It was the perfect dawn calm. No wind had picked up yet, and the Arova was a perfect grey mirror, only interrupted by drifting patches of mist. Even the Festival parties had gone silent, the few wiks still awake enjoying a bit of calm, while the ones already waking up respected the sleep of the party-goers.

A small dark-haired silhouette was crouched on the beach, shivering over a miniature raft. It was a crude contraption, but it floated upright and supported the weight of the candle placed on it. The problem was how to light that candle.

The matches Shi had brought from her kint were wet, and refused to light. And the witch refused to use a match spell.
I've borne and birthed her without help from the mona, I will sent her off the same way!
But that meant going back to the kint to search for other matches. She was not sure she would find the courage to come back to this beach.

Xanadu had been up long before dawn, preparing her cart for the journey to Vienda. Everything was in order now, and she was ready to head out right after she had a bit of breakfast and bought some food for her journey. It was early yet. There were probably very few, if any, food stalls open at this hour. She would wait an hour or two and then go searching for provisions.

She decided to visit the beach while she waited. She was not certain whether she would be able to attend another festival; it all depended on where her future led. She would savor this trip to the beach in the misty dawn light ... it might be the last time she ever saw it.

She donned her shoulder guards and called her two miraan. Unable to whistle, she had taught them to come to simple mugrobi commands. Keishet and Omari obediently flew to her shoulders, crooning happily. They loved being taken outdoors.

Closing the door of the cart behind her, she set out, strolling leisurely through the festival grounds. The miraan left her shoulders and flew about, chasing each other through the sky. She smiled at them. They were turning into the perfect little companions. She always enjoyed watching their antics and loved how they slept beside her every night.

As she neared the beach, she saw that she was not the morning's first visitor. The figure of a woman was crouched by the water. From this angle, the dancer could not see what she was doing. She did look familiar, though. Curious, she moved closer. Now she could see that the woman was trying to light a candle sitting on a little raft. It was much like the little Shunak Xanadu had used to set Glorie's spirit free. It looked as if this woman was having her own private Fotomos ceremony.

It also seemed as if she were having trouble lighting the candle. Xanadu reached in the pocket of her loose pants, hoping she still had the matches with her that she had used to light the fire outside her cart. Her fingers closed around the box and she pulled it out, opening it and taking out a single match.

Coming up beside the woman, she held it out. “I believe you could use this,” she said.

Shi heard footsteps coming closer on the beach. Not that Xanadu was heavy, but the place was indeed very calm, magnifying any small noise. And the witch decided to ignore the intruder. She wanted to be left alone. To do this alone. Having decided to stop being angry at Noli or at the other wicks hadn't made her less sure that nobody could really understand her. Maybe the stranger would take the hint and leave?

No, the steps cam closer, and a woman's voice addressed her. She wasn't pleased, but how can you be angry at someone who meant to help you? It was with these mixed feelings that she turned towards the woman, and decided to accept her match.
"Thanks."

The dark-haired witch forced herself to cross the woman gaze and give her a short weak smile. And found herself gazing at dark eyes she knew.
But from where? This woman was obviously Mugrobi. But she looked too young for Shi to have met her there. And what would a Mugrobi nattle be doing on Surwood anyway?
She frowned. "Do I know you?"

It was difficult to remember someone when all you saw was her back, but when Shi turned her face to Xanadu, the memories returned. “Oes, as a matter of fact, you do,” she smiled. “My name is Xanadu Aurelia. We met seven years ago, here, at the festival. Your daughter found mine wandering alone and you returned her to me. I have often wondered what happened to you and your daughter. She must be quite a beautiful young lady now.” Her smile faded slightly as she thought of Glorie's bright little life cut so short. She had never even had the chance to become the age Shi's daughter had been when they had first met.

Her eyes moved to the little raft with the candle in it, her mind wandering back to her own Fotomos ceremony. Although she had been surrounded by others also sending the spirits of loved ones to the gods, they had all been quiet, lost in their own memories. She doubted she would have been very tolerant if someone had been chattering away to her during that most private time.

