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Not as quick as his eldest son on the draw, Tzephaniah was also slow to decide when to act. He did not rise when the others did and merely watched to see if Amiti was going to be the one to handle Thaddeus or if Thaddeus himself would calm down. Beside him, Shiloh shifted uncomfortably and muttered something about needing more wine. A fine idea. Tzephaniah motioned to Gwyneth to refill everyone’s cups and clasped his hands again over his stomach. Unlike Amiti, he was not moved in his heart when Maeri started to cry. Crying was something women did as a battle tactic. If Amiti was wary of women, Tzephaniah nearly hated their whole sex.
He had no love of foreigners and while he wasn’t happy that his second born was abusing a guest in their home, he was slower to stop him than he might have been otherwise. If not for Amiti’s exit and taking all of their planned dinner guests with him, Tzephaniah would have been content to let Amiti handle everything. After all, Amiti was faster with these things in recent years, whereas he himself had been slowing down. Nevertheless, the task fell to him and he finally sighed and placed both hands firmly on the table.
“My son,” he said to Thaddeus. “Guest,” he said to Zoser whose name had entirely slipped his mind by this point. Things seemed to do that lately more than they used to. “It seems, Thaddeus, that you have chased people out of the room.” Every word he spoke was slow and methodical, as though each one had been weighed and considered for a long, long time. Gesturing to the seat Thaddeus had vacated, Tzephaniah indicated to his son to sit back down.
His eyes traveled to Zoser and his bland smile remained but there was no real sparkle to it. “You’re here for the university,” he said without asking. He’d known people might come and had already gotten word of a foreigner within the city gates. There wasn’t much that happened in Damascus that the Mahnheeg didn’t know about. “You worked with Amiti this afternoon?” He glanced at Thaddeus but didn’t make an excuse for his son. It was clear Thaddeus was capable of speaking on his own behalf.
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Aug 14, 2020 21:12:49 GMT
Posted In Pass The Salt on Aug 14, 2020 21:12:49 GMT
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Not as quick as his eldest son on the draw, Tzephaniah was also slow to decide when to act. He did not rise when the others did and merely watched to see if Amiti was going to be the one to handle Thaddeus or if Thaddeus himself would calm down. Beside him, Shiloh shifted uncomfortably and muttered something about needing more wine. A fine idea. Tzephaniah motioned to Gwyneth to refill everyone’s cups and clasped his hands again over his stomach. Unlike Amiti, he was not moved in his heart when Maeri started to cry. Crying was something women did as a battle tactic. If Amiti was wary of women, Tzephaniah nearly hated their whole sex.
He had no love of foreigners and while he wasn’t happy that his second born was abusing a guest in their home, he was slower to stop him than he might have been otherwise. If not for Amiti’s exit and taking all of their planned dinner guests with him, Tzephaniah would have been content to let Amiti handle everything. After all, Amiti was faster with these things in recent years, whereas he himself had been slowing down. Nevertheless, the task fell to him and he finally sighed and placed both hands firmly on the table.
“My son,” he said to Thaddeus. “Guest,” he said to Zoser whose name had entirely slipped his mind by this point. Things seemed to do that lately more than they used to. “It seems, Thaddeus, that you have chased people out of the room.” Every word he spoke was slow and methodical, as though each one had been weighed and considered for a long, long time. Gesturing to the seat Thaddeus had vacated, Tzephaniah indicated to his son to sit back down.
His eyes traveled to Zoser and his bland smile remained but there was no real sparkle to it. “You’re here for the university,” he said without asking. He’d known people might come and had already gotten word of a foreigner within the city gates. There wasn’t much that happened in Damascus that the Mahnheeg didn’t know about. “You worked with Amiti this afternoon?” He glanced at Thaddeus but didn’t make an excuse for his son. It was clear Thaddeus was capable of speaking on his own behalf.
Not as quick as his eldest son on the draw, Tzephaniah was also slow to decide when to act. He did not rise when the others did and merely watched to see if Amiti was going to be the one to handle Thaddeus or if Thaddeus himself would calm down. Beside him, Shiloh shifted uncomfortably and muttered something about needing more wine. A fine idea. Tzephaniah motioned to Gwyneth to refill everyone’s cups and clasped his hands again over his stomach. Unlike Amiti, he was not moved in his heart when Maeri started to cry. Crying was something women did as a battle tactic. If Amiti was wary of women, Tzephaniah nearly hated their whole sex.
He had no love of foreigners and while he wasn’t happy that his second born was abusing a guest in their home, he was slower to stop him than he might have been otherwise. If not for Amiti’s exit and taking all of their planned dinner guests with him, Tzephaniah would have been content to let Amiti handle everything. After all, Amiti was faster with these things in recent years, whereas he himself had been slowing down. Nevertheless, the task fell to him and he finally sighed and placed both hands firmly on the table.
“My son,” he said to Thaddeus. “Guest,” he said to Zoser whose name had entirely slipped his mind by this point. Things seemed to do that lately more than they used to. “It seems, Thaddeus, that you have chased people out of the room.” Every word he spoke was slow and methodical, as though each one had been weighed and considered for a long, long time. Gesturing to the seat Thaddeus had vacated, Tzephaniah indicated to his son to sit back down.
His eyes traveled to Zoser and his bland smile remained but there was no real sparkle to it. “You’re here for the university,” he said without asking. He’d known people might come and had already gotten word of a foreigner within the city gates. There wasn’t much that happened in Damascus that the Mahnheeg didn’t know about. “You worked with Amiti this afternoon?” He glanced at Thaddeus but didn’t make an excuse for his son. It was clear Thaddeus was capable of speaking on his own behalf.
