Insha ka Forna

Orven suppressed a disgusted shudder and handed the fur-covered skin back to the young Eorhil woman who had appeared at his side as they gathered round the fire. "Thank you, lady. But no." She frowned then shrugged, saying something in her own language.

"She wants to know how many elk you've hunted," Dahrena translated.
"Elk? None," he replied, nodding and smiling at the young woman. "But many boar and deer. My family has a large estate."
Dahrena relayed his reply, provoking a puzzled exchange.

"She doesn't know what an estate is," Dahrena explained. "The Eorhil have no understanding of how one can own land."
"Or even that the plains they live on are owned by the crown," Adal put in. "One of the reasons they saw no need to fight the first Realm settlers. You can't claim something that can't be owned, so why fight over it?"
"Insha ka Forna," the young woman said to Orven, patting her chest.
"Steel in Moonlight," Dahrena said with a small smile. "Her name."
"Ah, Orven," the captain said, patting his own chest. "Orrvennn."

This provoked another exchange with Dahrena. "She wanted to know what it means. I told her it's the name of a great hero from legend."

"But it isn't," Orven said.
"Captain . . ." Dahrena paused to smother a chuckle. "When an Eorhil woman chooses to tell a man her given name, it's a considerable compliment."
"Oh." The captain gave Insha ka Forna a broad smile, finding it returned. "Is there a suitable response?"
"I think you just gave it."