“Epaemo,” she said, ashamed of her insensitivity. “I did not mean to interrupt your ceremony. Please forgive me. I hope you find the peace with yours that I have found with mine.” With a slight nod of her head, she turned to go, calling to Keishet and Omari, who were winging across the water, diving and splashing.

The name did not mean much to Shi. But the mention of the circumstances, of the child, did. And then, everything came back. There weren't that many Mugrobi nattle travelling with the Black Hand, so her memory, and those of the young girl, was still vivid in the witch's mind.

She nodded in recognition and weakly returned the smile, even taking the time to perform a small Hoxian bow, though from below, still crouching.
"Ma'ralio, Xanadu Aurelia."
Yes, Ti was becoming a gorgeous lady...
The green-eyed witch took a long breath before answering, frowning at the bird's antics, looking at the newly created waves blurring the water mirror. You could not be angry at animals for acting like that, but it was another contrariety in what should have been a perfect ceremony.
I could not protect my daughter, and now, I cannot even say goodbye correctly.

During that time, Xanadu had politely excused herself, and called back her pets to walk away. Shi watched her taking the first step before she spoke.
"You can stay. That is, if you wish..." Wrong way to say it! "I... I mean I don't mind."
The woman was a mother after all. Maybe she would understand. And she was not one of those Yellow or Red who had started the whole thing by finding it necessary to kill each other.
It seemed strange to put a Black Hand above Yellows or Reds. She still remembered spending time explaining Neti to be wary of them.
I've been wrong about so many things anyway...

Xanadu hesitated for a moment, and then turned back around. The miraan, diving down to land on her shoulders, were confused at the sudden movement and hovered in the air, their little heads tilted to the side on their long serpentine necks. A few droplets of water splashed from their wings onto her head. The mugrobi smiled at them and waved them away. They crooned their understanding and flew back over the water, continuing to play.

It seemed to Xanadu that Shi was not certain about what she was doing. She reminded the young mugrobi of herself only days ago when she had set Glorie's spirit free. The woman did seem quite distraught. Whether she would welcome her help or not, Xanadu did not know, but at least she could offer. She might not be able to do much but listen, yet sometimes that was enough.

She crouched down beside Shi, looking out over the water. “A few days ago, I did what you are doing now,” she said. “I sent a little basket laden with toys and a candle down the river. I had held my daughter's spirit close to me for five long years, and it was hard to let her go. But I set the basket afloat anyway, and as I watched it disappear from view, I felt a peace inside me that I had never felt before. When I set her spirit free, I set myself free as well.” She put one dark hand on Shi's shoulder. “I don't know who you have lost, but you will feel better once you release their spirit to the gods.” Her words seemed inadequate, but perhaps they would help.

The meaning of the words didn't register immediately in the witch's mind. She just accepted them as kind words. A few days ago, she would have refused the comparison between her loss and another one. Barely one week ago, she had refused to participate to the collective Fotamos. But today, she accepted them as they were. Kind words. Inadequate for the moment, but not more as other words would have been.

Until she realized what she had heard. She means her little girl... Strangely for someone who had never been good at remembering names, Shi found she immediately remembered the girl's name. Glorie. Her too?

The green-eyed witch cast an horrified look at the Mugrobi now crouched beside her, adding her pale hand to the brown one on her shoulder.
"You mean... Your daughter?"
She wanted to add something, but of course, she could not find proper words.
Five years ago? I thought I had been stubborn...
Shi nearly asked how it had happened. But she managed not to. She knew, from personal experience, that this was unwelcome morbid curiosity. Instead, she remembered that Xanadu didn't know why she was here.

"I'm sending off my daughter too. Neti. I don't really know how to. I'm not even sure I want to do it." She admitted.
"But somehow, I know I have to. How did you… What did you say?"

Xanadu's eyes widened. Shi's daughter had died as well? A week ago, the mugrobi would have been barely sympathetic, if at all. She would have probably been bitter that Neti had lived as long as she had, considering that Glorie had died so young. She had no idea how old Neti had been when she died, but she had been older than six when they had met before.

