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Solas: It is an unusual thing, seeing a Qunari mage roam freely.
Saara: I am no longer Qunari. I am Tal-Vashoth now.
Solas: What you are is free to live your life as you will.
Saara: Do not presume to tell what I am, basra.
Solas: That word you spoke earlier. What does it mean?
Saara: It is an insult in Qunlat, used for those who are not of the Qun. It means “thing”.
Solas: Ah.
Saara: My apologies. I did not guard myself against my anger and I spoke out of turn against you.
Solas: I took no offense.
Saara: I did not expect you would. Nevertheless my apology stands.
Solas: You are not like other Qunari or Tal-Vashoth I have known, Saara.
Saara: You have met many?
Solas: You have no apparent interest in conversion, as many of the Qun do. Yet neither are you governed by rage, as many Tal-Vashoth are.
Saara: There is insulting simplicity in your assumptions.
Solas: Is there more to the Qun than ‘insulting simplicity’?
Saara: It seems you are more interested in conversion than I, bas saarebas.
Solas: More Qunlat?
Saara: There is no malice in these words. I speak only what you are.
Solas: Do not presume to tell me what I am, Tal-Vashoth.
Solas: You are skilled in the arts of magic, Saara. Far more so than many other mages I have met.
Saara: That is no blessing.
Solas: Why is it not? Because the Qun has taught you thus? Because you were indoctrinated from birth to believe you were a lesser being simply because you had magic?
Saara: Parshaara! Enough! I will not speak of this with you.
Solas: Saara.
Saara: I would wish you not speak with me. Your words provoke only anger, and there is nothing constructive in anger.
Solas: Why not? It proves you are an individual; it is a personal response to something in the world that is entirely your own.
Saara: You speak yet again of the Qun. I ask that you cease, as you do not know of what you speak.
Solas: I know exactly of what I speak. Why do you insist on defending that which actively oppresses any who seek to live as an individual? That from which you yourself have fled!?
Saara: The Qun has shaped me. As your world has, you. To deny it would be to deny myself. I have no wish to live an illusory life.
Solas: You do not deny that it oppresses?
Saara: It is a tool. As with any other, it can be used to harm or to help.
Saara: The words you speak have the sound of one who is cultured and well-mannered. Yet their meaning is blunt, and your intent is to make them sharp. Why is this?
Solas: Why the sudden curiosity? I was under the impression you did not wish to speak with me.
Saara: “There is no chaos in the world, only complexity./ Knowledge of the complex is wisdom.” You are complexity, bas saarebas. Your knowledge of magic and the world is at odds with your emotional response to the Qun. I would know why, if you would speak.
Solas: I cannot respect a system of society which seeks to oppress the minds of those who live under it. The Qun seeks to tear that which is most intimate and personal – the mind – away from those who follow. And so it comes to be that those who follow lose themselves. There is nothing honorable or good in that.
Saara: You speak of the ones who use the Qun, not of the Qun itself. But of them your words ring true, and I cannot disagree. It is why I left.
Solas: You mentioned in our last discussion that you left the Qun for a reason, Saara.
Saara: The Qun I still hold with me; Par Vollen I left for a reason. A reason that is not yours to know. Leave it be, bas saarebas.
Solas: You are a member of Leliana’s network of agents, are you not?
Saara: I am.
Solas: Does it not make your fellows uncomfortable? To be working so closely with a Tal-Vashoth mage?
Saara: I have my basvaarad, my keeper. Additionally I am kept as something of a specialist. I am allowed to operate away from most others, and so they should have no need to fear me. Besides, I have proven my worth and loyalty to them.
Solas: And I am glad for you that you have.
Solas: Saara, I have often heard you refer to several of your comrades as ‘kadan’. I assume it is a term of endearment?
Saara: It is. Its literal translation is ‘where the heart lies’, though it can refer to many things. Qunlat rests upon metaphors that allow for such differences in interpretation. As an example, I have always interpreted ‘kadan’ to mean ‘one who centers’.
Solas: Fascinating. So it can refer to any loved one, no matter the context?
Saara: Yes. I assume your language has similar terms?
Solas: It does. The closest term to your ‘kadan’ would be ‘vhenan’, which means ‘heart’ or ‘home’. Although I believe it is more exclusively used in romantic scenarios than ‘kadan’ might be.
Saara: Vhenan… It has a soft cadence, like music. Would you teach me more of your Elven words, Solas?
Solas: I would be honored, Saara.
Saara: (speaks in halting but determined Elvish)
Solas: You are picking this up very quickly! I admit, I’m surprised.
Saara: Many of the viddathari I knew in Par Vollen were elves. I could not ask them to teach me, so instead I listened. It seems my observations were not useless.
Solas: Viddathari?
Saara: Converts to the Qun. Many have come from Tevinter or Seheron to escape the slavery of the bas.
Solas: Ah. And they spoke to you?
Saara: They spoke around me. Saarebas do not speak and are not spoken to, unless by a superior or their arvaarad.
Solas: In that case, it was their loss.
Saara: I hadn’t thought you given to empty flattery.
Solas: Hardly empty.
Solas: Saara, would you consider teaching me some of your Qunlat?
Saara: You wish to learn?
Solas: Of course. You sound surprised.
Saara: I did not think that anything of the Qunari would hold any value for you.
Solas: And why not? You and I do not see eye to eye on everything, Saara—
Saara: Most things.
Solas: But that does not mean I am closed-minded. I cannot speak to the Qun, but your language certainly holds its own beauty. And, I admit, I’m curious about the metaphorical nature of Qunlat. Would you indulge me?
Saara: If you are certain, then it would be my honor.
Solas: Thank you.