//------------------------------// // Intermission : The Troll Queen Cometh // Story: The Unity Pact // by Truthseeker //------------------------------// As it turned out, the Kavim language, properly named Velensolvth, was similar to American and even English. "The formation of sentences is identical as is the tone of voice and vocal inflection when stressing meaning. The differences began to become readily apparent when Razor Wit and I began translating simple words. 'Emooli' means hello/greetings, 'heef' means yes/affirmative, and 'xae' means no/negative. However, the pronunciations for each are unusual for an American speaking person to read out loud. For example the Velensolvth word 'visi' is pronounced 'vees-eye'. Thankfully their lettering system is fairly similiar with one huge exception, they have no symbol or use for the letter 'B' or its sound and they have, in its place a sound where you let your lips hang limply and blow air through them. That makes a flapping noise that seems to replace the 'B' sound. Interrogatives are a perfect example of how Velensolvth can be confusing. The language works on an extensive system of suffixes. The Velensolvth word for indicating a question is 'hetl', however, depending on the suffix you add onto it, it can alter the meaning significantly. Hetlin = who Hetlar = what Hetlun = where Hetleer = when Hetliru = why Hetlima = how much Hetlim = how Fortunately the suffixes seem to be universal: In = refers to a person, Pony, or sentient individual Ar = refers to a thing, an item, or a non-sentient organism Un = refers to a location, a place, or coordinates Eer = refers to time or duration Iru = refers to a reason or explanation Ima = refers to quantity, length, width, volume En = indicates to possession Mane = male Mine = female Ix = dead, deceased, not alive, expired Im = alive, vigorous, vivacious Other full words are: En = my (indicating ownership) Anen = mine (indicating ownership) Gano = I Rem = it Oom = is Entala = going, go, venture Raa = to Evanin = you Quellya = injure, hurt, damage Helunti = name Hundiri = that Uldin = are Pesto = here Pestop = there Wan = good or acceptable Awan = bad or unacceptable Khiri = fertile Khirim = pregnant Linvo = sterile Linvix = dying Fenovie = species, breed, tribe, race Eet = with Ivt = and Nuvia = over Nuviu = under Degnif = read Degnifa = write Jemca = speak Jemces = silence or stop speaking Fridath = creature, beast, animal Piramin = Guard Piramun = civilian Piramine = Princess Piramane = Prince Giramine = Queen Giramane = King Kavimane = stallion Kavimine = mare Sevahe = retrieve Semin = them Tunun = camp Peb-b-bun = return Dufen = our Ostarn = understand or comprehend Av = one Ava = two Ev = three Eve = four Ov = five Ovo = six Uv = seven Uvu = eight Iv = nine Ivi = ten Avav = eleven Avava = twelve Avev = thirteen Aveve = fourteen Avov = fifteen Avovo = sixteen Avuv = seventeen Avuvu = eighteen Aviv = nineteen Avaivi = twenty Dav = twenty-one Dava = twenty-two Davev = twenty-three Dev = thirty Deve = forty Dov = fifty Dovo = sixty Duv = seventy Duvu = eighty Div = ninety Kivi = one hundred Kava = two hundred Kev = three hundred Keve = four hundred Ftil = buy or purchase Ftul = sell Grut = big or large (size not amount) Grat = small or little (size not amount) Keetil = sugar Keetal = salt Svandi = circle Svandit = oval or egg-shaped Opo = square Opot = cube or three-dimensional square B-b-bram = triangle B-b-bramt = cone Opa = rectangle Opat = rectangular box Otel = apple Amino = orange Erlon = pear B-b-b-onla = strawberry Denola = blueberry Amnelo = raspberry Rajhal = tomato Tineb-b-b = potato Agon = red Agan = yellow Agyan = blue Agyoan = black Aget = white Ageon = pink Agayn = purple Agaon = orange Agayan = green Agvad = silver Agkum = gold Lamine = blood Mother Petamine = non-blood Mother Lamane = blood Father Petamane = non-blood Father Pteramine = co-wife Uldimine = sister (same Mother and Father) Uldimane = brother (same Mother and Father) Vindamine = sister (same Father, different Mother) Vindamane = brother (same Father, different Mother) Selamine = sister (different Father and Mother / adopted) Selamane = brother (different Father and Mother / adopted) Themnia = friendship / kinship / close bond (non-blood) Now, oftentimes an entire word is merely a mixture of suffixes, 'her's' (indicating ownership) is 'minen' or 'his' (indicating ownership) is 'manen'. Other times a whole word is added to another word as a suffix, 'it's' is 'remoom'." I put down the pencil and rubbed my eyes, "Cinlel Duron, " I addressed my tan companion, her name was one of the first things I dedicated to memory. She raised her head from her flashcards, "Where is incorrect?" She meant to ask, 'what is wrong?' but I understood her well