Now, however, she just felt sorrow, and a special kinship with this green-eyed witch ... one that could only be shared by mothers who had to live every day with the knowledge that their child would never realize their true potential. She also hoped that Neti's death had not been as violent as Glorie's. No mother should have to live with the memory of watching her daughter murdered before her very eyes. Of course, the memory would fade with time for most people. Not so for those who were cursed with perfect recall.

“I am very sorry that you have lost your daughter,” she said sincerely. “It is something that no mother should have to go through. You don't have to say anything at the ceremony if you don't want to. I simply said good-bye and expressed the wish that one day we would meet again in another life.”

She looked down at the little raft. “You must be ready to set her free, though. You must be willing to let go of the dreams you once had for her. You must be willing to move on with your own life, a life that no longer includes her. But you must know in your heart that you are able to set her free.

“When you are ready and you set that raft afloat, you will find peace. The pain will still be there, but it will not be so intense. You will be able to remember the good times with a joyful heart, rather than with a sorrowful one. Your life will lay before you rather than behind you.”

She paused for a moment. “At least that is the way it was for me. It may feel different for you."

The dancer turned to face Shi then, and took both her hands in hers. “But do not feel bad if you are not ready. I don't know how long ago you lost Neti. It may be too soon for you. It took five years before I was ready to let Glorie go. I don't regret those years of grief. It was what I needed. You must look inside your heart and decide if it is time. No one can do that but you.”

"Last month." Shi was surprised she was speaking about that. It was not fitting to talk about personal emotions to strangers. But she felt like doing it. "Ti had went to Vienda. Alone. When we heard about the riot and got no news, we went to a seer." The witch sighed and shook her head. "And she told us she wasn't in this world anymore."

Shi turned away from Xanadu face, looking at the raft and the match in her hand. "I really don't think I'm ready. But I have to do it." She lit the match and put the flame to the candle. "She's already been set free. My husband did it. I didn't want to. Accepting her death seemed like killing her a second time." The witch glanced to the woman at her side. Hoping she understood. "But now I understand it's necessary. I have to let her go and stop hurting people around me. This is the first step."

The witch took two long silent breaths, during which she realized talking had indeed helped. It was not exactly courage that she had built. It was more like freeing her mind by forcing her to think about someone else. She was slipping in a state that approached meditation. She was accepting every thing. The damp morning cold. The tweeting of the waking birds in the forest behind. The fog drifting. Even the antics of the pets were not annoying any more. They just were. And the place of the raft was drifting away in the fog. She pushed it away before consciously deciding to do it, surprised at her own gesture. And, as she stood, realized she now knew what to say.

"Goodbye Neti. I've been happy to have you as my daughter." She watched the raft drift away slower and slower, until some current started to carry it.
"I leave your father in good hands. I've seen his hama yesterday. She's a rosh. You'd have liked her. As for me... You know I can take care of myself."
The raft was smaller and smaller, the light of the candle still showing its position as its shape blurred in the mist.
"I wrote your name in the Hacks grimoire. You were the last, and the best of them, whatever some prejudiced old golly might have said. I'm sure you were, even if I could not see it. I'll never forget you. And I'm sure your father won't either... Never."
The raft disappeared in a bank of fog. Shi blinked and turned back towards the brunette at her side, not sure of what she just had done. As if waking from a strange dream.
Like that? That's all? What now?

Last month? She was ready to let her daughter's spirit go so soon? Xanadu felt both surprise and admiration. And Neti had been killed in the Vienda riot? The mercenary's heart ached for Shi. So her daughter had been murdered as well ... and most likely by galdori. The news only stiffened her resolve to seek out the resistance as soon as she was back in Vienda.

Or was Neti not dead at all? The young mugrobi did not trust in seers. She did not trust anyone. What if the seer had been wrong ... or a fake ... and the girl was still alive? She wanted to mention this to Shi, but wasn't sure how the woman would take it. She did not know the traditions and beliefs of Hox, so she wisely kept her opinion to herself. To Shi, her daughter was dead, and that was all that mattered.

