Open Water or Gold

[Merevaika]

notes for meProfits (AKA this many silver +1 for each sale): 10 10 8 7 6 6 6 5 5 3 2 1 1
Current sales: 12gm 8
56th Fall 516

Merevaika licked her lips, breaking out in the middle of the night with a belt full of waterskins. They were cheap - cheap enough, anyway - and plentiful, different shapes and sizes gathered over the last few days from various sellers across the city. They had suspected nothing. They were idiots. This was Merevaika, and Merevaika liked money. Nothing she did, not anymore, was pointless. Everything was designed to give her some extra change. This, she could almost consider her greatest con yet. So simple, yet so... perfect.

She couldn't help smiling as she dragged the yvas from her tent towards Eryunt, who was half asleep in Leth's light. His tail twitched at her approach, ears flickering her way before reminding her he was tired. Merevaika tickled his forehead, speaking to him in a half-whisper. "Don't be stubborn," she teased, "I know it's early for a ride like this, but if we can do this, I'll be able to buy you apples every single day. How 'bout that, huh?"

Eryunt squealed a sharp no, shifting away from the weight of the yvas. She couldn't blame him - this was the dead of night, and he was tired from the riding in the past days, especially with the hot weather and little water, but this was their chance. If they waited much longer, they wouldn't be able to pull this off. Rains could come any second, especially with the light drifts of clouds gathering above. "Eryunt, behave!" she hissed, moving quickly to sling the yvas over him. Once it was there, he stomped his foot, but didn't complain anymore, Merevaika quickly adjusting it and taking her position on his back. She reached out to scratch him again, whispering once more. "Thank you. I will pay you back."

The horse snorted, starting to trot away from her tent and away from the city, guided by Merevaika's keen eye. They quickly reached the stream, almost silent with its lack of water. There was barely anything there, just the muddy strip that was barely ankle deep. Eryun bent his head immediately, taking a long drink, the Drykas letting her horse enjoy himself before the run. As soon as he was hydrated, they turned upstream, breaking into a gallop. Merevaika urged him forward, pressing herself against him as the strider used the power of the web to push himself forward. Their movement went unnoticed by Drykas and the wild alike, dark figures that were impossible to make out in the night. Merevaika wasn't certain how long they had travelled for, losing count of the time, but they gradually slowed, until the horse was too tired to run any further.

This was far enough. She jumped off his back, leading him to the river to let him cool down and rest, before beginning her plan. Each waterskin was filled up slowly, almost to the brim, before being returned to its place on her belt. The weight was noticed instantly, Merevaika surprised at how heavy it was. Well, at least it wasn't as heavy as gold - as that was exactly what it was worth, in this weather.

Then, she searched the riverbed - or what used to be the riverbed - for the stones and rocks deposited there, slowly having travelled down the river. Each one was relocated to a strip across where the river was actually flowing, building a wall between where it came from and where it was going. Mud and dirt joined the dam, although perhaps not as successfully, and Merevaika frowned at her work. True, the flow of water had subsided on the other side, but nowhere near enough. Her eyes moved across the landscape, landing on a large, rather dried out shrub. She moved over, hacking at the base with her knife, before wrenching it away and hauling the dried thorns to the dam. It helped pad it up, and she used grasses to fill in the gaps, letting only a small trick remain. Perfect.

They were back before they knew it. Syna had just began brushing the sky with her impressive heat, and both horse and rider were drenched with a layer of sweat by the time they returned to where their tent was, sitting on the outskirts of the city. People were already hauling jars to the stream, hoping to gather some more for their everyday needs. If all had gone to plan, that stream, at least, would not have enough for them all. But that could wait. It would be stupid to be there straight away. And besides, Eryunt needed to be cooled down.

She lead him around her tent, hoping for a breeze to run through her hair and cool her face. Nothing. One of the waterskins was entirely for him, and she gave him occasional sips to help him cool down. She doused a cloth with some of that water, brushing his face and back with the cool cloth. Only after he was entirely done did she call Beast, the dog trailing her a few steps back. Eryunt came too, hoping for something more to drink.

Her plan had worked. The river consisted of little else than puddles of muddy water, people standing shouting around them. Merevaika marched up to one, shoving the younger girl who had been trying to fill up her own waterskin to the side, and letting her animals drink. "Looks like I had the right idea," she smiled, speaking to anyone around her who could hear, "You all are in luck. I seem to have enough water for everyone. Did no one here think to prepare?" She laughed, attracting the attention of a few more. Good. The quicker she made these sales, the quicker she could go and avoid being around if, or when, someone found out about the dam.

