Nabi sniffed the three leaves in her hand. Each one smelled of its own distinct flavor: one with a tinge of spice, another with the deep fragrance of the woods, and the last with the sweetness of molasses. They were whole leaves, pressed then dried but still managing to keep their leathery in texture. While they crunched quietly in protest as she squeezed them, they did not break. She pressed them in between her hands, rolling them thinly. Neatly arranging them diagonally on top of a wrapper leaf, she began to roll it carefully into a fulm-long tube. Finally, she held the finished product before her eyes for inspection, a proud smile rising to her lips.
“Why are you even bothering?†Mimiyo broke the silence, her sharp tone wanting to break the Xaela’s moment of delight.
Nabi placed the roll next to the three others that she had made. “They call them cigars. A bigger, thicker versions of the cigarettes that I made for Tserende.†She was not going to let Mimiyo dampen her mood. Just recalling how pleasantly surprised Tserende was at her gift, the corner of her lips lifted further. It still brought her joy to see him preferring it over the rest.
“That isn’t my question,†Mimiyo scoffed behind the cup at her lips. “Why are you doing all this work for that woman.â€
Nabi turned from her work table, to face the Hingan woman who was seated in the middle of the room. As per their daily ritual, she had brought afternoon tea for them to share and found the Xaela making the cigars. Mimiyo was flabbergasted to say the least, when Nabi told her whom it was for.
“I am not sure that Shael is using the medicines I gave her properly, despite my instructions.†Nabi tilted her head, some measure of concern furrowing her brow. “But I saw that she really did enjoy the cigarette that Tserende offered her, so if I hid the medicines in these cigars, she would never know she is actually taking some of the remedies.†There was smug twinkle to her eyes.
The ceramic cup clanked upon the polished wooden table as the Hingan set it down somewhat firmly. “Need I remind you all the things that woman has done to you? And to our stall?â€
Nabi’s pursed her lips, her expression turning somewhat thoughtful. She rose from her table to come take a seat next to Mimiyo. She slid her hand upon the older woman’s and gave it a small squeeze. “I have not forgotten,†she said quietly. “But all is well. My ankle has healed, the potions from the purbol hunt made up for what was lost. And I don’t think she is ever going to try something like that again.†The Xaela tilted her head, golden eyes peering up at Mimiyo intently. “She has even taken a job with Tserende. Some honest work.â€
“You mean until her arm and hand has mended. Who else would hire her?†Mimiyo shook her head, disbelief clear in her critical tone. “I don’t know what you two are thinking. She should be in jail.†The older woman humphed and poured herself more tea. “You think she suffered those injuries doing honest work? People like her associate with criminals and the like.â€
"How do you think her arm was broken?" Tserende’s voice suddenly echoed in Nabi’s memory unbidden. It brought forth a small frown and the Xaela paused. It was in response to her asking him how he had encountered her after the incident at the market. It was such an off handed answer, that in that moment, Nabi’s mind refused to go to the next logical conclusion. Even now, a part of her was reluctant to accept it.
“You trust his judgement, don’t you?†Nabi asked, clearing her throat. She poured herself some tea, suddenly the back of her mouth feeling dry.
“Hmph,†Mimiyo exhaled as she brought the cup to her lips again. It was a reluctant concession.
Nabi fell silent as she took a sip, her gaze lowered in thought. When she was summoned to the Bokairo Inn by Ushitora to help attend to an injured patron, never in a million years she would have thought it would be the very same woman who has been causing her all sorts of trouble for the last moon. But it had indeed been Shael Stormchild lying nearly unconscious on the floor of her room, her arm and hand badly broken. There was only a moment’s hesitation on Nabi’s part, in whether she should explain to the innkeeper of their sordid history. But there was no denying that the woman’s hand was in bad shape, and Nabi was never the one that could ignore neglected injuries.
Despite the Highlander’s initial belligerence, Nabi somehow managed to talk her into accepting treatment, and reduced the angle of the broken bones. The Highlander barely sat still long enough for her to put a cast on the arm and hand, and adjust the length of the sling. The fevered look that used to burn in her eyes had given way to a tired sunken gaze, although despite the weariness that seemed to weigh her frame, Shael was determined to not relinquish her antagonistic nature the entire time.
The awkward situation was only made more complicated when Tserende discovered that she was treating Shael and insisted on accompanying her for her next visit. There was a certain measure of tension between them early on, this Nabi noticed. She then learned that it was Tserende that had witnessed Shael’s “fall†-- the reason that Shael gave Nabi initially for her injuries -- and that he was the one who brought the unconscious woman to the inn.
When all the coincidence of the events were laid out before her, the missing pieces seemed to take clear shape. Even if neither Shael nor Tserende wanted to tell her outright how it had happened, just examining the nature of the injury, Nabi could tell that it was no fall that caused it.
And yet, she was still unwilling, not wanting to accept it.
After all the scars she had glimpsed upon the man during their time in the lake, and the tales of hardships and injuries he had shared with her, a part of her still did not want to see the violence that was part of his history, and possibly part of his life still.
Was she being intentionally obtuse in believing that his new life here would help him shed what was likely an ingrained part of who he was?
“What shall you do when you do not like what you learn?â€
“Well, if this was just your idea, I would call you much too obliging.†Mimiyo’s prattle filtered through her senses again. “Just like your mother,†the Hingan woman added with a soft sigh as she set the cup down on the table. “But I suppose that mercenary of yours can keep an eye on her if she is under his employ.â€
Nabi flicked a glance at the woman, her pensive expression easing to a soft smile. There were small hints that Mimiyo was starting to approve of Tserende, ever since the Steppe incident. There was notably less criticism directed his way, and sometimes even an implication of unspoken trust. Nabi shook off whatever doubtful thoughts that wanted to linger and gave the Hingan woman another small squeeze of her hand.
