairly easy, seeing as how he did that every day of his waking life.
Look within yourself. And see what? Surely the fourth letter of her name had nothing to do with blood, nor the soul...
Within yourself. Ask why.
Why? ... within yourself.
Why within yourself.
A sparkle of amusement flashed in his eyes. The letter y was pronounced the same as the word why, and was certainly within the word yourself.
"Y."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:58 pm
This one was a sharp one, that was for sure, and now the glimmer in Paeya's eyes had brightened significantly. To be so close and to fail now would be horrible. It was now the final test.
"The last letter in my name is not a flower yet is forever followed by bees." Simple enough, in Paeya's mind anyhow.
Now all she had to do was wait and see what the other's mind came up with and she would, if he got it correct, share with him why her name was not so easily won.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:06 pm
Konu laughed, the sound echoing off of the trees as his eyes twinkled with mirth. He sobered quickly, his solemn gaze fixed upon hers. "A."
Bees would not follow anything other then a flower, and so she must have meant the letter B. The only thing that B follows is A.
A rather simple riddle, to end such a test.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:12 pm
Ah, but one wouldn't expect such simplicity at the end of something where the others were complex. Satisfied, she finally let that smile shine through and stepped back to give a low bow of her body in respect.
"You are the first to have solved my name riddles. Congratulations. And with that, my name is Paeya. I'm certain you wonder as to why I made it so difficult to know my name, yes?"
The mare gave an almost teasing look to him, waiting to see if he could figure out why himself or if he truly needed her to answer. He was smart.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:24 pm
He absentmindedly returned her bow, not rising from it until she had risen from her own. "I thank you for the wonderful riddles. It is... nice... to be made to work for one's name, instead of giving it out freely."
"Yes, I wonder." His eyes sparkled, taking in the meaning of her pause.
He was almost hesitant in his response, hating the thought of answering incorrectly after doing so well with her name riddles. But what point was there in life if he spent it afraid of being wrong? However would he learn?
"There are cruel, bitter things in this world, waiting to prey upon that which is pure and innocent. But they do not require a name to kill. There are those in whose memory you would remain forever... but memories do not need names. It could have been a defense mechanism against those who would harm you... Or it could have been simply to see if I was worthy of a conversation."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:36 pm
"A decent theory, to be sure, but not entirely correct. An old wise Angeni once told me something that stuck with me deeply and made sense. A name is the most important thing that one can have. To know someone's name is to have a certain measure of power over them. To have a name is to have an advantage. If something has no name, how can it be truly remembered? Aye, as you said, memories do not need names - but once the one who has the memory is gone, or forgets, does the thing without a name truly exist anymore?"
Once more Paeya had begun to ramble, though her words were slow and precise. Thought processes were a bit out of whack with her, though she had found a similar way of thinking with that old Angeni in the mountains. A Kindred spirit, of sorts, in certain things.
"I only wish to be remembered if I will remember another. I tend not to waste my time on those who do not hold intelligence. I am glad to say that you will stay in my memory for a long time, Konu."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:43 pm
Konu smiled. Her words were true, but... "Named are important, that is true. They contain everything a person is, everything they were... with the mention of a simple name, all the memories connected to that being come rushing back. Without names, we are no more then shells. We have bodies and so we can feel, we have brains and so we can think... but we can all do that. Names are what make up unique... but one should not place all of one's value in a name, for names do not change us."
"All that we do, all that we are, all that we will be... all of that depends on who we are. What name we give those actions, or what name we give ourselves, does not change what they truly are." Oh, he knew that a stallion growing up with a name like Fluffy may have self-esteem issues... but the basic outline of his personality, that which depends solely on his environment and the way he was raised, would be there... regardless of the name he bears.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 3:50 pm
Oh, Paeya was impressed, though she didn't show it. Did she ever outside of the small light in her eyes or the occasional smile? Not really, no. Praise wasn't easily given with her and once a day was good enough to start out with.