“Glorie also died violently,” she said. “She was murdered by galdori. I understand your pain.”



Xanadu understood the need to hurt the people around you when you were grieving. Luckily for her, she had been able to express that anger through her career. It had made her a tougher and more effective bounty hunter, and as she had not cared in the early years whether she lived or died, she had taken more chances than she normally would.

Not to have an outlet for that anger ... the mugrobi did not even want to think of what Shi had gone through. Her reason for the ceremony was different than Xanadu's, but just as valid. She hoped that the Hoxian would find the peace she sought.

She listened carefully as Shi spoke to Neti and set the raft afloat. She knew how much courage that took, and silently applauded the woman for being able to do it. She watched as it drifted away, reminded of Glorie's little basket, floating away in the moonlight, its little candle burning bright. Where was it now? Had it been found by someone? Was a child now playing with the toys she had picked out so carefully and placed inside? She hoped so. In that way, a bit of Glorie would live on.

Noticing the object bobbing on the water, Keishet started to dive for it, but a barked command from Xanadu brought both miraan to her shoulders. She stood up slowly, not wanting to ruin the moment for her companion. When Shi turned toward her with a confused expression on her face, she smiled reassuringly. “I hope this ceremony will bring you as much comfort as mine has brought me. Both Neti and Glorie are now with the gods, and in time, they will be born again.”

She paused for a moment, not sure what to do next. Her stomach rumbled. “Have you eaten yet this morning? If you would like, we can pick up some food and go back to my cart and talk for awhile. I am leaving the festival this morning but I am in no hurry. And you don't have to worry about being among my tribe.” She did not know if Shi found the Black Hands as unsavory as most people did, but she provided the information anyway. “I moved my cart out of the camp last night.”

"Murdered?" Shi had had to stop her preparation of the raft when she heard that. Glorie must not have been more than six when she was killed, if that was five years ago. What kind of people could willingly kill a young girl? It had always pained her when Anaxi galdori acted dishonourably. Grandma was so proud of her lineage in her own way, even if she had fled them.
"We don't know what happened to Neti. For all that we know, she might as well have been killed by a tekaa, trying to stop them fighting. She could be such a righteous, idealistic girl." The witch sighed. Even before she had taken her decision to drift, she had already given away vengeance. One could not kill all the Yellow Eye and the Red Crow... She shook the thought away from her head, and went back to the ceremony.

Once over, Xanadu proposed her to join her breakfast, and Shi noded. She was unsure it was a good idea, but yes, it had been helpful to talk. It would beat sitting alone in the kint. Or the kind of awkwardness that would creep if she stumbled on Noli with his new love!
"Mujo ma."

"You know, I really meant it." She felt again the sting about the galdori murderers while they walked away. "Neti would have made an outstanding Hacks sorceress. I don't understand why the mona would barely listen to her, just because we have some human blood. While they do the binding of people like this one I heard about, who cast a magma in the crowd during the riots." Some rumours had it being a seventen. They were supposed to protect the citizens! "Don't Anaxi never learn the importance of control? What's the use to have a place like Brunnhold if they don't?"
She remembered her grandmother training her on the push spell. Even if one day you manage to blow away that sand dune, you won't impress me. What I'd like you to do is move just one sand grain, and so slowly that I can't see which one. Why couldn't Anaxi top academic teach a truth that even an outcast Hoxian understood?

And suddenly, she realized Xanadu had said something about her tribe. "You moved away? Why?" She'd be happy not to have to deal with Black Hand people. Not that she was afraid, if she was introduced by Xanadu. Just that it wouldn't have felt comfortable. But they were the woman fami! Why was she moving away?

Xanadu nodded, her dark eyes filled with hatred. At that moment, she looked every bit the volatile and disreputable Black Hand. She said nothing more. Now was not the time to burden Shi with her own grief. If the witch wished to hear her story, she would willingly tell it later.



