“Is this all right to wear to go calling?” Acorna asked, indicating the gown she had -worn the night before.
“My dear, it wouldn’t bother a soul if you went out unclothed altogether. We aren’t fussy about those things around here, not for modesty’s sake, anyway. But the weather does turn suddenly. Allow me to loan you something. You’ll be pleased to know extreme fashion is only utilized in formal clothing. For daytime wear we are rather more practical.”
Grandam raised the lid of one of the low tables, and inside were folded a variety of garments. From among these, she selected a simple knee-length tunic with long full sleeves and a neckline cut low in back to accommodate the hair that grew
down Acorna s spine and that of every other Linyaari. Acorna slipped it over her head.
“Very comfortable,” she said.
“Yes, but it does need a touch. It’s a bit too floppy on you. Here, this will do nicely.” Grandam handed her the most gorgeous belt Acorna had ever seen. The edges were intricately braided and interwoven of some strong but supple material, while the body of the belt was patterned -with faceted gemstone beads woven into the design of birds and water, flowers and distant mountains with a stream flowing the length of the belt. Acorna had to stroke and admire it a moment before buckling it around her waist. The buckle continued the pattern of the belt in a slightly wider motif of a very tall mountain with one sun setting and another rising on the other side of it.
Grandam smiled. “It suits you. Niciuye made it for me to wear for our ceremony of union when we were still courting. Unfortunately, it lacks a few Diich’