enough. She had been trying to understand American and I had been trying to understand Velensolvth. It was slow going. So many small words with so many similar pronunciations but opposite meanings, it was maddening. I tried to piece together what I wanted to say in Velensolvth, "Pesto awan. Gano oom entala raa entala ix . . . " I trailed off with a frustrated sigh. Razor Wit cocked her head to the left, "Celestia?" she asked. I nodded, "Celestia." * * * I specifically made it a point to disturb Princess Celestia as little as possible, but this time it could not be helped. The white Alicorn strode purposefully into the room, accompanied by two of her Guards as usual, "What's wrong?" she asked concerned, "You said something about death?" I scratched the back of my head with my left hand, "Yeah, I tried to use a phrase that didn't translate very well. What I meant to say was, 'if I don't get out of this room I'm going to die of boredom.' I've been cooped up in here for the past three weeks. Cinlel and I have been working from sun up until sun down every single day and I'm losing my mind. I need to get out, I need exercise, and as much as I hate to say it, I need meat. I haven't had a scrap of chicken, beef, pork, or fish since I woke up. I'm going stir crazy in here." I gestured to Celestia, "You have my memories, you should know I'm a kinetic learner, I learn by doing, by practice. Cinlel is doing the best she can, but I need some variety, some flavor. I know I'm being whiny about this, but here soon, I'm going to be trying to climb the walls. I don't mean to sound ungrateful by any means but what if one of your Kavim actually need to use the rooms on this floor? Surely there's a spare room SOMEWHERE in Canterlot. I really do need to exercise too, I'm weak and lethargic. I'd also like the chance to interact with more than Cinlel, the doctor, and the two Guards and besides I really miss my friends. There's only so much I can do at a time, I mean would it really be so bad to just give Razor . . . Cinlel my language?" Celestia let out a sigh and shook her head, "You already know I won't do that. I thought I explained last time." I waved my right hand dismissively as I turned and began pacing, "I know, I know. You only use those spells in unusual circumstances, yeah I got that part. Princess please, I'm only one man here, I'm not a machine. Besides, Academic learning is my weakest suit, kinetic learning is how I adapt the best. I learn by doing. Why not have Cinlel escort me me out in Canterlot, you know, as a safety measure in case I say something truly idiotic by accident." Celestia lapsed into a contemplative silence for several long minutes before a creepy smile slowly crept its way onto her features. She turned to Razor Wit and asked her a question too quickly for me to follow. After a brief conversation between the two mares, which left Razor looking terribly excited, Celestia turned back to me, "You want social interaction, exercise, and time away from working so you have a chance to learn by action, right?" I nodded and she continued, "How about I throw in the chance to learn about our cultural similarities and differences too?" She had my undivided attention, "Your troll-grin is creeping me out something fierce, but you have my attention." Her grin broadened significantly, "How about I set you up to interact with say . . . a farmer, an animal specialist, an athlete, a seamstress, a librarian, and . . . a baker so you can put on a few pounds?" The idea sounded odd to me, it was a strange combination, "I like the idea, but that's a heck of a wide variety." Celestia smiled innocently and tilted her head to the side, "Well you can get your exercise from the athlete and working with the farmer will earn you some money so you can learn about our system of currency. The animal specialist and the seamstress will broaden your social experiences to all sides of life, besides you need some clothes. The Librarian will be there to assist you and Razor Wit with academic learning when you need a reference point and the baker will simply be a friendly face and source of treats." she put her left fore hoof up to her chin and rubbed, "Do you really think it's wise to just jump right into Canterlot, the capital of Equestria? Wouldn't you be a little more comfortable starting out . . . smaller?" I was still somewhat caught up on the baker, "I'm not overly fond of sugary foods, but a slice of zucchini bread does sound heavenly." I pondered the idea for a moment before registering what she had said, "Yeah, big crowds do make me nervous actually. I think I'd prefer something a lot smaller, some little village perhaps." Celestia's troll-grin hit a figurative crescendo that assured me she was up to something, "I know just the place."