The girl she had pushed aside looked up, eyes pleading for some water. "How much?"

Straight to business. What an fool this girl was. "3 gold mizas. It's the best you can do. I doubt there'll be water for miles around. But at least you'll get a whole waterskin, full to the brim. I mean, I could be selling half-filled ones for twice the price, it's that sort of day." She grinned, looking at the crowd gathered around her. "So, what do you say?"

[Taurina]

The nights were hot, but the days were hotter. There had been a noticeable lack of water lately and no rain. The streams were low and muddy, making the water near undrinkable. Everyone felt the shortage and while some were good at the rationing, sharing thing, Taurina was glad for her Ethaefal form that needed only Leth’s light to sustain her through the night. She could go searching for water in the dead of night for Melody and to fill her own waterskin for the daylight hours. It made the pains felt by the shortage more bearable. If things got particularly dire there was always the water Reimancy she was slowly learning more and more about as well.

This night, Taurina was out running a comb through Melody’s seemingly always untamable mane. A soft melody came out through her closed lips as she focused on her task. The mare she worked on seemed more asleep than awake, but let her rider work on her without giving trouble. Taurina worked her fingers through the mane that was slightly growing less knotted together as she whispered soft things to keep Melody calm in between her hummed song.

The night was peaceful and fairly quite, just hot. It was late in the night or, really, more early morning, before Syna stretched her heated, golden rays across the land. Taurina was one of the few still awake as it was most nights since she didn’t actually sleep at all during the night. So when she heard more movement than just that of wildlife, it got her attention.

The Ethaefal didn’t catch all of what was going on or even really see the horse and rider until they were moving across the land. The only defining features she was able to pick out was short hair on the rider and the dark color of the horse. The view put a halt to the humming and working on Melody’s mane as she contemplated what she had seen. “Now where could a Drykas be going at this time of night?” she questioned softly, stroking Melody’s muzzle aimlessly when the mare woke to see what caused the pause in her grooming.

”Should we follow?” Taurina looked to her mare who let out a snort at that. The Ethaefal smirked before shaking her head. It was late, no way was she going outside the tent city by herself. It was too risky, she was surprised that that Drykas had been willing to risk it. ”We’ll keep an eye out, see what happens,” Taurina concludes out loud before going back to smoothing out Melody’s mane.

It was before the vast majority of Endrykas woke up when Taurina decided to get a jump on this water situation. She guessed that once everyone woke they would be heading to the stream to gather what they needed for the day. She was not going to wait around for the streams to be nothing but puddles worth less than the energy spent to get to them.

With the click of her rider’s tongue and a short tug on the lead rope, Melody walked after her owner. It was more important to keep the mare hydrated at this point rather than herself. The pair reached the stream when the sky was beginning to turn more of a grey color. Syna would be rising soon. Taurina ran a hand down Melody’s warm neck and allowed her to drink a little from the small stream, not too much though. The Ethaefal did not wish to deprive those who had not yet gotten here of more than necessary.

Syna’s light slowly began to reach out and destroy any sort of cool air the night had offered. The Ethaefal shifted from her glorious night form to that of her Drykas earthbound form. It was quite the sight to see and luckily for Taurina there weren’t many around to see it. The first moments being back in her earthbound body (loosing the grace of her Ethaefal form) were usually awkward and always seemed to take a moment of getting used to once again. She wasn’t big on anyone seeing her.

Others were beginning to come, looking for their share of the small stream that was just a little more than a large puddle at this point. Taurina bent down to the water and put her waterskin in, looking to quickly get done and out of the way before anyone started yelling at her or accuse her of taking more than her share. She had been foolish by cutting this so close to daylight, she should have gone when there was no chance of others being around.

She was able to get her waterskin half full before feeling guilty for taking any at all. With the amount of people that were beginning to get their fill, the stream was quickly reducing into nothing. Taurina left her portion at half before straightening back up and moving out of the way so others could have access. It would be enough, she would make it be enough.

Once the Ethaefal had finished closing and securing her waterskin on her person, she moved over to where Melody was and gathered up her lead rope so they could get moving. That was around the time when an interesting Drykas came up and seemed to take up more room than she should. Taurina turned her attention back to those looking to get water, finding that that stream had now been completely reduced to some muddy puddles. She also saw a Drykas woman who claimed to have enough water for everyone. Taurina was skeptical of this and looked at the woman closely.