“I don't know much about magic, and even less about the mona.” Xanadu said. “I grew up among wicks, but they did not include me in discussions on magic. It was only then that I truly felt different. But the galdori ... they are evil. Perhaps it's the magic that makes them so.” As they walked, she looked around for any food stalls open at such an early hour.



“I haven't left the tribe,” Xanadu said. “I said my good-byes last night and moved my cart to another location so that I could get an early start without any distractions.” The distraction she was trying to avoid was Tal. It was because of him she had moved her cart. She didn't want to see him again. She had left instructions with her parents to tell him she had already departed if he came looking for her. There was nothing more to say than what they had said last night. She'd turned down his offer once again, and that was the end of it as far as she was concerned.

“It was very hard to leave my parents, though. They are getting up in years and I am not certain when I will see them again. I don't know if I will be able to attend the festival next year. My work keeps me very busy, and I'm often not able to do as I wish.” She had no idea what kind of restrictions the resistance would impose on her ... assuming she was able to get in contact with them and they accepted her.

She shrugged. “Come. Let's get something to eat. If you wish to hear it, I will tell you Glorie's story. If you have one shred of sympathy left for the galdori, you will lose it then.”

Evil? Grand-ma healing people she didn't know, sometime for nothing, evil?
Shi had been raised to respect knowledge. Including and foremost, magical knowledge. The thought that some people might consider magic a path to evil was unsettling to her. But for her own admission, Xanadu didn't know anything about magic, so she decided not to argue.

The witch was about to agree on the sentiments of Xanadu about her parents. She had been very lucky to be there to assist her grandmother at the end of her life. The woman could have passed away while she was traveling. And she knew Noli was still thinking about his parents sometimes. Even if they didn't want to hear anymore about the traitor of a son who had let one of those treacherous witches steal him away. But then, Xanadu made another comment on galori's evilness.

She stopped walking, waiting for the nattle to look at her. Golly-hating was common amongst Anaxi wicks. And Shi could understand it. So many Anaxi acted so dishonourably. Their leaders even had put it in their laws. But yet, she was not going to lie and share a breakfast with someone who'd hate her if she knew. She had nothing to loose now. Noli was very well integrated by himself. He's a better spoke than I am! And Ti... She didn't need anything anymore.

"I thank you for offer, Xanadu Aurelia. But you have to know." She looked straight in the human black eyes. "I'm a galdor."

Xanadu was a bit confused when Shi suddenly stopped, and even more confused when she said she was a galdor. Her face did not show it, though. She wore a completely neutral expression. She had assumed Shi was a witch, but she supposed if a human such as herself could be raised as a wick, a galdor could, too. It was surprising, but that was all.

She stood still for a moment, considering what to say, her black eyes never leaving Shi's green ones. She and Shi shared a bond by being mothers who had lost their only children to violent deaths. But perhaps that was all they shared. She would always owe this woman a debt for finding Glorie all those years ago, but that did not mean they had to be friends. It did seem a bit odd to her, though, that a hoxian galdor and a mugrobi human were destined to become enemies because of the way one race treated another in a country not their own. She held no animosity toward Shi, but perhaps it was different for her.

“In Mugroba,” she said, “humans amd galdori co-exist peacefully. They don't associate with us much, but that is the way we prefer it. I believe that if a galdor killed a human there, he would be held accountable. I have heard that other kingdoms also treat their humans well. I don't think all galdori are evil, only those from Anaxas. They misuse their magic and use it to harm rather than to help. Are you proud of the way your race treats humans here?”

“Glorie ...” Her eyes grew distant as she remembered the day that her hopes and dreams had been shattered. “We were shopping one morning in the market. She ran a little ahead of me as children often will. She looked back at me, smiled, and turned a cartwheel. It was then I saw the carriage coming straight for her. They could have turned away, but they didn't. They wanted to hit her. I ran toward her and screamed her name. She looked at me, confused, but did not move. I threw myself in front of her, hoping that she would be spared.”

