The next week passed quietly. Paiokp suspected that the grandparents had also spoken to Lefeng, because the guarding-one said nothing further about Paiokp’s curse, for which Paiokp was immensely grateful. Ey was taking things a day at a time, not knowing what else to do, and focusing on finishing the presentation piece.

By the time the large piece was finished, Kolchais had mastered the basic stitch and had created a few small pieces — cuffs to be sewn on tunics as decoration — that were well enough to show in public. They discussed the matter over dinner and agreed it was time.

The next day, Chotaikytsai and Kolchais took the small pieces to visit the friendliest of the threadcraft families. While they were out, Paiokp went to the temple to speak with the priest who had initially spoke for the family.

The temple was one of the few buildings in the city made of stone. It stood three stories tall at the finial of a wide boulevard. A broad, shallow staircase led up to the main doors, flung wide to welcome worshippers but guarded by a squad of priest-warriors. The walls inside and out were covered with carvings and paintings of Tree and Wave. At the door, Paiokp introduced emself as a parent of the trial family and asked to speak with the priest who had visited them.

The guard hesitated a moment, then sent an acolyte into the temple and told Paiokp to wait in the prayer hall. A short time later, the acolyte was back, and told Paiokp to come. The acolyte (and for the first time Paiokp wondered how did one /become/ an acolyte? The priests weren’t a family, so where did new priests come from?) led Paiokp deep into the temple to a large and beautiful office where the priest who had come to meet the family waited.

Given the office, Paiokp wasn’t completely surprised when the acolyte greeted em as ‘high priest’.

Paiokp bowed, not knowing the proper etiquette, and wishing Kolchais had been well enough to make this trip. Thankfully, the priest accepted the bow and made normal small talk. When the priest finally asked after the reason for Paiokp’s visit, ey told the priest that the family has a presentation they wish to make to the temple and when might be the best time to make such a
presentation. Having been prompted by Tsouchm, ey clarified that they want to present their gift to all the priests.

The high priest was not entirely happy with this, but said that ey and the Navigator of the water priests would be jointly leading rites
in the Temple early the next week. The joint rites were not well attended though, so if this was meant to be a public presentation,
they would do better….

Paiokp thanked the high priest and assured em the family would be there next week for the rites.

When the day of the rites came, the family took extra care with their dress and Chestef was carefully coached on how to behave in eir first public appearance with the family. They proceeded to the temple together, led by Kolchais, as the acknowledged leader of the family.

Contrary to the high priest’s warning, when they got there the temple was full to bursting. Chotaikytsai and Kolchais had only shown the smaller pieces to the thread crafting families, but from there rumor had apparently flown. From what Paiokp heard as they approached the temple, everyone who could wanted to be present to see what the new family might be doing.

Paiokp, at the insistence of the others in the family, made the presentation along with Kolchais. Spreading the piece between them and holding it high so all could see, they approached the altar. They had been instructed to give it to the waiting acolytes, but the High Priest and Navigator stopped them and took the fabric themselves, marveling over the texture and pattern of it. Eventually, the priests recalled themselves and offered a blessing on the family before dismissing Kolchais and Paiokp and returning to the ceremony. But no was paying attention to the priests any longer. The stares and murmurs continued throughout the remainder of the ritual.

When the rites were over, the family tried to slip away, wanting to let the craft speak for itself and avoid getting the risk of Lefeng and Tsouchm getting drawn into family politics.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t escape entirely unnoticed. Their way was blocked by a person wearing the necklace of a council member. Paiokp saw Kolchais shrink back and stepped in front of em. Chotaikytsai stopped in front of the stranger, and Lefeng flanked eir, arms akimbo and somehow radiating “don’t push me.”

“Distance-Run counsellor.” Chotaikytsai said. “What can we do for you?”

Paiokp recognized the name — the Distance-Runner family was the family Kolchais had come from — the family that kicked Kolchais out. Paiokp scowled at the councilor before catching emself and taking on a suitably neutral expression.

The Distance-Runner pursed eir lips and said, “I am impressed,” though eir tone was anything but, “You have found a trade, though I do not recognize it. Is this some barbarian craft? How unorthodox, once-weaver.”

“My family is pleased to offer the city a new path,” Chotaikytsai said, ignoring the insult to Lefeng. “We developed it ourselves, right here within this very city.”

“My apologies, once-weaver,” the Distance-Runner drawled, “If it is not the barbarians work, though, I am concerned. You are the only crafter in your… family, once-weaver. And you are grandparent. Are you sure these can follow in your footsteps?” Ey gesstured at the parents-to-be. “I know that that one can’t,” pointing at Kolchais now, “Ey has never had the discipline for any decent work.”

Paiokp swore ey heard Lefeng growling. Before the once-walker could say anything foolish, Paiokp stepped forward, pushing the tall-one aside. “There is confusion, I fear. You must forgive me. City ways…” ey shrugged, rounding eir words to emphasize eir village speech and dropping the city speech patterns ey had learned these past months. “I said it wrong, I think. The gift we offer the temple was not the work of our honored grandparent. It was mine.”

Ey paused not sure how to continue, but Chotaikytsai spoke into eir silence, not giving the stranger another chance to speak.

“So you see, your concern is appreciated councillor, but unnecessary.

“Children, it is time we were home. Excuse us, gentles.”

This time the distance-runner stepped back as Chotaikytsai moved forward and Paiokp stepped forward as well, taking Lefeng’s arm as ey did so, so the guarding-one couldn’t hang back and take the councillor to task for eir insults to the family. A few moments later they were clear and out of the temple.

Somehow, the walk home seemed longer than the walk to the temple.

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