In the brief moment before it all came to a head, Zoser had been smiling as Lady Maeri made an attempt to speak in Greek. Those who sought to learn more, whether a language or history or anything, were his favorite sort of people. He knew, from their brief encounter before, that Councilman Amiti and Lady Maeri were to be wed - and Zoser had the thought that it might be quite a happy union if the two were of such a mind to learn new things. Additionally, there was a purity that seemed to shine from the young woman that was utterly endearing.
Amiti is a lucky man, he thought, just as the Councilman's brother seemed to erupt from across the table, rising from his chair and raising his voice. Zoser's face fell immediately.
Once, long ago, in the early days of his return to Egypt, Zoser took part in task that set to moving various tombs of old kings and nobles to a new necropolis. The age old stones were beginning to crumble and if they did not do it, all would be lost to the sands of the desert and to time itself.
The image of the supports giving way and crumbling, burying many alive beneath the sands was seared into his mind forever. The dust filled the air as one by one the supports cracked and shattered, almost as if in slow motion. It was catastrophic and unstoppable.
The implosion at the Judean dinner table felt the same.
It all happened so quickly but at the same time, he noted every change around the table as if it were in slow motion. The accusation thrown his way, the striking words between the brothers, the tears now streaming down young Maeri's face. In that moment, he wanted to say something, to excuse himself from this in some way or another.
But then, as if struck by lightning, a memory that seemed so long ago but had, in truth, only been a week or so hence fluttered back into his mind. Softly spoken Greek words of warning, of advice - of hard-learned lessons, purchased for only a small handful of hitta. As everything erupted around him and Amiti and the women moved away from the table, the words echoed in his mind again as his eyes lowered to lightly rest on the pool of oil in the dish before him.
"Give up any sense of being right....accept ignorance..."
As the room cleared and Zoser took a moment to reflect on those words, his eyes lifted to the elder at the head fo the table. There was something both comforting and commanding about the way the man spoke, where his voice never raised but even Zoser would be hesitant to refuse a request from the man. The discomfort that folded itself over and over in his gut, combined with the fact that he had yet to take a bite of his meal, was hidden as best as it could be as he looked up to the Mahnheeg and nodded quietly at his acknowledgement. For a moment, he was loathe to even speak again, but the words echoed in his mind again...
"Bow your head and be humble...immediately back down and perform contrition."
"Yes, your lordship," Zoser confirmed, lowering his eyes once again and straightening his shoulders, "We worked together in the archives. However..." Zoser took a deep breath, speaking very slowly and deliberately not looking at either man as he spoke, "If I had known that it would cost the peace of this day, this meal, I would not have come."
Zoser fought the instinct to make a joke to lighten the air, but the words still echoed in his mind...
"Don't try to joke it off, don't try to explain or find common ground."
Folding his hands in his lap and gripping them so as not to fidget, he let his eyes wander across the tabletop. He was not an actor or performer by any means, and it was very difficult for him to wear this humility, but as he had been told...
"Humility could save your life here..."
So, he tried.
"I beg your forgiveness for hurting the night," he offered, lifting his eyes to the man at the head of the table and then to the second son across from him, then to the empty seat to his right where Amiti once sat. "If there is one thing that I know now, it is how very much I do not know...I should have learned more before coming here. The Councilman's invitation was kind, but had I known..." To say that it was embarrassing would have been an understatement. He felt much like a man who had run naked onto a battlefield, overwhelmed and unprepared for everything. But now that he knew what he did of Judea and its people, he regretted not having learned more before coming here.
If there was one thing he learned it was that sometimes, it was perfectly okay to decline an invitation. He would likely carry that with him for as long as he lived.
Raising his eyes once again to the men at the table, he bowed his head, contrition etched onto every feature, "To you both, I apologize. If it is your will, I will go. I do not want to do any more harm tonight."
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Aug 22, 2020 16:28:00 GMT
Posted In Pass The Salt on Aug 22, 2020 16:28:00 GMT
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In the brief moment before it all came to a head, Zoser had been smiling as Lady Maeri made an attempt to speak in Greek. Those who sought to learn more, whether a language or history or anything, were his favorite sort of people. He knew, from their brief encounter before, that Councilman Amiti and Lady Maeri were to be wed - and Zoser had the thought that it might be quite a happy union if the two were of such a mind to learn new things. Additionally, there was a purity that seemed to shine from the young woman that was utterly endearing.
Amiti is a lucky man, he thought, just as the Councilman's brother seemed to erupt from across the table, rising from his chair and raising his voice. Zoser's face fell immediately.
Once, long ago, in the early days of his return to Egypt, Zoser took part in task that set to moving various tombs of old kings and nobles to a new necropolis. The age old stones were beginning to crumble and if they did not do it, all would be lost to the sands of the desert and to time itself.
The image of the supports giving way and crumbling, burying many alive beneath the sands was seared into his mind forever. The dust filled the air as one by one the supports cracked and shattered, almost as if in slow motion. It was catastrophic and unstoppable.
The implosion at the Judean dinner table felt the same.
It all happened so quickly but at the same time, he noted every change around the table as if it were in slow motion. The accusation thrown his way, the striking words between the brothers, the tears now streaming down young Maeri's face. In that moment, he wanted to say something, to excuse himself from this in some way or another.
But then, as if struck by lightning, a memory that seemed so long ago but had, in truth, only been a week or so hence fluttered back into his mind. Softly spoken Greek words of warning, of advice - of hard-learned lessons, purchased for only a small handful of hitta. As everything erupted around him and Amiti and the women moved away from the table, the words echoed in his mind again as his eyes lowered to lightly rest on the pool of oil in the dish before him.
"Give up any sense of being right....accept ignorance..."