If memory served correctly, this woman looked suspiciously like the form Taurina had seen leaving Endrykas at such a strange hour during the night. Of course she couldn’t be completely for sure, but the descriptions matched up too well for it to just be coincidence. “So that is what she went to do. I wonder where she found such a supply,” Taurina mused, thinking of leaving the scene since it wasn’t really her business what this woman did. Then she heard the prices being charged.

”Three gold mizas?!” Taurina found herself questioning out loud before realizing it. The words were out there and somehow the Eth didn’t regret them so she didn’t shy back, though the smart move would have been to just leave well enough be. A better move (and one that she decided on the moment her mouth opened) was to challenge the Drykas woman, get these people the prices they deserved and maybe figure out where this woman had gone so late in the night.

”Little much don’t you think? Taurina’s common accent was heavily layered onto her broken pavi, ”Somehow you got that water. The location can’t have been so far away. You were back in not many bells.”

Common | Pavi | Thoughts

[Merevaika]

Someone questioned her prices, Merevaika swivelling with a frown already set on her face. The woman she spotted who had spoken up was small, with a rough tumble of hair and scarred hands. She stood beside a horse - not a Strider - with a waterskin on her belt. Of course. First the woman would tend to herself, then challenge her. So even if Merevaika didn't budge, she wouldn't miss out. The Drykas smiled, liking the challenge. She flexed her arms, changing her expression from anger to beckoning the attack. Bring it on. This foreigner had nothing on her, with her broken pavi. But her last sentence made the woman freeze, tensing slightly. How did she know she had left? Had the woman seen her? This could ruin everything.

Then she realised her mistake in tensing, loosening her shoulders and bringing a waterskin to her lips, miming a long, deep mouthful while actually just letting the water brush her mouth. She didn't want to waste it, but she wanted the others to think she could. This woman knew nothing. She thought she had gone to gather water. Nothing wrong, not truly.

"Back in many bells? I don't know what you're talking about - I never went to fetch any water." She stopped, trying to keep her act up with a confused frown, before flickering to a face of realisation. "You must have seen me leave to hunt. Of course. That would be it. I assume you yourself were doing something similar, using the cooler night to your advantage?"

Her eyes flickered not only across the woman who challenged her but to the others. It didn't matter if one thought her prices were too high. It did matter, however, if they all did. Pretending to completely ignore the woman while watching her in the corner of one eye, she turned to the girl she had pushed from the puddle. She looked up, fingering coins quickly, but another onlooker stopped her from paying up the whole three mizas. "The woman was a point. There must be water somewhere. Three gold mizas is too much, for just water."

Merevaika raised an eyebrow at this one too, chuckling to herself, "You can try, I promise you you won't find much. Three gold mizas is a bargain, but you know what? I'll bring it down to two." She didn't try much with the price. The longer she waited, the more attention brought to the situation, the more likely her little dam would be discovered. If she managed to sell all of these, she would still make a hefty profit. The girl shook her head, extending a handful of coins. It was all she made out to have, but a six silver miza profit worked with her. Merevaika kept the discount private, handing a waterskin over briskly and shooing the girl away.

Another customer marched up, having noticed the lack of coins in her palm, and demanded two more for the same price. Trying to hide her annoyance, she went along with it, keeping the situation hushed up, before raising her voice again. "Any more? I still have plenty water left, for those with a little spare change on them. Changed your mind about the water, you there?" she nodded towards the woman who had challenged her, grinning deeply at her small victory. Inside, she knew that many people agreed with the woman who had spoken out loud - the sales she had made stemmed from luck. If, however, she managed to get something from her, others would follow suit. They had to.

[Prophet]

One Drykas stood aloof of the entire situation. He had been nearby when the first sales pitch was cast and also caught wind of the second Drykas woman throwing accusations at the seller. The wiry man of middle-age was nondescript and blended in perfectly to the growing crowd. He paid careful attention to the way the tanned beauty reacted to being called out on leaving in the night. The clever girl not only handled it well but she managed to reverse the general suspicion upon the newcomer. He narrowed his grey eyes at this one and took in several features. The streaked hair and slightly slumped shoulders made an impression upon him as did the chiseled arms of the bronze-skinned brunette. If he were looking for a mate, he might try either one of them but this was not such a call.

