They returned home.
The road from Mereo to Akashingo seemed shorter on the way back, with an ease to the travel which Nazli would not recognize until she was safely within the mesa's walls, left to tidy herself and to rest from the journey.
The month had flown by — and yet, upon reflecting upon the adventure and taking time to herself within her usual alcove, it almost felt like she had not gone anywhere, and that nothing had changed, and at the same time everything had changed, for her.
She lets out a sigh as the confusing tumble of emotions hit her: elation, gratitude, as well as yearning, but for what she did not know.
tavina tapped on the wall beside the entrance to the girl's room.
"it's good to see you back, nazli," the sesh greeted, her voice filled with a true warmth. but her eyes were filled with something else, and she gestured.
"can i come in? we should talk about something." and in her heart she held the proverbial scrap of papyrus: an order carried from pharaoh.
Alone, but not for long.
Tavina rapped at the wall and Nazli looked to the door, half expecting Makono to waltz in for gossip, or perhaps a face from Mereo; but when the sesh appeared, Nazli was warm and welcoming too.
Finally she could relax, and tell someone of the adventures! The girl swept close to the woman and was smiling.
Tavina! Yes, come in please.
She then stepped aside to lead her to a place they could settle together and chat, thinking this was a friendly visit and nothing more.
nazli was warm. she was not a girl any longer, but nor had she crossed to tavina's place. the purple eyes were perhaps strained.
she came into the little quarters and sat down gingerly.
"nazli," the woman began. "do you remember what we spoke of? before. the — other role of a fellahin."
it was hard to wait for tavina to be situated, and nazli wanted only to tell of her journey and her work, and the nature of soldiers, and ---
it all faded when the woman spoke. nazli had not forgotten but it didn't seem relevant; and she nodded, wondering why such a topic danced in tavina's head.
perhaps after, she could tell tavina of her hunting.
perhaps she should have waited to ask. this — it was another example of how motherly she was not, to rush to this.
yet it hung between them and she must say it.
"pharaoh has decided that it is time you were sent into your training. it will be granted you by the priestesses and the noblewomen. sayf too, will be a guide."
tavina sought nazli's eye.
training?
her first thought was of the hills and crags of mereo, the mighty crown that spilled water, and the sight of makono in the ring with the soldiers.
the feeling of air rushing by her.
that became the gut-punch of a breath she could not catch.
oh.
is it... does it, start, immediately? is that why you came.
her mouth was as dry as the desert outside.
"yes." tavina's heart was hurting, to see the change in nazli.
she dared to come closer. "but i will ask for four days. you need to settle first." her tone shifted, protectiveness flashing in her eyes.
"i've never been to mereo." her voice was soft, almost pleading. tavina blinked. "have i ruined any chance of you telling me about it?"
yes, and four days -- if pharaoh was feeling lenient, which nazli could not fathom, she had four days of girlhood remaining.
how could this be? it felt like punishment. an inevitable one, yet a punishment all the same.
she could run; she knew the way to mereo and had grown in to herself there, had proven her use to them, they would ---
no, they couldn't help her. it would jeopardize their alliance.
nazli didn't know what to say to tavina.
she had paled. her thoughts were circular; but the woman pulled the girl out of them with her comment.
I... no, but... not now.
tavina wilted but nodded.
"all right." with a last look at the girl, she turned and moved toward the doorway.
there was nothing else to say. nazli would have said her questions and made her argument already. the silence that fell between them was almost unbearable now.
tavina departed.
nazli stared at the spot she had been standing and wanted to chase after her, and curl up into herself, and scream almost, but - she turned eventually to the little shelf by her bedspread.
there, she ducked her head and let her medallion slip from her neck and over her nose.
it softly clattered upon the stone, and after a look at it, nazli drew a tight sigh and put herself to bed.