As the room cleared and Zoser took a moment to reflect on those words, his eyes lifted to the elder at the head fo the table. There was something both comforting and commanding about the way the man spoke, where his voice never raised but even Zoser would be hesitant to refuse a request from the man. The discomfort that folded itself over and over in his gut, combined with the fact that he had yet to take a bite of his meal, was hidden as best as it could be as he looked up to the Mahnheeg and nodded quietly at his acknowledgement. For a moment, he was loathe to even speak again, but the words echoed in his mind again...
"Bow your head and be humble...immediately back down and perform contrition."
"Yes, your lordship," Zoser confirmed, lowering his eyes once again and straightening his shoulders, "We worked together in the archives. However..." Zoser took a deep breath, speaking very slowly and deliberately not looking at either man as he spoke, "If I had known that it would cost the peace of this day, this meal, I would not have come."
Zoser fought the instinct to make a joke to lighten the air, but the words still echoed in his mind...
"Don't try to joke it off, don't try to explain or find common ground."
Folding his hands in his lap and gripping them so as not to fidget, he let his eyes wander across the tabletop. He was not an actor or performer by any means, and it was very difficult for him to wear this humility, but as he had been told...
"Humility could save your life here..."
So, he tried.
"I beg your forgiveness for hurting the night," he offered, lifting his eyes to the man at the head of the table and then to the second son across from him, then to the empty seat to his right where Amiti once sat. "If there is one thing that I know now, it is how very much I do not know...I should have learned more before coming here. The Councilman's invitation was kind, but had I known..." To say that it was embarrassing would have been an understatement. He felt much like a man who had run naked onto a battlefield, overwhelmed and unprepared for everything. But now that he knew what he did of Judea and its people, he regretted not having learned more before coming here.
If there was one thing he learned it was that sometimes, it was perfectly okay to decline an invitation. He would likely carry that with him for as long as he lived.
Raising his eyes once again to the men at the table, he bowed his head, contrition etched onto every feature, "To you both, I apologize. If it is your will, I will go. I do not want to do any more harm tonight."
In the brief moment before it all came to a head, Zoser had been smiling as Lady Maeri made an attempt to speak in Greek. Those who sought to learn more, whether a language or history or anything, were his favorite sort of people. He knew, from their brief encounter before, that Councilman Amiti and Lady Maeri were to be wed - and Zoser had the thought that it might be quite a happy union if the two were of such a mind to learn new things. Additionally, there was a purity that seemed to shine from the young woman that was utterly endearing.
Amiti is a lucky man, he thought, just as the Councilman's brother seemed to erupt from across the table, rising from his chair and raising his voice. Zoser's face fell immediately.
Once, long ago, in the early days of his return to Egypt, Zoser took part in task that set to moving various tombs of old kings and nobles to a new necropolis. The age old stones were beginning to crumble and if they did not do it, all would be lost to the sands of the desert and to time itself.
The image of the supports giving way and crumbling, burying many alive beneath the sands was seared into his mind forever. The dust filled the air as one by one the supports cracked and shattered, almost as if in slow motion. It was catastrophic and unstoppable.
The implosion at the Judean dinner table felt the same.
It all happened so quickly but at the same time, he noted every change around the table as if it were in slow motion. The accusation thrown his way, the striking words between the brothers, the tears now streaming down young Maeri's face. In that moment, he wanted to say something, to excuse himself from this in some way or another.
But then, as if struck by lightning, a memory that seemed so long ago but had, in truth, only been a week or so hence fluttered back into his mind. Softly spoken Greek words of warning, of advice - of hard-learned lessons, purchased for only a small handful of hitta. As everything erupted around him and Amiti and the women moved away from the table, the words echoed in his mind again as his eyes lowered to lightly rest on the pool of oil in the dish before him.
"Give up any sense of being right....accept ignorance..."
As the room cleared and Zoser took a moment to reflect on those words, his eyes lifted to the elder at the head fo the table. There was something both comforting and commanding about the way the man spoke, where his voice never raised but even Zoser would be hesitant to refuse a request from the man. The discomfort that folded itself over and over in his gut, combined with the fact that he had yet to take a bite of his meal, was hidden as best as it could be as he looked up to the Mahnheeg and nodded quietly at his acknowledgement. For a moment, he was loathe to even speak again, but the words echoed in his mind again...
"Bow your head and be humble...immediately back down and perform contrition."
"Yes, your lordship," Zoser confirmed, lowering his eyes once again and straightening his shoulders, "We worked together in the archives. However..." Zoser took a deep breath, speaking very slowly and deliberately not looking at either man as he spoke, "If I had known that it would cost the peace of this day, this meal, I would not have come."
Zoser fought the instinct to make a joke to lighten the air, but the words still echoed in his mind...
"Don't try to joke it off, don't try to explain or find common ground."
Folding his hands in his lap and gripping them so as not to fidget, he let his eyes wander across the tabletop. He was not an actor or performer by any means, and it was very difficult for him to wear this humility, but as he had been told...
"Humility could save your life here..."
So, he tried.
"I beg your forgiveness for hurting the night," he offered, lifting his eyes to the man at the head of the table and then to the second son across from him, then to the empty seat to his right where Amiti once sat. "If there is one thing that I know now, it is how very much I do not know...I should have learned more before coming here. The Councilman's invitation was kind, but had I known..." To say that it was embarrassing would have been an understatement. He felt much like a man who had run naked onto a battlefield, overwhelmed and unprepared for everything. But now that he knew what he did of Judea and its people, he regretted not having learned more before coming here.
If there was one thing he learned it was that sometimes, it was perfectly okay to decline an invitation. He would likely carry that with him for as long as he lived.
Raising his eyes once again to the men at the table, he bowed his head, contrition etched onto every feature, "To you both, I apologize. If it is your will, I will go. I do not want to do any more harm tonight."