When the little girl ran up and bought a skin at a very large discount, he knew the ruse and moved into line so that he could pounce- or rather, negotiate. After several sales were made, the man with sand and sable hair and an angular jaw moved up and offered his closed hand down as if to drop coins in the waiting hand of the young entrepreneur. He leaned forward until he was close enough to whisper in a manner that only she could hear. “I know your secret, sweetheart. Hand me half of your take and a waterskin then smile and thank me for my purchase or I’ll have the Conclave trample you.” He smiled so pleasantly that any bystander would assume that he was just grateful to get a drink.

What no one could see was the djed that swirled around the man. He pulsated with magic and the expert casually wove it into a glove around the hand that feigned coins. He cast the invisible glove against her skin with the impulse to be one of fear; fear of the Conclave and the Watch…of being trampled like Tiberius Proudsun. He pushed another wave of djed at her with the imbedded image of a body lain beneath a woven rug and run over by several horses multiple times. The smile never wavered, the hand never moved aside and he did not retract himself from her personal space. The man was absolutely focused upon the seller and paid no mind to anyone else while he continued to throw wave after wave of persuasive magic at the athletic brunette.

NotePardon The Interruption: In honor of the MLB playoffs, I present you with a curve ball. Don't hate me.

[Taurina]

The Drykas woman met the Ethaefal’s challenge and Taurina knew within the instant the more muscular woman changed her demeanor that it likely had been a horrible idea to open her mouth. She had nothing to gain here nor really anything to loose. Her water skin was full enough to last the day and she would be fine without getting involved in this Drykas woman’s business. It was foolish to make enemies with any one of the Drykas, especially when she was trying to find her place among them. Still, it hadn’t seemed right and Taurina couldn’t justify apologizing for calling the woman out and just take her leave. Not when thirsty innocents were at risk of being used.

Taurina contemplated her next move when she saw the fleeting moment of tension and hesitation come over the Drykas woman. There was confusion in the Ethaefal as she tried to figure out what had caused the small change, but it was too quickly gone. The saleswoman was already taking a long drink that only showed that she wasn’t above wasting the precious water. ”Why would she do such a thing? Doesn’t she want that to sell?”

More confusion and contemplation. This was not a challenge Taurina could win without careful thought and the seller was already changing the game. Now it was reflecting poorly on the Ethaefal rather than the seller. Taurina knew enough to understand that this woman was smart and manipulative. That things were not looking to be in her favor and that the woman had called Taurina out on accusing her of going to fetch the water. Taurina swallowed with nervousness, though her jaw clenched with anger. She did not like this woman. This woman made her sound like a fool. Like she did not know what she saw and further did not know what she was talking about.

”How do I know she went to fetch water? She could have gone hunting. Why hunt at night with no one? Unsafe. Like the journey here. Unsafe to hunt at night. Unsafe to hunt alone. No proof either. All there is is the water, nothing dead,” Taurina took the time to reason with herself and clear her thoughts, but those moments she spent in her mind she lost in the real world. The woman was already moving on. Like a coward, Taurina contemplated just leaving. Admitting defeat and just leaving. The seller was already conning people out of mizas anyway, at least the price was lower now, she didn’t believe that she could be successful. Still, the woman had made her look foolish in front of the others and Taurina did not want to let her get away with that.

Taurina waited, taking her time and gathering her thoughts. She watched as some gave in and exchanged mizas for the liquid they all depended on. Soon the line died down and the woman’s voice was directed back towards the Eth which caused Taurina’s mouth to twist in its own smirk. ”No,” she said flatly before readying to launch into a verbal attack against the woman when a new face moving towards the Drykas interrupted her.

The Ethaefal’s gaze narrowed in on the newcomer, mostly in annoyance that he had cut off her speech though probably without meaning to. He did not look very special and blended in well with everyone else who was huddled around the murky puddles. Taurina moved closer, not fully knowing why, but curiosity had some part to play. It looked like the man was looking to get water like the others, make an exchange of mizas for a waterskin or two, which the Ethaefal thought to be very foolish. This woman was just using people, there had to be a water source somewhere. How else would she have gotten the water?