“Everyone deserves a second chance. A new start, yes?†The Xaela's smile broadened. “I think this will be one.â€
“Why are you even bothering?†Mimiyo broke the silence, her sharp tone wanting to break the Xaela’s moment of delight.
Nabi placed the roll next to the three others that she had made. “They call them cigars. A bigger, thicker versions of the cigarettes that I made for Tserende.†She was not going to let Mimiyo dampen her mood. Just recalling how pleasantly surprised Tserende was at her gift, the corner of her lips lifted further. It still brought her joy to see him preferring it over the rest.
“That isn’t my question,†Mimiyo scoffed behind the cup at her lips. “Why are you doing all this work for that woman.â€
Nabi turned from her work table, to face the Hingan woman who was seated in the middle of the room. As per their daily ritual, she had brought afternoon tea for them to share and found the Xaela making the cigars. Mimiyo was flabbergasted to say the least, when Nabi told her whom it was for.
“I am not sure that Shael is using the medicines I gave her properly, despite my instructions.†Nabi tilted her head, some measure of concern furrowing her brow. “But I saw that she really did enjoy the cigarette that Tserende offered her, so if I hid the medicines in these cigars, she would never know she is actually taking some of the remedies.†There was smug twinkle to her eyes.
The ceramic cup clanked upon the polished wooden table as the Hingan set it down somewhat firmly. “Need I remind you all the things that woman has done to you? And to our stall?â€
Nabi’s pursed her lips, her expression turning somewhat thoughtful. She rose from her table to come take a seat next to Mimiyo. She slid her hand upon the older woman’s and gave it a small squeeze. “I have not forgotten,†she said quietly. “But all is well. My ankle has healed, the potions from the purbol hunt made up for what was lost. And I don’t think she is ever going to try something like that again.†The Xaela tilted her head, golden eyes peering up at Mimiyo intently. “She has even taken a job with Tserende. Some honest work.â€
“You mean until her arm and hand has mended. Who else would hire her?†Mimiyo shook her head, disbelief clear in her critical tone. “I don’t know what you two are thinking. She should be in jail.†The older woman humphed and poured herself more tea. “You think she suffered those injuries doing honest work? People like her associate with criminals and the like.â€
"How do you think her arm was broken?" Tserende’s voice suddenly echoed in Nabi’s memory unbidden. It brought forth a small frown and the Xaela paused. It was in response to her asking him how he had encountered her after the incident at the market. It was such an off handed answer, that in that moment, Nabi’s mind refused to go to the next logical conclusion. Even now, a part of her was reluctant to accept it.
“You trust his judgement, don’t you?†Nabi asked, clearing her throat. She poured herself some tea, suddenly the back of her mouth feeling dry.
“Hmph,†Mimiyo exhaled as she brought the cup to her lips again. It was a reluctant concession.
Nabi fell silent as she took a sip, her gaze lowered in thought. When she was summoned to the Bokairo Inn by Ushitora to help attend to an injured patron, never in a million years she would have thought it would be the very same woman who has been causing her all sorts of trouble for the last moon. But it had indeed been Shael Stormchild lying nearly unconscious on the floor of her room, her arm and hand badly broken. There was only a moment’s hesitation on Nabi’s part, in whether she should explain to the innkeeper of their sordid history. But there was no denying that the woman’s hand was in bad shape, and Nabi was never the one that could ignore neglected injuries.
Despite the Highlander’s initial belligerence, Nabi somehow managed to talk her into accepting treatment, and reduced the angle of the broken bones. The Highlander barely sat still long enough for her to put a cast on the arm and hand, and adjust the length of the sling. The fevered look that used to burn in her eyes had given way to a tired sunken gaze, although despite the weariness that seemed to weigh her frame, Shael was determined to not relinquish her antagonistic nature the entire time.
The awkward situation was only made more complicated when Tserende discovered that she was treating Shael and insisted on accompanying her for her next visit. There was a certain measure of tension between them early on, this Nabi noticed. She then learned that it was Tserende that had witnessed Shael’s “fall†-- the reason that Shael gave Nabi initially for her injuries -- and that he was the one who brought the unconscious woman to the inn.
When all the coincidence of the events were laid out before her, the missing pieces seemed to take clear shape. Even if neither Shael nor Tserende wanted to tell her outright how it had happened, just examining the nature of the injury, Nabi could tell that it was no fall that caused it.
And yet, she was still unwilling, not wanting to accept it.
After all the scars she had glimpsed upon the man during their time in the lake, and the tales of hardships and injuries he had shared with her, a part of her still did not want to see the violence that was part of his history, and possibly part of his life still.
Was she being intentionally obtuse in believing that his new life here would help him shed what was likely an ingrained part of who he was?
“What shall you do when you do not like what you learn?â€
“Well, if this was just your idea, I would call you much too obliging.†Mimiyo’s prattle filtered through her senses again. “Just like your mother,†the Hingan woman added with a soft sigh as she set the cup down on the table. “But I suppose that mercenary of yours can keep an eye on her if she is under his employ.â€
Nabi flicked a glance at the woman, her pensive expression easing to a soft smile. There were small hints that Mimiyo was starting to approve of Tserende, ever since the Steppe incident. There was notably less criticism directed his way, and sometimes even an implication of unspoken trust. Nabi shook off whatever doubtful thoughts that wanted to linger and gave the Hingan woman another small squeeze of her hand.
“Everyone deserves a second chance. A new start, yes?†The Xaela's smile broadened. “I think this will be one.â€