Tzephaniah regarded Zoser for a long while, taking in the crestfallen expression. The flashes of bewilderment and understanding that alternately flashed across the man’s large brown eyes. Though he did not particularly like foreigners and did not generally have them at his table, his eldest had brought this one here. If not for Thaddeus’s outbursts, Tzephaniah wouldn’t have paid much attention at all to Zoser. He was neither upset by Zoser’s presence, nor elated by it. Unlike Maeri, Zoser did not herald all that was romantic and whimsical about far off places. Tzephaniah fancied he could smell the scents of incense burned to heathen gods and the air of progress, of a large and powerful empire. Things that the patriarch did not care for. But neither were his manners so repugnant that they were offensive. He’d done all he could with the sort of childlike bafflement that Tzephaniah thought of him no more than he did the servants at the corners of the room.
He listened without interrupting Zoser as the other went onto explain that he’d been working with Amiti at the university, that Amiti had invited him, that it had been a mistake, obviously. All the while, Tzephaniah pulled at his beard like he was stroking a cat. Sometimes he lifted his wine to his lips, taking deep drafts of it. It was new wine, with no alcohol. Just the delicious juice of the grapes and kept cool until it was needed. He smacked his lips, savoring it and then looked back at their guest. While Zoser begged forgiveness, Tzephaniah’s eyes wandered to his two remaining sons, Shiloh on his far left, and Thaddeus on his far right. Shiloh, milder of temper and obviously confused as to what had even happened at the table, was making quick work of his food, as though by inhaling it, he could escape. Tzephaniah was pretty sure that Thaddeus had eaten nothing as of yet. That was a shame. It was all delicious.
“If there is one thing that I know now, it is how very much I do not know...I should have learned more before coming here. The Councilman's invitation was kind, but had I known...” Zoser was saying when Tzephaniah finally looked back at him. “To you both, I apologize. If it is your will, I will go. I do not want to do any more harm tonight.”
“No harm will come to you,” Tzephaniah pointed at the bread in the middle of the table. Thaddeus was many things but not a warrior. If his son were to leap up and beat this man to death, not only would that be startling and alarming, but rather impressive. His son’s temper would burn bright and brilliant but not violent. “It is not a case,” he began, slowly, chewing on each word, mulling over it to make sure it was exact and right. “Of willing you to go. It is a case of ‘is it best’.”
Leaning back in his chair, hands on his stomach that had been flat years ago and was slowly growing rounder with age. His large brown eyes rested on Zoser a long while as he contemplated his next phrase. If Amiti had been in the room, he’d have been chomping at the bit just to spit out what he knew his father would say. But he was not and there were no looks to hurry Tzephaniah along while he thought.
“It is best,” he mused, eyes wandering towards one of the servants. He raised a hand to the young woman, beckoning her forward. “Take some of everything,” he said, waving vaguely to the table. “Put it in a box. It will not be said,” he now addressed Zoser. “That the Mahnheeg of Jaffe sent his guest away hungry.” By now, wherever Zoser was staying, be it inn or tavern, supper would be either scraps or completely over.
Once the box was gotten and a bit of each thing was put into it for Zoser to eat later, Tzephaniah got up from the table to walk Zoser to the door. He did not touch him, nor did he trundle him out. He simply crossed the floor with all the care and hurry of an ancient tortoise. At the front door, he smiled in a flat, vague way, not unfriendly, but not encouraging either. It was the sort of smile that merely rested on one’s face when another expression wouldn’t quite fit.
“Pleasant night, Zoser,” he said.
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Sept 20, 2020 20:17:48 GMT
Posted In Pass The Salt on Sept 20, 2020 20:17:48 GMT
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Tzephaniah regarded Zoser for a long while, taking in the crestfallen expression. The flashes of bewilderment and understanding that alternately flashed across the man’s large brown eyes. Though he did not particularly like foreigners and did not generally have them at his table, his eldest had brought this one here. If not for Thaddeus’s outbursts, Tzephaniah wouldn’t have paid much attention at all to Zoser. He was neither upset by Zoser’s presence, nor elated by it. Unlike Maeri, Zoser did not herald all that was romantic and whimsical about far off places. Tzephaniah fancied he could smell the scents of incense burned to heathen gods and the air of progress, of a large and powerful empire. Things that the patriarch did not care for. But neither were his manners so repugnant that they were offensive. He’d done all he could with the sort of childlike bafflement that Tzephaniah thought of him no more than he did the servants at the corners of the room.
He listened without interrupting Zoser as the other went onto explain that he’d been working with Amiti at the university, that Amiti had invited him, that it had been a mistake, obviously. All the while, Tzephaniah pulled at his beard like he was stroking a cat. Sometimes he lifted his wine to his lips, taking deep drafts of it. It was new wine, with no alcohol. Just the delicious juice of the grapes and kept cool until it was needed. He smacked his lips, savoring it and then looked back at their guest. While Zoser begged forgiveness, Tzephaniah’s eyes wandered to his two remaining sons, Shiloh on his far left, and Thaddeus on his far right. Shiloh, milder of temper and obviously confused as to what had even happened at the table, was making quick work of his food, as though by inhaling it, he could escape. Tzephaniah was pretty sure that Thaddeus had eaten nothing as of yet. That was a shame. It was all delicious.
“If there is one thing that I know now, it is how very much I do not know...I should have learned more before coming here. The Councilman's invitation was kind, but had I known...” Zoser was saying when Tzephaniah finally looked back at him. “To you both, I apologize. If it is your will, I will go. I do not want to do any more harm tonight.”
“No harm will come to you,” Tzephaniah pointed at the bread in the middle of the table. Thaddeus was many things but not a warrior. If his son were to leap up and beat this man to death, not only would that be startling and alarming, but rather impressive. His son’s temper would burn bright and brilliant but not violent. “It is not a case,” he began, slowly, chewing on each word, mulling over it to make sure it was exact and right. “Of willing you to go. It is a case of ‘is it best’.”