”Sir, don’t you think that it’d be better to find the water source rather than give mizas to someone who is likely just using everyone here?” she questioned in her broken pavi loud enough for bystanders to hear, but mainly for the man to hear. She was thinking that maybe if she got him to go than others would follow and the woman would get nothing else from the people. The Eth’s gaze looked towards the bronze Drykas woman, the desire to cause the woman to fail was rooting itself deep within the Eth.

”It must be around here somewhere, it wasn’t many bells ago that she left,” it was a repeated statement, but one Taurina felt the need to solidify. This woman had to have gone out to get the water, not hunt. If she had went hunting there would be proof. And if she hadn’t gone to get water why would she come here to sell skins full of it not long after the stream was reduced to puddles? Things didn’t add up and since she was already involved, Taurina felt the need to finish what she started.

Common | Pavi | Thoughts

[Merevaika]

Another man came up, smiling sweetly at her, until he leant in and his words turned to venom. The hand he extended was empty, but he wasn't planning for it to stay that way too long. He knew, he seemed to anyway. That was what he claimed. And she was already on edge - all of a sudden, she remembered what had happened to Proudsong, and shifted back a little. If he knew, she could be next. She pulled a waterskin from her belt, placing it in his palm, then, snatching her pouch of money, she shifted out the coins, counting out exactly half. Her closed fist lingered above his, hoping to make the transaction as subtle as possible.

The voice of the woman who had protested before brought her attention away from the man, and his attention flickered as well. She was persistent. Merevaika had been certain that she had convinced her - obviously, it was not the case. But the man didn't say anything in reply, trying to focus again on Merevaika. The Drykas tensed a little, trying to work out how to make this go to her advantage.

This man clearly knew something. She wasn't certain what, but she didn't want to get on the wrong side of him. Yet at the same time, she wasn't going to let him get away with this theft. It was the middle of the morning. There were people everywhere. And you didn't steal from a thief. This woman knew something too, but she knew what she knew.

Merevaika smiled, realising that the woman's attempts to stop her were going to help her. This man wasn't like this woman; he wanted money, and was prepared play dirty. As long as she appeared to be submitting to what he said, he wouldn't hurt her. So she leaned in, until her mouth was practically beside his ear. "I'll do one better. I'll take you to the water, where I got all this from." She gestured towards the other woman, hoping nothing would come of it. If the woman came closer, she would repeat it to her too. "I'll show you the water, whatever you want it for. Just let me take you there, first, before anything happens."

Her eyes met both of them, hoping they understood her meaning. This wasn't the moment to say anything. No one else seemed to have heard, and she didn't want them to. The pair just needed to go with her, quietly. Hopefully, the man would be tempted by the idea of getting this gold in the form of water.

She needed time to think. Something didn't add up. She needed time. This would get it for her.

[Prophet]

The man shifted his weight from one foot to the other while his gaze swung like a pendulum between the women. He had yet to retract his hand and knew his window was going to close soon. A blink brought the stormy eyes to the girl with the streaked hair. His voice was even and traveled well but never eclipsed the realm of being loud. “When I have finished, we can all go together.” His words were saturated with djed and the outspoken bystander would receive a flood of images into her mind. Each would show the girl standing or sitting in some kind of line or assembly. It was apparent that she was waiting in every flash but the key feature was that, in these images, Taurina was smiling as if she were more than grateful to be still. The word patience would come to her mind and it would generate a feeling of peace. “How does that sound?” The man smiled warmly at her then turned back to the seller.

The brunette had already shaken the images of fear so the crafty hypnotist changed his tactic. “I would love to search for the water with you.” He seemed to be accepting her offer but his hand remained ready to receive his payment. While his words spoke one thing, the man's magic offered her something different. His left hand came up to merely trace his fingertips against her outstretched hand. Each delicate brush would unleash an image of wealth that surrounded Merevaika. “Could I still have what I asked for? If we do that first, I would be in better shape to keep up with such a strong young woman like yourself.” In a mental sequence, she would watch as her dream self handed over coins and valuables to the man in small amounts. Each time she gave to him, he stored it away for her until the last image revealed a massive pile of treasure. The man in the images faded until it was just Merevaika and her loot. The grey eyes waited patiently for the fantasy to set in. He felt confident in his choices.

[Taurina]

There was an exchange that involved both hands and whispered words. Taurina did not hear the words spoken to the man at first, but the Drykas woman motioned over to her and the Eth’s curiosity caused her to draw close and hear the whispered proposition as well. Taurina’s brows furrowed slightly, confused about the woman’s sudden giving into revealing the water. Previously the woman had denied any knowledge of the place the water came from and now she was caving, giving into the pressure Taurina and perhaps even the man applied.

