"You want me to what?"
C'kayah sat uncomfortably on the edge of his chair, holding a too-hot cup of liquor and frowning at the dark-skinned Matriarch perched before him.
"Take Rhaki in", she replied. Her face was calm and composed, her voice smooth. She'd aged in the years he'd known her, a streak of white contrasting to her dark hair, the lines at the corners of her eyes deeper than when he'd last seen her. She still carried the same easy air of authority, however. The same confidence that he would acquiesce, that his objections were merely part of the ritual they must go through.
"Why Rhaki? Why us?"
"She's restless", Farih said simply. When he didn't reply, she continued on. "She wants to make her mark in the world, and she doesn't think she can do it here, at home. I was the same way, when I was her age." The Matriarch smiled then, pleasure shining in her pale eyes.
"That answered my first question", he said, holding the tiny cup of heated liquor under his nose and inhaling its sharp scent. "Not my second." Inwardly he shook his head, though. He knew what she would say, and she didn't disappoint him.
"She's still ignorant of the larger world", Farih stated softly. "She needs someone to watch over her while she learns. Someone we can trust. And you…"
"And I owe you", he finished, nodding.
"And you owe me", she agreed.
He sipped the liquor, hissing a little as it burned the back of his throat. Her faint smile widened slightly. She knew what his acceptance of her hospitality signaled.
"Alright", he said, gazing flatly at her. "I'll take her in. Keep her safe."
"And teach her your business", she added, the tip of a sharp fang flashing against the dark skin of her lips.
He nodded, exhaling. "And teach her my business", he agreed, a note of defeat in his voice.
"Good", she purred. "Now, about those reagents you wanted to buy…"
C'kayah sat uncomfortably on the edge of his chair, holding a too-hot cup of liquor and frowning at the dark-skinned Matriarch perched before him.
"Take Rhaki in", she replied. Her face was calm and composed, her voice smooth. She'd aged in the years he'd known her, a streak of white contrasting to her dark hair, the lines at the corners of her eyes deeper than when he'd last seen her. She still carried the same easy air of authority, however. The same confidence that he would acquiesce, that his objections were merely part of the ritual they must go through.
"Why Rhaki? Why us?"
"She's restless", Farih said simply. When he didn't reply, she continued on. "She wants to make her mark in the world, and she doesn't think she can do it here, at home. I was the same way, when I was her age." The Matriarch smiled then, pleasure shining in her pale eyes.
"That answered my first question", he said, holding the tiny cup of heated liquor under his nose and inhaling its sharp scent. "Not my second." Inwardly he shook his head, though. He knew what she would say, and she didn't disappoint him.
"She's still ignorant of the larger world", Farih stated softly. "She needs someone to watch over her while she learns. Someone we can trust. And you…"
"And I owe you", he finished, nodding.
"And you owe me", she agreed.
He sipped the liquor, hissing a little as it burned the back of his throat. Her faint smile widened slightly. She knew what his acceptance of her hospitality signaled.
"Alright", he said, gazing flatly at her. "I'll take her in. Keep her safe."
"And teach her your business", she added, the tip of a sharp fang flashing against the dark skin of her lips.
He nodded, exhaling. "And teach her my business", he agreed, a note of defeat in his voice.
"Good", she purred. "Now, about those reagents you wanted to buy…"
