"Yeah, so you can get as far as 26 on one Endure once it's warm enough that a horse can make do with its fur and blankets."

That doesn't quite clear up her vocabulary confusion, but it answers the practical question of 'how much more walking is she signing up for', and unfortunately the answer is 'a lot'.  "And that's some time in the future, I expect."  She makes a bit of a face.  "At least I'll have a lot of conversation practice."

"Lots and lots!" winks Txell. "Nothing much else to do on a patrol."

Nod.  "Oh, and I said that I will start a reading group- the squad wished to express their gratitude to Nethys."  She starts digging out paper and charcoal.  "If you know of anyone who may like to join, could you tell them?  Particularly if they've their own books."

"Reading just whatever anyone's got around?"

"Yes, all that I have with me is the Book of Magic and a pamphlet on tax policy half written over.  So if needs must I'll start with that, but I hope someone may bring a book of more interest to the not wizard soldiers."

"I've got a romance novel."

"Would you like to join, then?  If you don't object to handing it about for others to read from?  A novel may draw more interest, although it is unfortunate to miss a part when one is on patrol..."

"I've read it a lot of times, if you'll Mend it for me if someone tears a page I'll let the group have it."

"Yes, definitely I will mend it if needs must.  You don't wish to join the group, just lend the book?  I ought figure out a place to leave it then..."  She adds a few words to her sign.

"I read fast, I stopped letting my mother read to me when I was five."

Khalida grins.  "Likewise- or no, I must have been somewhat older, my middle sister was, um, a moving infant.  What is it titled?"

"Condessa Paula and the Swordsman."

Note note.  "I thank you, this will help greatly."

Reading Group

Location:  check mess until further notice 

Time:  eighth hour of the evening 

As it has been suggested that Some among the Fort may wish to perform some Sign of Gratitude unto Nethys;

And as He is in addition to the God of Magic, That of Knowledge;

Those who are not themselves Wizards are advised of a Voluntary and Optional Reading Group.

[In smaller writing and squeezed between two lines:] Wizards are welcome also.

Readings to take place alternating on an Informal Basis, Handiwork and Discussion encouraged. 

Especial request to those who possess Texts they wish to share.

Reading List:

-Condessa Paula and the Swordsman

-

-

 

However many people she was expecting, the number she gets outside of her own squad is: three. Two of them are women from the kitchens and one of them is a crossbowman. Some of her squad is there too though.

Honestly she wasn't sure if she could expect anyone besides her squad, on the first day on short notice.  This is good?  Probably?

"Yes.  Um.  Hello everyone.  I thank you for joining me, and I hope you may forgive my poor Taldane."  Aaaand she's out of stock phrases.  "Do we all wish to begin, or discuss first?"

"Discuss what?" asks the crossbowman.

"Uh, if one has read this book before, or if one hasn't done a reading group and is unsure about it, or, uh, why one might practice a reading group for the All-Seeing?  Or any other question."

"Has this one got sex scenes?" asks one of her squadmates.

Shrug.  "I've not yet read it."  Does that mean what she thinks it means.  Do Chelish people really read that kind of novel in mixed company- of course they do, they don't think of mixed company as being a thing.  This is a downside of women being honorary men that she hadn't considered.  Did Txell offer it knowing the company would be mixed, or did she also not think of it.

"Are sex scenes pleasing unto Nethys?"

"Um."  No, okay, she does actually know the answer to the theological question, or rather know how to answer it.  Not blushing.  "Well.  A way in which Nethys is different from most other gods is... He doesn't convey teachings, not in a way mortal minds can follow?  Not and stay enough sane to tell them to other mortals, which is nearly in practice the same.  So much we know:  that He is pleased by magic especially, and by knowledge and learning, but I have no especial reason to believe that one kind of knowledge is more pleasing than any other?"

The kitchen women titter.

Oh lovely, that's the same double entendre in Taldane, she's expanding her sphere of knowledge so much today.  She forges on.  "I had hoped someone might have a book on natural philosophy, if I were so fortunate, as that teaches about the world and a novel only about what the author chose to write, but such is still itself a teaching."