There were many questions swirling in Taurina’s mind. She wondered what the woman had earlier been doing with her hands, with the pouch that held the mizas the others had paid her for what. That question wasn’t very important. What Taurina was more curious about was the woman now volunteering information about where the water had come from. ’What did the change mean? Was there an ulterior motive? Was it safe to trust the one who had tried to cheat so many out of hard earned mizas?’ That last one was especially important. Taurina’s gaze narrowed at the thought, weighing her options.

Taurina opened her mouth to speak and voice some of her questions, but another voice spoke before she got the chance. Taurina had just barely noticed the storm colored gaze on her before the man spoke. He spoke loud enough for both to hear, but not likely anybody else. Taurina found herself distracted from her thoughts and questions as a wave of calm accompanied by images flooded her senses. There was no resistance as the Eth allowed the strange new thoughts and emotions break away her questions and have control. There were images of lines she was perfectly content to be in and even though time ticked by it didn’t matter. An overwhelming amount of patience had swept in and Taurina became submissive to it, not thinking to question it.

The Drykas male assured that they would all go together to the water. Taurina realized that she was getting her way, finding the water, protecting the people from the slimy female who wanted to take more than she wanted to give. It was enough. Taurina was satisfied. Even when the images had faded and the feelings of patience and calmness became less controlling, the Eth was happy to go along with the plan the male had offered them. She felt that as long as they were led to the water it would be a success, it didn’t matter how long it took and there was no reason to question the girl anymore.

“Alright, you finish and then we will all go. Together,” Taurina outwardly agreed, stepping back to allow the two space to do their business. She wasn’t sure what it was or what the male wanted from the female, but she didn’t particularly care. Taurina was more inclined to trust the male that the female who had tried to rob people of their coins. They were going to go to the water soon and things would be set right, the Ethaefal was satisfied.

Common | Pavi | Thoughts

[Naiya]

Silence was a relative term in the Dawnwhsiper camp, more an absence of unusual sound than simply an absence of sound all together. All the same, it was the relative silence that the Dawnwhisper ankal enjoyed in the moment. She was sprawled beside Shai on a linen throw, near to him, but touching only with her hands to his body. It was stifing inside, but at least here there was shade, the smattering of clouds in the sky did little to disguise the heat.

Her mouth was dry, and she could feel the scratching begin to spread to her throat. Not good. Waisana had warned her that her own body would need extra care while she nursed her bosu, and that one of the things she would have to watch was that she drank plenty. She crawled reluctantly to her feet, return quickly shaping her hands as she left Shai on the linen.

She pulled her personal wetskin, marked with copper thread through the strap. She shook it, finding it unwelcomly light. Opening the lid she poured a drible from the body, lost to the drynes of her lips. With a frown, she sought another skin, hoping to have better luck. Both of the spares that belonged to Shahar had been emptied, and the others were with their respective owners.

She growled softly, not wanting to disturb Shai with a trip to fill the wetskins. She found a mug and scooped it full of milk from their cask. The liquid relieved the drynes of her mouth, but it weighed heavily on her tongue and stomach. She needed water.

Shai's voice split through the realtive quiet, he was sleeping fitfully in the heat, and her absence when he stirred was enough to set him to crying. So much for her silence. She scooped his warm little body into her arms, cooing softly. "Its okay, it's okay. Shhh..." He was hot, though, and she could only offer so much reprieve without water.

Resigned, she gathered her wetskins, running the straps through her large cookpot too. She would fill them all, and see if someone would help her to bring the pot back full as well. She wouldn't be able to carry the pot one handed without spilling it, she had to rely on the kindness of another.

It would be worth the cheese or milk she would offer in exchange for the service. Water was worth a great deal in heat and drought like this. She nabbed her backpack and the gear, swinging the lot over her shoulder and head so it would lay across her back. With both hands free to hold little Shai, she set out into the city.

Have "water?" she inquired at the first pavilion she pased, they shook their heads. She moved on, "Have water?" inquiry. Again she was met with a negative. She inquired a few more times, but with much the same results, although one family offered her watered ale, which she drank with gratitude. She moved out to the stream that had been supporting the city, finding that a large crowd had gathered.

