Colourful Languages

The Winter Of The World, I.

A polite city greeting:

"'Oh guest, may God the Indweller shine forth between us.'" (p. 12)

(I like it.)

Donya reflects on her people's life away from the city:

"'Folk lose, folk win; in the end, we give back to the land what it lent us.'" (p. 14)

Casiru reflects on his city:

"Arvanneth, ancientest metropolis in the known world, was the labyrinth where subtleties and secrets dwelt." (p. 13)

Donya's first husband, Yven, comments on Arvanneth:

"'How many different masters has Arvanneth had, through how many thousands of years? And each believed he owned it, until time blew him away, and Arvanneth abided.'" (p. 14)

"Earth abides."

Casiru responds:

"'And the Lairs were never touched, eh? My sort continued like the rats.'" (ibid.)

Each kin-group has evolved its own dialect of Rogavikian so that Casiru has difficulty understanding conversation. Donya speaks Arvannethan haltingly. She intersperses some Rahidian words and translates for her kin. The Rahidian Empire, rebuilt by Barommians, has conquered Arvanneth and now threatens the Rogaviki.

Typical Andersonian and real-life complexity.