Ahnya doesn't pay much mind to Vala's expertise with a knife. Sure, she could let her mind wonder, but she didn't feel the need to, not today. If it were some other family, perhaps, but not the Vespidas, regardless on their reputation. Besides, she found herself a little more interested in what Dolich had to say, and it was only fair that she return the attention he had shown her. Though, Vala's words make her chuckle a little.
Before she can reply, however, she looks to Dolich, not looking to interrupt, and listens intently. The politics of humans seem so... exhausting, if she were to be honest. The Av'rae have their own politics, absolutely, but not nearly as convoluted as these human nobles. House Fletcher? She had heard that name before, spoken by some Av'rae entertainers she had met and traded with on the roads. They pay good money it seems, but not always for the kind of work Ahnya and her crew were interested in. Well, everyone but Tahl perhaps.
She holds up a hand to dismiss the apology, it was fine by her. Siblings would always have their squabbles. "They are indeed boring," she says in agreement. She lets the artifact conversation go, it too holding little interest to her. "Before I speak of myself," she begins. "I have a question. Why must you human nobles marry other human nobles?" Her question sounds like a simple one, but she reckons it goes far deeper than that. "If all the families hate each other and just want power, and I must put myself in the human mind of this, why share it? Why not marry a commoner like your servants or towns folk? I have noticed and taken note of many beautiful and handsome servants around the castle, and the towns folk must like you as their rulers, so they won't betray you, and your power need not be consolidated." She looks between the two, then shrugs. "Playing politics with the other families seems dreadful and stressful. Marriage is meant to be happy, no? Be with the one you love, because what is more power if you are miserable? You are already powerful, but you could be powerful and happy." She twirls her fork in her hand and rolls her eyes. "Buuuut what do I know, I am just a happy nomad with no power of my own. I do however, have very little stress, many friends, and I've seen much the world, from the human lands to the dwarven holds and the icey northern lands of the giants to the deserts snake kingdoms of the south."
"Speaking of myself, I should entertain your request," she says, looking to Dolich now. "My family are cast far and wide. My mother and father are closer to friends than they are my parents. They fulfilled their oath as Av'rae to have an Av'rae first born, before giving me to a group mother, who feels more of an Auntie. This is something I realized your humans look down on, but to an Av' it is not uncommon to give your child to someone who wants to raise them. They are good people, I see them and their spouses often, but they did not wish to be parents when I was born." She pauses to sip from her tankard.
"So I was brought up by my aunty and her children, and they were, and still are, adventurers, guides, and explorers," she continues. "There are two exceptions. One of my cousins and his wife are blacksmiths, closer to the eastern mountain holds. His wife is one of the few Orckins accepted by the Dwarves out there, perhaps due to her skill. Another cousin operates a business in one of the coastal cities to the west, she's quite successful. Many look down on her for owning a brothel, but they change their tune when they understand she does not participate in such activities, and from my understanding never has. She is just a shrewd business woman."
"The other three, they are on the road always," she says, putting down her knife and fork for but a moment. "Two... I actually have not heard from in a while, personally, but Shyv'Ahna says they are well. She is my other cousin, a guide and... How do I put it?" She stops and ponders for a moment. "There is a word for it in my language, but I am not sure it translates. Garda an léigiún scothaosta. I think the closest translation is a warrior, or guard, perhaps? She is not to be fucked with, by human standards."
"My people meet all the time on the roads," she says, picking up her knife and fork once more, and tucking back in. "Mostly by chance. If there are many, it is a time for celebration, with song and dance, drink and food, and games. If there are only a few, however, it is a time to enjoy quiet company of our kin, and tell stories. Like you humans do, actually." There's one thing they have in common. "Rendezvous and scheduled meetings are a thing, yes, but it as individual as your own. Festivals and events, however, those are indeed a thing among my people, and the grounds on which they occur, but those aren't meant for outsiders. They are the closest things we have to a permanent home, and after some of your kind declared war on us for unjust reasons, we choose to keep them secret."
"However!" Ahnya says before anyone can interrupt. "There are some we share with other races. Once a year, three of our clans meet at the eastern mountain holds and celebrate Victory Day with the Dwarves, to commemorate when the previous elders of our clans allied with the Dwarves to drive back the goblin armies that threatened the mountain passes, and the alliance between our people that it formed. Others come for the celebrations and to spend their gold, but some of the older Dwarves still hold grudges about the humans and Orckin doing nothing to help. Do not get them started on the elves, but, well... there aren't many left of them now, are there." It wasn't a secret that the elves became reclusive after the magic was imprisoned. Unlike their cousin Av'rae, they couldn't overcome their loss of magic.
She takes a deep breath and a swig of her tankard. "Hoo. Apologies, I do not often get to speak of myself or my people to someone who is actually interested." She smiles brightly at the pair, but mostly its directed at Dolich. She didn't anticipate Vala would be at all interested, which is a shame, as Ahnya found the woman curious. "Thank you for the attention."