Leaning back in his chair, hands on his stomach that had been flat years ago and was slowly growing rounder with age. His large brown eyes rested on Zoser a long while as he contemplated his next phrase. If Amiti had been in the room, he’d have been chomping at the bit just to spit out what he knew his father would say. But he was not and there were no looks to hurry Tzephaniah along while he thought.
“It is best,” he mused, eyes wandering towards one of the servants. He raised a hand to the young woman, beckoning her forward. “Take some of everything,” he said, waving vaguely to the table. “Put it in a box. It will not be said,” he now addressed Zoser. “That the Mahnheeg of Jaffe sent his guest away hungry.” By now, wherever Zoser was staying, be it inn or tavern, supper would be either scraps or completely over.
Once the box was gotten and a bit of each thing was put into it for Zoser to eat later, Tzephaniah got up from the table to walk Zoser to the door. He did not touch him, nor did he trundle him out. He simply crossed the floor with all the care and hurry of an ancient tortoise. At the front door, he smiled in a flat, vague way, not unfriendly, but not encouraging either. It was the sort of smile that merely rested on one’s face when another expression wouldn’t quite fit.
“Pleasant night, Zoser,” he said.
Tzephaniah regarded Zoser for a long while, taking in the crestfallen expression. The flashes of bewilderment and understanding that alternately flashed across the man’s large brown eyes. Though he did not particularly like foreigners and did not generally have them at his table, his eldest had brought this one here. If not for Thaddeus’s outbursts, Tzephaniah wouldn’t have paid much attention at all to Zoser. He was neither upset by Zoser’s presence, nor elated by it. Unlike Maeri, Zoser did not herald all that was romantic and whimsical about far off places. Tzephaniah fancied he could smell the scents of incense burned to heathen gods and the air of progress, of a large and powerful empire. Things that the patriarch did not care for. But neither were his manners so repugnant that they were offensive. He’d done all he could with the sort of childlike bafflement that Tzephaniah thought of him no more than he did the servants at the corners of the room.
He listened without interrupting Zoser as the other went onto explain that he’d been working with Amiti at the university, that Amiti had invited him, that it had been a mistake, obviously. All the while, Tzephaniah pulled at his beard like he was stroking a cat. Sometimes he lifted his wine to his lips, taking deep drafts of it. It was new wine, with no alcohol. Just the delicious juice of the grapes and kept cool until it was needed. He smacked his lips, savoring it and then looked back at their guest. While Zoser begged forgiveness, Tzephaniah’s eyes wandered to his two remaining sons, Shiloh on his far left, and Thaddeus on his far right. Shiloh, milder of temper and obviously confused as to what had even happened at the table, was making quick work of his food, as though by inhaling it, he could escape. Tzephaniah was pretty sure that Thaddeus had eaten nothing as of yet. That was a shame. It was all delicious.
“If there is one thing that I know now, it is how very much I do not know...I should have learned more before coming here. The Councilman's invitation was kind, but had I known...” Zoser was saying when Tzephaniah finally looked back at him. “To you both, I apologize. If it is your will, I will go. I do not want to do any more harm tonight.”
“No harm will come to you,” Tzephaniah pointed at the bread in the middle of the table. Thaddeus was many things but not a warrior. If his son were to leap up and beat this man to death, not only would that be startling and alarming, but rather impressive. His son’s temper would burn bright and brilliant but not violent. “It is not a case,” he began, slowly, chewing on each word, mulling over it to make sure it was exact and right. “Of willing you to go. It is a case of ‘is it best’.”
Leaning back in his chair, hands on his stomach that had been flat years ago and was slowly growing rounder with age. His large brown eyes rested on Zoser a long while as he contemplated his next phrase. If Amiti had been in the room, he’d have been chomping at the bit just to spit out what he knew his father would say. But he was not and there were no looks to hurry Tzephaniah along while he thought.
“It is best,” he mused, eyes wandering towards one of the servants. He raised a hand to the young woman, beckoning her forward. “Take some of everything,” he said, waving vaguely to the table. “Put it in a box. It will not be said,” he now addressed Zoser. “That the Mahnheeg of Jaffe sent his guest away hungry.” By now, wherever Zoser was staying, be it inn or tavern, supper would be either scraps or completely over.
Once the box was gotten and a bit of each thing was put into it for Zoser to eat later, Tzephaniah got up from the table to walk Zoser to the door. He did not touch him, nor did he trundle him out. He simply crossed the floor with all the care and hurry of an ancient tortoise. At the front door, he smiled in a flat, vague way, not unfriendly, but not encouraging either. It was the sort of smile that merely rested on one’s face when another expression wouldn’t quite fit.
“Pleasant night, Zoser,” he said.
Maeri rose to follow Amiti as indicated, her mother also going with her. Aside from Amiti’s request, she was needed as chaperone, as it would have been improper for her and Amiti to go off alone together, even if they were set to be engaged. Maeri barely dared glance at her mother’s expression. It was disapproving, though she could not tell what it was disapproving of specifically. Was it Zoser? Or Amiti and she was about to find that her marriage would not happen after all? Or was it as she feared the most, that her mother was angry at her outburst at the dinner table.
Maeri was still flushed bright red in embarrassment at that action, and bursting into tears afterwards hadn’t She hadn’t meant to get so upset, but she couldn’t believe how rude Thaddeus had been to a guest, particularly one so interesting as Zoser. She had been having such a pleasant conversation before he ruined it. As the small group headed to the courtyard, Maeri spoke up, trying to break the tension. “I’m so sorry Amiti, I didn’t mean to make a scene.”
