(no subject)

[thewidewideworld]

{Continued from here}

Sinric heads down the stairs and out into the gardens, a wrap pulled around his shoulders and his hair still damp. He breathes in the scent of approaching evening as if committing it to memory before turning towards the lake.

He has no idea which way Athelstan might have gone but the lake always seems like a good place to start.

Comments

[athelstanthescribe]

"Yes, please", he says immediately. "I've seen things like it, but probably not quite the same."

[thewidewideworld]

He reaches into the pouch at his belt, drawing out a slender book. A book that seems rather larger than should fit in said pouch.

He runs a finger down the spine and feels it open to the touch. Inside are two screens, each lighting up under his fingers.

He moves to sit beside Athelstan, showing how the tablet scrolls through the words, speaking them aloud at he touches them.

Likewise, he's able to speak to the tablet, the words appearing on the screen and letting him know where he's pronunciation is off.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan watches all this with fascination - and no surprise at the pouch's capacity, since he has one of his own.

[thewidewideworld]

And Sinric has cause every day to be glad of that pouch.

"And it can be loaded with any language I request. I need only ask."

[athelstanthescribe]

"There must be languages in the world we have never even heard of."

[thewidewideworld]

"Many." Sinric smiles brightly at the thought. A linguist with no end of things to learn. "And those that have changed over the ages."

[athelstanthescribe]

"You've set yourself to the languages of the future, as well?"

[thewidewideworld]

"I have." He shrugs modestly. "The form of Anglish spoken most commonly here."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Most don't bother", he says with respect, "as the bar translates for everyone."

[thewidewideworld]

"From time to time I ask Lady Bar not to translate for me, so I can learn from the conversations around me."

[athelstanthescribe]

"I didn't know it even could be selective in that way."

[thewidewideworld]

"I had to ask her to help me with it. At first so I could practice my Norse with your and Ragnar."

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

"I do remember that."

[thewidewideworld]

"It did make it much easier to learn." He smiles, "And you were both very generous in teaching me."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Not at all. Languages are never a hardship for me."

[thewidewideworld]

"Had it helped you, before Ragnar brought you North?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Helped me?" He considers. "Not in any very practical way."

[thewidewideworld]

"You travelled in your youth, did you not? Where did you go?"

[athelstanthescribe]

"Many places. But for the most part, we spoke in Latin."

[thewidewideworld]

"It is the common language of wisdom and intellectual discourse in the West." He smiles with a touch of pride on his father tongue.

[athelstanthescribe]

Athelstan nods.

"And for the most part, those who can read can also speak Latin."

[thewidewideworld]

"It is the language most often taught, to those in the church and those high enough to afford it."

"I confess that of my parent tongues, I prefer Greek for speaking and Latin for writing."

[athelstanthescribe]

"Just so. Because there must be a common language, or else those of so many different countries could not learn from each other. Why do you favour Greek?"

[thewidewideworld]

"In the west, perhaps. It was a great challenge going east where there was no common tongue, at least once I left the trade ports."

He smiles softly. "I think because of it's commonness, it's easy patter."

[athelstanthescribe]

"It's not such a - lofty language?" Athelstan guesses. "More one that the ordinary folk can speak."