Morgan
Dragonrider
Problem Child
Posting Freak

Slee

“Okay! Who have we got up next? Bring one out!”

The fat little man gestured for guards to go and grab another from the cages. They came out with a struggling figure dressing rags. It was impossible to tell if the filthy, fighting slave was male or female, much less what species could claim it. Dust and dried mud made hair and skin color hard to see. The poor wretch tried every trick in the book to win free. . . only to be drug up on stage anyway. The scuffle ended with the slave on hand and knees facing the crowd. Lank hair hid the face, though piercing pale blue grey eyes surveyed the crowd with equal measures of hate and despair. A guard had a tight hold on the leather collar. The rest was just a mass of dark rags. A small glimpse of ivory skin could be seen under the edge of the collar.

“Oh, Neige. Must we part so soon?” Slee’s whispered words ended with mocking laughter. He turned back to the crowd and spoke louder. Here we have Neige. A one of a kind creature. Any of you want a challenge? Break this one. Two weeks at my tender mercies, and still fighting.”

Slee gave Neige’s unprotected backside a light kick.

“Who will give me one hundred for this one?”

kk. Do you want Silverhawk or another to join in? I'm fine with it if you are.

One of the old ladies in the squatter camp taught him to read from a book of Bible stories. His writing is very poor ... almost like a six year olds ... his reading his somewhat better... say about that of a 12 year old.

That is easy to understand. . . my question s where would he learn to read and write?

This is how I explained Kid's speech to Silverhawk.

Kid is mid teens...somewhere between 15 and 18. The language is based loosely on something I experienced in real life. When I was Kid's age a lot of my contemparies at school were ESL. (English Second Language) Their parents had immigrated from Pakistan after they were born and they were often the only person in the family who spoke any English at all. They spoke among themselves in Urdu and didn't really develop fluent or complex English because they only spoke it occasionally. They tended to use short sentences and miss out words, even though they were around english people all day.

Kid survives by avoiding people. Before he met the squatters he didn't speak English at all, much like the children I grew up with. In addition he has never had any formal education to correct his English, and the squatters weren't the best people to learn from. Since he left them, he has survived by avoiding contact with others as much as possible.

The plan is that his speech will improve when he has been around people who speak properly for a while.

I like it!

Yes I'll see it soon. And this is a really nifty service on TMC.