Maeri quickly found herself being cut off by her mother. “There’s nothing you need apologize for, Maeri.” She put her arm around Maeri’s shoulders protectively, and fixed her gaze on Amiti instead. Maeri relaxed a bit, as her mother came to her defense. She wasn’t the one in the wrong here, at least as far as her mother was concerned. “It would be hard for anyone to hold a civil tongue amongst such company.”
Maeri was a bit shocked to hear her mother speak so poorly of Thaddeus, he had been one of their hosts after all. Even if he had been very rude. She frowned at this uncharacteristic criticism from her mother. “I don’t think Thaddeus was being very nice but…” Maeri ground to her halt under her mother’s sharp gaze. Clearly she had said something wrong, but she wasn’t entirely sure what. She bit her lip uncomfortably, she had no desire to find her mother’s disapproval focussed on her so it was best just to say nothing at all and let her and Amiti do the talking.
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Maeri rose to follow Amiti as indicated, her mother also going with her. Aside from Amiti’s request, she was needed as chaperone, as it would have been improper for her and Amiti to go off alone together, even if they were set to be engaged. Maeri barely dared glance at her mother’s expression. It was disapproving, though she could not tell what it was disapproving of specifically. Was it Zoser? Or Amiti and she was about to find that her marriage would not happen after all? Or was it as she feared the most, that her mother was angry at her outburst at the dinner table.
Maeri was still flushed bright red in embarrassment at that action, and bursting into tears afterwards hadn’t She hadn’t meant to get so upset, but she couldn’t believe how rude Thaddeus had been to a guest, particularly one so interesting as Zoser. She had been having such a pleasant conversation before he ruined it. As the small group headed to the courtyard, Maeri spoke up, trying to break the tension. “I’m so sorry Amiti, I didn’t mean to make a scene.”
Maeri quickly found herself being cut off by her mother. “There’s nothing you need apologize for, Maeri.” She put her arm around Maeri’s shoulders protectively, and fixed her gaze on Amiti instead. Maeri relaxed a bit, as her mother came to her defense. She wasn’t the one in the wrong here, at least as far as her mother was concerned. “It would be hard for anyone to hold a civil tongue amongst such company.”
Maeri was a bit shocked to hear her mother speak so poorly of Thaddeus, he had been one of their hosts after all. Even if he had been very rude. She frowned at this uncharacteristic criticism from her mother. “I don’t think Thaddeus was being very nice but…” Maeri ground to her halt under her mother’s sharp gaze. Clearly she had said something wrong, but she wasn’t entirely sure what. She bit her lip uncomfortably, she had no desire to find her mother’s disapproval focussed on her so it was best just to say nothing at all and let her and Amiti do the talking.
Maeri rose to follow Amiti as indicated, her mother also going with her. Aside from Amiti’s request, she was needed as chaperone, as it would have been improper for her and Amiti to go off alone together, even if they were set to be engaged. Maeri barely dared glance at her mother’s expression. It was disapproving, though she could not tell what it was disapproving of specifically. Was it Zoser? Or Amiti and she was about to find that her marriage would not happen after all? Or was it as she feared the most, that her mother was angry at her outburst at the dinner table.
Maeri was still flushed bright red in embarrassment at that action, and bursting into tears afterwards hadn’t She hadn’t meant to get so upset, but she couldn’t believe how rude Thaddeus had been to a guest, particularly one so interesting as Zoser. She had been having such a pleasant conversation before he ruined it. As the small group headed to the courtyard, Maeri spoke up, trying to break the tension. “I’m so sorry Amiti, I didn’t mean to make a scene.”
Maeri quickly found herself being cut off by her mother. “There’s nothing you need apologize for, Maeri.” She put her arm around Maeri’s shoulders protectively, and fixed her gaze on Amiti instead. Maeri relaxed a bit, as her mother came to her defense. She wasn’t the one in the wrong here, at least as far as her mother was concerned. “It would be hard for anyone to hold a civil tongue amongst such company.”
Maeri was a bit shocked to hear her mother speak so poorly of Thaddeus, he had been one of their hosts after all. Even if he had been very rude. She frowned at this uncharacteristic criticism from her mother. “I don’t think Thaddeus was being very nice but…” Maeri ground to her halt under her mother’s sharp gaze. Clearly she had said something wrong, but she wasn’t entirely sure what. She bit her lip uncomfortably, she had no desire to find her mother’s disapproval focussed on her so it was best just to say nothing at all and let her and Amiti do the talking.
He was bristling with anger at both the situation and his younger brother’s behavior in general. Thaddeus was usually much steadier than that and whatever was the matter, he very much doubted it was just a heathen visitor. It was moments like this that made Amiti glad his brother had little to no political ambition. They’d be a laughing stock if this got out. The good thing was that no one would believe Zoser if he said anything, though that Yonita had been here to witness it was bad. Amiti had the utmost confidence that Maeri could be relied upon not to say anything. Probably Yonita, too, as her own daughter would be involved.
Once they were out in the open night air, Amiti breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. He counted in his head, down from ten, was still angry, so restarted the count to twenty. He was on ‘8’ when Maeri spoke, causing him to turn to her. “I’m so sorry Amiti, I didn’t mean to make a scene.” That made him angrier. That Thaddeus should make this poor, naive thing feel blame. Yonita immediately and justifiably jumped to her daughter’s defense with, “There’s nothing you need apologize for, Maeri.”
For once, he and Yonita were in complete agreement, but when he looked up to exchange a look of camaraderie with her, he found the older woman’s eyes resting on him like he was about to assign out the blame to an innocent. That didn’t help the sudden spike in his blood pressure and he was forced to look away before he was tempted to find something to blame Maeri for just to contradict her mother.
“It would be hard for anyone to hold a civil tongue amongst such company.”