The mugrobi paused and swallowed hard before continuing, the scene playing itself once again in her mind. “I could hear her little bones crack as the hooves of the horses mercilessly crushed her. She made a tiny little sound, a very small cry. The carriage wheels ran over us then. I, too, was severely injured, but I was able to look over at where she lay. I knew there was no hope for her as soon as I saw her. It looked as if every bone in her body had been broken. Her golden eyes were full of pain as she gazed at me, and blood bubbled from her mouth. She reached out her little hand and I took it ... and then she was gone. Just like that. Less than a minute and her life was cruelly taken from her.

“The two galdori stopped and got out of their carriage. They stood there and laughed ...” Her hands unconsciously clenched and unclenched over two of the knives on her belt. Her voice was bitter. “They laughed at us both while she died. They joked about what wonderful luck they had to kill two worthless humans when they were only aiming for one.”

She turned her dark gaze back to Shi. Her hands relaxed and her voice grew softer. “I don't hate all galdori ... only the ones who believe that they can take innocent human lives whenever the fancy strikes them, only the ones who treat us as if we're vermin. If this bothers you, we will part here. If not, my offer still stands. It doesn't matter to me if you're a galdor ... you and your daughter rescued mine long ago and that means more to me than your race ever will. Perhaps we can defy the odds and show that a human and a galdor can be friends. The choice is yours.”

Of course, Shi was not really a galdor. One's blood doesn't have to follow the way one has been raised. But saying she was one wasn't much wronger than saying she was a tekaa.

She nodded at Xanadu description of Mugroba. She knew that. Thul'Ka was one of the only places where she had been able to access a library when she was young. It didn't prevent people from being prejudiced. Her da's reaction towards Noli, and his family's views on her, were proof of it. But at least, it was not institutionalized.

Then, Xanadu looked away, and started describing into painful details what had happened to her daughter. Shi listened without a move. One could have thought she didn't care, if it was not for the way her eyes thinned, her gaze still on the woman. The witch was ill-at-ease on several levels. Of course, she was horrified that someone would show that much cruelty. But she also wondered how someone could find the strength to recall that. She did not know how Ti had died. For whom had her last thought been?

The witch was believing Xanadu now hated her. That she was describing the murder so thoroughly to hurt her. Shi followed the woman's hands on her knives. But then, the Mugrobi relaxed a bit and talked about friendship. The older woman answered in a sad voice.
"Your proof will be easily discounted. I might feel galdori, but for the people who'd need it, I'm just a witch."
Just a witch? How am I talking? Durg Maxine or Elder Hale are better people than I'll ever be.
She shook her head. She wanted to hug the woman. To do something to comfort her, after hearing that dreadful story. But that would have felt rude. And there were no words powerful enough for that. Finally, she went back to worldly matters.
"But we don't need a grand purpose to share a breakfast."

Now Xanadu was even more confused. Was Shi a witch or a galdor? She had said she was a galdor with conviction, then admitted she was a witch with sadness. The dancer did know she was interested in hearing this woman's story.

Xanadu loved learning the life stories of others. Most people could not tell them with quite as much detail as she could, as they did not have eidetic memories, but each and every detail was not important. Belatedly she wondered if her graphically detailed account of Glorie's death had bothered Shi. That had not been her intention. It was the only way she knew how to tell it ... the way it played itself out in her head.

Oddly enough, the more she told the story, the more peaceful she felt. She had kept it inside her for five long years, five angry, volatile, heartbreaking years. Those years had been good to her financially, but horrible for her emotionally. She wondered idly if her new attitude would get in the way of her career. She'd rushed headlong into danger not really caring whether she'd lived or died. Would she do the same now?



She looked over at Shi and smiled. “No, we don't. But friendship is a good purpose in itself. So what would you like to eat?” The witch's daughter had been part mugrobi. If Shi had spent any time there, perhaps she would have learned to love the country's incendiary dishes. “Do you enjoy spicy food?”

