Vashtara
EdRec Level
Pet Library
In which Cho sig’Radia offers a warning.
It’s interesting that the pet librarian doesn’t attract any norbears. One is tempted to wonder if he was chosen for norbear duty specifically because he doesn’t, and if so what that implies about the pet library’s attitude toward their charges.
The word Win Ton can’t think of a Terran equivalent for, cha’dramliz, is composed of familiar parts: “dramliz” is the Liaden word for people with supernatural abilities, while the “cha'” prefix is usually translated as “heart” when it appears in endearments like cha’leket and cha’trez. (It’s also a component of the word denoting “daring” in Korval’s motto.) That gives us “heart-wizards”, with “heart” having an emotional rather than an anatomical connotation, which suggests that here is the Liaden word which the series usually renders as “Healers”. And that’s obviously a translation convention, rather than a proper equivalent, so it’s not surprising that Win Ton was not able to lay his hand on the word.
The second chapter of Alliance of Equals confirms that “cha’dramliz” and “Healer” refer to the same thing.
Wait? Norbears! You can’t go by without mentioning norbears!
I see that once again I am mistaking the size description. One of the little creatures curls up on Win Ton’s palm. I had initially pictured them at least the size of a kitten. Then, I revised it down to guinea pig. But curling up in a palm sounds more like hamster-sized, don’t you think?
Who isn’t mentioning norbears?
Whoops! Yes, of course you mentioned norbears. I skimmed too fast for my brain to catch up!