Amiti flinched. He would absolutely lay into Thaddeus later. Right now? It was time to salvage the situation. And, like any good politician, that meant groveling, which he fancied he could do fairly well. Turning to Maeri and to Yonita, he pressed his palms together and bowed a little.
“I cannot apologize enough for my brother. I assure you such a thing has never happened before and I can promise it will not happen again. He-” Amiti cast around for an excuse. Lost his mind? No. They couldn’t be allowed to think Thaddeus mad. He...was ill? Hit his head? Was disturbed in his spirit? “He is most judicious about foreigners. The presence of Zoser must have given him such a shock that it...he wasn’t quite himself.”
Amiti didn’t react to Maeri’s kind hearted attempt to defend Thaddeus. He was too concerned that Yonita would withdraw her daughter’s acceptance. That maybe she thought the Jaffe men too indecent for her daughter.
“I will speak with him. Make him understand his error. I promise. I do think it might be best if we conclude the evening here, though. If you’ll forgive further inhospitality on my part. I regret any part I played, obviously.”
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He was bristling with anger at both the situation and his younger brother’s behavior in general. Thaddeus was usually much steadier than that and whatever was the matter, he very much doubted it was just a heathen visitor. It was moments like this that made Amiti glad his brother had little to no political ambition. They’d be a laughing stock if this got out. The good thing was that no one would believe Zoser if he said anything, though that Yonita had been here to witness it was bad. Amiti had the utmost confidence that Maeri could be relied upon not to say anything. Probably Yonita, too, as her own daughter would be involved.
Once they were out in the open night air, Amiti breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. He counted in his head, down from ten, was still angry, so restarted the count to twenty. He was on ‘8’ when Maeri spoke, causing him to turn to her. “I’m so sorry Amiti, I didn’t mean to make a scene.” That made him angrier. That Thaddeus should make this poor, naive thing feel blame. Yonita immediately and justifiably jumped to her daughter’s defense with, “There’s nothing you need apologize for, Maeri.”
For once, he and Yonita were in complete agreement, but when he looked up to exchange a look of camaraderie with her, he found the older woman’s eyes resting on him like he was about to assign out the blame to an innocent. That didn’t help the sudden spike in his blood pressure and he was forced to look away before he was tempted to find something to blame Maeri for just to contradict her mother.
“It would be hard for anyone to hold a civil tongue amongst such company.”
Amiti flinched. He would absolutely lay into Thaddeus later. Right now? It was time to salvage the situation. And, like any good politician, that meant groveling, which he fancied he could do fairly well. Turning to Maeri and to Yonita, he pressed his palms together and bowed a little.
“I cannot apologize enough for my brother. I assure you such a thing has never happened before and I can promise it will not happen again. He-” Amiti cast around for an excuse. Lost his mind? No. They couldn’t be allowed to think Thaddeus mad. He...was ill? Hit his head? Was disturbed in his spirit? “He is most judicious about foreigners. The presence of Zoser must have given him such a shock that it...he wasn’t quite himself.”
Amiti didn’t react to Maeri’s kind hearted attempt to defend Thaddeus. He was too concerned that Yonita would withdraw her daughter’s acceptance. That maybe she thought the Jaffe men too indecent for her daughter.
“I will speak with him. Make him understand his error. I promise. I do think it might be best if we conclude the evening here, though. If you’ll forgive further inhospitality on my part. I regret any part I played, obviously.”
He was bristling with anger at both the situation and his younger brother’s behavior in general. Thaddeus was usually much steadier than that and whatever was the matter, he very much doubted it was just a heathen visitor. It was moments like this that made Amiti glad his brother had little to no political ambition. They’d be a laughing stock if this got out. The good thing was that no one would believe Zoser if he said anything, though that Yonita had been here to witness it was bad. Amiti had the utmost confidence that Maeri could be relied upon not to say anything. Probably Yonita, too, as her own daughter would be involved.
Once they were out in the open night air, Amiti breathed deeply, trying to calm himself. He counted in his head, down from ten, was still angry, so restarted the count to twenty. He was on ‘8’ when Maeri spoke, causing him to turn to her. “I’m so sorry Amiti, I didn’t mean to make a scene.” That made him angrier. That Thaddeus should make this poor, naive thing feel blame. Yonita immediately and justifiably jumped to her daughter’s defense with, “There’s nothing you need apologize for, Maeri.”
For once, he and Yonita were in complete agreement, but when he looked up to exchange a look of camaraderie with her, he found the older woman’s eyes resting on him like he was about to assign out the blame to an innocent. That didn’t help the sudden spike in his blood pressure and he was forced to look away before he was tempted to find something to blame Maeri for just to contradict her mother.
“It would be hard for anyone to hold a civil tongue amongst such company.”
Amiti flinched. He would absolutely lay into Thaddeus later. Right now? It was time to salvage the situation. And, like any good politician, that meant groveling, which he fancied he could do fairly well. Turning to Maeri and to Yonita, he pressed his palms together and bowed a little.
“I cannot apologize enough for my brother. I assure you such a thing has never happened before and I can promise it will not happen again. He-” Amiti cast around for an excuse. Lost his mind? No. They couldn’t be allowed to think Thaddeus mad. He...was ill? Hit his head? Was disturbed in his spirit? “He is most judicious about foreigners. The presence of Zoser must have given him such a shock that it...he wasn’t quite himself.”
Amiti didn’t react to Maeri’s kind hearted attempt to defend Thaddeus. He was too concerned that Yonita would withdraw her daughter’s acceptance. That maybe she thought the Jaffe men too indecent for her daughter.
“I will speak with him. Make him understand his error. I promise. I do think it might be best if we conclude the evening here, though. If you’ll forgive further inhospitality on my part. I regret any part I played, obviously.”