"You have interesting theories yourself, Konu, though I would have to disagree that a name does not change what something is. They say a rose by another name would still be a rose, but were you to call it feces, does the connotation of what the thing is not change? Sure, it will still look the same but it will no longer be a rose. For what was 'rose' would no longer exist. Should we change your name to, say, snow. Would Konu exist any longer? Erase the name, and you erase a vital part. A name can strike emotional chords in a person, a name can evoke feelings. Feelings are the most powerful in the world. Change the name, change the feeling, change the thing itself."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:04 pm
"Emotions are nothing without that which lies beneath a name, whether caused by the name itself or not. There are those who live only to gaze upon the night sky, to stare in wonder at the shining pinpricks of light upon an azure plane... but their hearts would call just as strongly to that same sky if it were called 'Leaf.' What the thing is does not simply vanish. Lovers call each other things that would make any proper lady blush, and yet what their partner is does not change. Their likes, dislikes, their outlook on life... none of that could change in a split second, if the only reason for such would be a change of name. It is true that names hold special meanings in the hearts of some, but we live in a sad world if a person's affection can be diminished or aroused due to only a name. A world where too much importance is placed upon that which was meant only to distinguish one from another."
Ah, this mare was such fun! Never before had he been forced to explain himself through sheer wit... usually, the eyes of whomever he was speaking to would glaze over, waiting for the time in which his words stopped flowing to suggest a walk or some such other thing to distract him from his rantings.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:11 pm
"Touché," Paeya answered as the stallion spoke. There would be those who would continue to debate such a point but there was one thing that Paeya knew and that was when she was evenly matched. In Konu, she had found a match for the first time in her life. It was exhilarating.
"But it does not change that to know anything of another is to have power over them, or an advantage. And a name is definitely one of the most important things to a person. Nameless, they do not exist. So, in that, we are both correct and I believe we should call the conversation a match. For the first time, someone has met my proverbial sword with their own. I congratulate you, Konu. Now, perhaps a drink? The pond is not far and all this talking has parched my throat."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:19 pm
Konu could not help but give a coltish grin at that, rather pleased with the day's banter. For the first time in a long time, he had found someone who did not simply roll over and die at the merest mention of the word 'philosophy.'
"There can be two truths in a matter." He agreed, giving his consent to her idea. Of course, it would be rather difficult to carry on a one-sided argument, but he felt that he needed to make at least some gesture of acceptance.
"Whatever you wish." He inclined his head, gesturing towards the pool with a flicker of his ears. "Paeya?" Her name, phrased as a question, was meant as a replacement for the general 'M'lady' that he would normally use when offering to let the mare go first... a habit that had been ingrained into his very soul by a father who believed strongly in manners. After their discussion, he could not bear to lump her in with ever other flighty filly that he had come across in all his travels.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:24 pm
"Konu," she said in acknowledgment, a smile gracing her features as she stepped ahead of him and made her way to the pond which was only a few yards away. Head was lowered once she reached the water, mouth parting to take the water in. It was not the lady like sips that most mares would take - just as she refused to eat daintily like a proper lady - but in a way to quench the thirst so much bantering had woken inside of her.
As she finished, her head lifted and she turned it toward the stallion, "Tell me something about yourself."
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:32 pm
Konu took a healthy sip himself, absentmindedly swishing the water about in his mouth as he waited for her to finish. When she was done, he quickly swallowed what water remained upon his tongue, ready to take whatever directions she chose to place.
About him?
He paused, eyes wandering to the sky as he pondered what response he could possibly make to such a vague question. What could he say that was not already obvious to this well-learned mare?
"I'm allergic to poppies." He said thoughtfully, a small smile twitching at the corners of his lips.
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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 4:35 pm
"How unfortunate. Tell me something else?" Oh, no, it wasn't her turn to tell him anything. He hadn't asked and when one does not ask, one does not tell. So, instead, she was asking him once more. Perhaps he'd catch on to her game. Perhaps she would continue playing it alone.
Either way was a win win situation for the dear butterfly mare!
This time her head was bowed again, however it wasn't to take a drink. Sparse grass had taken to growing beside the water and now she was hungry.
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 5:20 pm
The stallion chuckled, one brow arched delicately. His eyes widened in mock disbelief.
"Surely you have heard of common courtesy? A learned mare such as yourself..." He shook his head, feigning disappointment. "When one provides information about oneself that was previously unknown, the other usually does the same..."
Now the twinkle was back in his eye.
"... Then again, you are not usual, by any means. I have not encountered a mare of your caliber in all my travels."
With a forlorn sigh, he offered a second piece of information about himself: "I tend to have a flair for the dramatic when it seems those with whom I am conversing require a bit of prodding to release information about themselves... or, rather, present riddles containing information that only those whose minds are not blind may see."
As though that hadn't been entirely obvious...
Well, he wasn't about to present her with further tidbits when he had received only a name.
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