People were shouting, angered or irritated. It was likely a mixture of both, the weather and the water did such things to people. The tension in the air was heavy enough to taste, and Shai was having none of it.

A loud wail echoed from his lips, and Naiya had to wonder once orehow such a small wuepo produced such big sound. She bounced him softly, hoping to bring him calm as she approached the river to see for herself the mud riddles puddles.

"Is there no water?" she inquired, late to the party and having missed the announcement. An angry voice spoke, a woman who had clear distaste in both her tone and her posture.

"Oh, there is water, this criminal wants two gold miza for a wetskin full." She scoffed, and turned up her nose, but Naiya was in no position to fight.

"Clean water?" She asked, seeking the 'criminal' that the other had gestured towards. Her eyes fell on Merevaika, and a man who stood close enough to her to make Naiya uncomfortable on her behalf. Recognition fell clearly across Naiya's posture, and relief set Shai to quiet hiccuping sounds. The man lingered despite Naiya's obvious intent to move closer to Merevaika, and that more than anything spurred Naiya into motion.

She slid forward with the grace of a warrior, her baby protected gently against her chest. She gently brushed past the man, a nudge against him moving him away from the woman. Merevaika was perhaps not someone she would have hugged normally, but as the situation was set, it became a solution as much as an act of familiarity.

"Merevaika," Naiya spoke softly as she embraced the other woman warmly a showy smile acros her lips. The emotion was not fake so much as it was premature for their friendship, if it could even be called that yet. "They say you have water?" She inquired again, stepping back in such a way that the man fell to her back and created space between her and Merevaika.

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Naiya space Pavi | Common | Tukant
other space Pavi | Common | Tukant

[Merevaika]

The woman stepped back. Merevaika cursed inwardly, wishing that she hadn't. That left her alone, alone with this man. But as he talked to the woman, her fear slipped away, replaced with her wild boldness. This man claimed that he knew, but if he did know, he would have proved it. He wouldn't have simply he suggested he knew the secret - he was bluffing. He had to be bluffing. She stood firmly, money tight in her hand. She refused to let him have it.

He seemed to accept her offer, but it wasn't quite right. He brushed her hand, lightly, and she flinched at the contact, trying to pull it back. It wasn't right. Something wasn't right. Her mind kept flickering to the money she would have, exaggerating it into piles of wealth. If she gave it to him, he would keep it safe for her. She would be rich beyond her dreams. She lingered to the thought of money, mouth almost watering with interest, and her fingers hesitate on her grip on the coins. Maybe she should have just given it to him, maybe it wasn't too late. It didn't matter if he knew, if he didn't know - she would always get so much more after him. The quicker she got rid of him, the quicker she could get some more money.

Before she could fully commit to the decision, Naiya came into sight. She pushed past the man and began to embrace her. Merevaika, shocked by the sudden return to reality, stood there for a few moments awkwardly, hand floating in the air, before she returned the hug, leaning closer. "Help," she whispered, hoping it was audible to the woman, but not the man standing near.

Naiya stepped back, asking for water. The man had moved away. The Drykas couldn't believe her luck with Naiya's arrival. It gave her time, time to think, and that was all she needed. "I have water." Her statement was a simple affirmation, her mind too preoccupied with other thoughts. Would it be wise to give her money to the man and let him move on to bother some other being? Or was it wiser to challenge him, and forget everything she had thought before? Her mind was all over the place.

"Here," she fell on a decision, not exactly sure whether it was the right one. Her hands moved simultaneously to a waterskin and brought the money closer to it, so she held both in one hand. She placed it carefully in Naiya's, trying to hide the money under the waterskin, while her other hand made a quick sign, shielded from the man by Naiya herself. Protect, she signed, hoping Naiya would understand that she meant for her to look after the money for her. Not having the money made things easier for Merevaika. "Did you want more?" she asked at the same time, keeping up the guise of a simple deal.

All during that time she watched the man carefully, and watched the other woman carefully too. She had no idea on how they would react. The more she stalled, the more she could think, but she didn't know what to think. She wanted to get away from everyone, but she wanted the protection of the crowd. She wanted the money, but she didn't trust the man. She wanted to sell these waterskins.

"How are you doing?" she broke the silence and shattered her thoughts, forcing them out of her mind. The question was so forced and so unlike Merevaika, she was surprised it had even come out at all. But it had, and she so thankful for it. It kept Naiya with her, just a little longer.