That Amiti didn’t realize that the company that she had been referring to was the Egyptian was not a good sign as far as Yonita was concerned. Egyptians were nothing but trouble. While she had never had a good opinion of Egyptians, her husband, and love of her life’s death at the hand of Egyptians had only solidfied her opinion of the entire country.
Had there not been the time pressure of Talora’s pregnancy Yonita would have been reconsidering her choice of husband for Maeri. Unfortunately, this was her only chance. If it came out that Maeri’s older half-sister was pregnant out of wedlock, it would ruin Maeri’s chances to make a good match. In spite of his unfathomable love of Egyptians, Amiti seemed to be a kind and an intellegent man. Yonita knew that Maeri would not be happy married to someone cruel or stupid. Besides, it’s not like she wouldn’t have opportunities in the future to make her opinions known, and to show Amiti the naivety of his views. She wasn’t going to disappear from Maeri’s life just because she married Amiti.
So Yonita did not correct Amiti’s misconceptions about her reference. There was too much risk were she to create conflict before the marriage was assured. Besides, Thaddeus was not exactly innocent in the events of the night. He had made Maeri cry, and that was unacceptable. “See to it that you do. I won’t have my daughter mistreated by your family.” It was good to establish boundaries early with the in-laws. “Yes, I do believe that there has been enough excitement for the night. Yonita’s gaze rested for a moment on Maeri. Standing beside her uncomfortably. She was not going to ask the girl to go back in after the awkwardness of the confrontation between her and Thaddeus.
Still, there were courtesies that needed to be attended to before they could leave, and she turned her gaze back to Amiti. “Thank you for your hospitality and please make sure to convey those thanks to your father as well for inviting us into your home.” Yonita nodded her head to him, then turned her gaze to Maeri, who hesitated a moment then spoke a quiet “Yes thank you.”
With that, Yonita turned to leave, Maeri following along behind her. Yonita sighed a bit once they were out of sight. She hoped she was making the right choice for her daughter’s future.
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That Amiti didn’t realize that the company that she had been referring to was the Egyptian was not a good sign as far as Yonita was concerned. Egyptians were nothing but trouble. While she had never had a good opinion of Egyptians, her husband, and love of her life’s death at the hand of Egyptians had only solidfied her opinion of the entire country.
Had there not been the time pressure of Talora’s pregnancy Yonita would have been reconsidering her choice of husband for Maeri. Unfortunately, this was her only chance. If it came out that Maeri’s older half-sister was pregnant out of wedlock, it would ruin Maeri’s chances to make a good match. In spite of his unfathomable love of Egyptians, Amiti seemed to be a kind and an intellegent man. Yonita knew that Maeri would not be happy married to someone cruel or stupid. Besides, it’s not like she wouldn’t have opportunities in the future to make her opinions known, and to show Amiti the naivety of his views. She wasn’t going to disappear from Maeri’s life just because she married Amiti.
So Yonita did not correct Amiti’s misconceptions about her reference. There was too much risk were she to create conflict before the marriage was assured. Besides, Thaddeus was not exactly innocent in the events of the night. He had made Maeri cry, and that was unacceptable. “See to it that you do. I won’t have my daughter mistreated by your family.” It was good to establish boundaries early with the in-laws. “Yes, I do believe that there has been enough excitement for the night. Yonita’s gaze rested for a moment on Maeri. Standing beside her uncomfortably. She was not going to ask the girl to go back in after the awkwardness of the confrontation between her and Thaddeus.
Still, there were courtesies that needed to be attended to before they could leave, and she turned her gaze back to Amiti. “Thank you for your hospitality and please make sure to convey those thanks to your father as well for inviting us into your home.” Yonita nodded her head to him, then turned her gaze to Maeri, who hesitated a moment then spoke a quiet “Yes thank you.”
With that, Yonita turned to leave, Maeri following along behind her. Yonita sighed a bit once they were out of sight. She hoped she was making the right choice for her daughter’s future.
That Amiti didn’t realize that the company that she had been referring to was the Egyptian was not a good sign as far as Yonita was concerned. Egyptians were nothing but trouble. While she had never had a good opinion of Egyptians, her husband, and love of her life’s death at the hand of Egyptians had only solidfied her opinion of the entire country.
Had there not been the time pressure of Talora’s pregnancy Yonita would have been reconsidering her choice of husband for Maeri. Unfortunately, this was her only chance. If it came out that Maeri’s older half-sister was pregnant out of wedlock, it would ruin Maeri’s chances to make a good match. In spite of his unfathomable love of Egyptians, Amiti seemed to be a kind and an intellegent man. Yonita knew that Maeri would not be happy married to someone cruel or stupid. Besides, it’s not like she wouldn’t have opportunities in the future to make her opinions known, and to show Amiti the naivety of his views. She wasn’t going to disappear from Maeri’s life just because she married Amiti.
So Yonita did not correct Amiti’s misconceptions about her reference. There was too much risk were she to create conflict before the marriage was assured. Besides, Thaddeus was not exactly innocent in the events of the night. He had made Maeri cry, and that was unacceptable. “See to it that you do. I won’t have my daughter mistreated by your family.” It was good to establish boundaries early with the in-laws. “Yes, I do believe that there has been enough excitement for the night. Yonita’s gaze rested for a moment on Maeri. Standing beside her uncomfortably. She was not going to ask the girl to go back in after the awkwardness of the confrontation between her and Thaddeus.
Still, there were courtesies that needed to be attended to before they could leave, and she turned her gaze back to Amiti. “Thank you for your hospitality and please make sure to convey those thanks to your father as well for inviting us into your home.” Yonita nodded her head to him, then turned her gaze to Maeri, who hesitated a moment then spoke a quiet “Yes thank you.”
With that, Yonita turned to leave, Maeri following along behind her. Yonita sighed a bit once they were out of sight. She hoped she was making the right choice for her daughter’s future.