"I like spices." Despite the sadness of their former discussion, Shi flicked a brief smile at the woman. Trying to build a friendship, finding some understanding. That was a good plan. Life was going on. It was what Neti would have wished for her daoa.

"You can't spend twenty years with a Mugrobi cook without them growing on you. Beside, despite the common opinion, some Hoxian dishes can be quite hot." The witch stepped behind Xanadu, ready to continue the walk towards her kint.

"Grandma made a spicy black pudding soup that made a wonderful breakfast during winter." Shi stopped speaking to remember the feeling of the hot liquid warming her while waiting sunrise in the cold at the foot of the mountain. And the quiet loving presence of her grandmother. She'd never be one now, but it didn't made hers less admirable. The witch felt she should get used to those bittersweet thoughts. She should be. She had always been the pessimistic one, after all. But for now, sadness was winning. And the anger was still boiling under it. She turned away, not wanting to inflict her emotions on her new friend.

Xanadu listened to Shi's description of Hoxian food. She certainly wouldn't mind trying something new. This would be her last meal at the festival, so she might as well be adventurous, if there were any stalls here that sold good hot Hoxian fare.

She was about to ask Shi if she knew of such a place, when the witch abruptly turned away from her. She caught a glimpse of sadness on her face. What was wrong? Was it something she'd said?

She reached out to put a hand on the other woman's shoulder and then thought better of it. Maybe she didn't need physical contact from a near-stranger. It was only about a week ago that Xanadu herself would have pulled a knife on anyone who touched her uninvited. “If I said something that hurt you, I am sorry.” she said simply.

Hoxian food might be a rarity on Surwood Isle. Hoxian wicks were a rarity, after all. But that kind of thoughts was not on Shi's mind. She had gotten so used to cook her own food that she only bought some on special occasions.

"No you didn't." The witch turned back to the human and forced a brief sad smile. "I did it to myself."
She sighed before continuing. "It's hard to accept I'll never see Ti becoming a mother." And immediately forced herself to change subject.

"Do you have the spices, or should I go steal some from my husband?" This time, the wry smile was genuine. Noli was still alive and happy after all. Or as happy as someone mourning his daughter could be.

Xanadu had never really contemplated Glorie becoming a mother, perhaps because she had died so young. Ti must have been ... sixteen? Only one year younger than Xanadu when she became pregnant with Glorie. She remembered how much her mother had looked forward to becoming a grandmother. Perhaps that had been Shi's mindset ... hoping one day for a grandchild. She was very curious about this woman she had met so many years ago. Perhaps Shi would talk a bit about herself over breakfast.



“I have spices. I bought a good supply while I was here. But ...” Now it was her turn to smile wryly. “I'm afraid I don't cook very well. I was thinking we could buy some curry or stew.” Or was Shi offering to cook some Hoxian food? She would be absolutely thrilled if that was the case. She already had a good fire going back at her cart. She had packed up her cast iron stew pot, but she could always get it back out, along with anything else they would need for preparing a meal.

There was a misunderstanding between the two women. Where Xanadu was imagining Hoxian food, Shi was thinking Mugrobi dishes. Her grandma had been a cook more out of necessity than anything. Her real learning for cooking had been with Noli, who had an uncanny memory of taste, being able to analyse a dish to reconstitute the recipe, or compare a curry with a similar one tasted more than a month ago.

But of course, Shi wasn't more aware of her different understanding than Xanadu, and she continued on her thoughts.

"I'm used to cook my own food. Saves money for the brewery." Grain had to be bought from human or tsat farmers, with real money, while a lot of other things could be bartered or shared inside the tribe. "Do you want me to show you?"

Cooking instead of staying for ever on the river bank. It seemed strange but why not? Life had to go on. I have to remember that. Life has to go on. I won't resurect Ti by heading down again. She glanced towards the river, sighed, and stepped ahead of the black-eyed woman.

"Shall we go?" Before I change my mind.

“Oh yes, I would love that.” Xanadu was always up for a cooking lesson. She could easily postpone leaving for an hour or two. And it would probably be good for Shi and get her mind off the ceremony. Looking back, she could still see the candle's light. It was floating ever farther out on the river's current. It would probably be best if Shi was not there when it finally moved out of sight.

She had not had the chance to watch Glorie's disappear. There had been so many Shunaks on the river that evening, it was difficult to tell one from the other. She had watched for awhile, and then gone back to her cart where she had looked through her father's sketches of Glorie and remembered her daughter's brief but happy life.

Perhaps reminiscing would be good for Shi as well. So much must have happened since they had seen each other last. Talking about Ti might actually help her heal.

She started walking purposefully toward the market. “We will have to buy some meat and vegetables first. I am afraid I don't have anything in the cart. I was planning on buying some food for the journey.” She had no idea how much money Shi had, but that wasn't really a problem. Xanadu had plenty. “And since you'll be doing most of the cooking, I'll buy what we need. It will make me feel like I'm helping, I suppose. You just need to tell me what you want.”

Shi had not seen the fog patch drift and reveal the candle again before she turned away. Which was probably better, as she wouldn't have found the courage to leave if she had.

For now, she was ready to stay on more earthly topics and explain she hadn't brought any money. Until Xanadu explained she was willing to buy the meat.
"Well, thanks. I don't know... I was planning for some chicken soup. I've got stock left at the kint, so it won't be too long to cook. But if you prefer something more spicy, we can go for a chicken curry. There must be people selling chicken down there."

Yes, a soup would be fine by this damp morning. But apart from pepper and lemon leaves, it didn't use a lot of spices. The witch stopped and looked at the woman, wondering what she'd like.

((not advancing the plot much, sorry))

Xanadu shrugged. “It doesn't matter to me.” She grinned at Shi. “If someone else is cooking, I'll eat almost anything. It's much better than the messes I make myself. And I can always add some extra spice if it is not hot enough. Come, let's go shopping. I'm sure we can find something that will appeal to both of us.”

..............

Shopping done, Xanadu led Shi to her cart, which was set off by itself and partially hidden by trees. The cart was a large one, probably designed for a family with two or three children. She'd had the extra beds removed and replaced with storage space and cages for her snakes. Right now, the only snake in residence was her seven-foot long albino python, Seferu. He'd probably enjoy the warmth of the fire, she thought. I'll have to ask Shi if she minds if I bring him out.

Xanadu carried the vegetables, but she had given Shi the package of chicken because Keishet and Omari were quite interested in it. They wouldn't bother Shi, but if Xanadu had carried it, the two drake-like creatures would have tried to tear it open with their sharp little talons. Luckily, as soon as they realized they were headed “home,” the miraan had flown ahead. They were perched on top of the cart when the two women arrived, crooning a welcome.

The fire was still burning. She had not planned to leave it unattended for so long, but it was well-contained and the cart was hidden so well that it was unlikely to attract anyone intent on causing mischief. It was burning low now, but that was good. She'd add a few more sticks once the stew pot was in place.

“Well,” she said, turning to Shi. “This is home, at least temporarily. All my cooking equipment is packed up, but it's easy to get out. I'll also bring out a couple of chairs. You can come in if you'd like, as long as you're not afraid of snakes. I only brought one of them with me, but he's a large one.”

Shi didn't really need a chair. She was able to crouch with her feet flat on the ground, a position that made it very easy to draw or cook on a simple plank on the ground. But if they were going to eat on a table, a chair would indeed be nice, so she didn't object. Beside, Xanadu might prefer to cook on a table.

"We'd need knives, and a chopping block or whatever we can cut on." The witch held the chicken and glanced at the pets, deciding not to leave the meat alone with them. And froze on the first step to the kint.

"A snake? Is it poisonous?" She wasn't much afraid of the size of the snake. Visible, physical strength, she could deal with that. But something invisible like poison... There was a healing spell for that in the Hacks grimoire. But grandma had never deemed her ready to attempt spells of that level. For Shi, poison was more magical than magic. Mysterious and deadly.