Luneshale Pass fifty-first

rolling up proverbial sleeves, tavina set herself to brisk work.

a spoken-letter had come from @Nazli, recently, documenting her arrival in the healing weald. the sesh guarded such words close to her heart, sharing them with senmut one morning. nazli spoke in a tone that was almost elated, anticipating rich studies once she had fully healed.

tavina kept the young lilac in her mind as she toiled alongside servant and guard alike, hauling water and plating portions. the work was mind-numbing, a perfect antidote to the eternal pain of nala's loss which gaped inside her spirit as if it were an unhealed abyss.

once, she straightened, wiping dust from her forehead. twilit eyes fell almost by random upon zaahira, whose fine face was turned toward the stars.

a strange pang thrummed inside the sesh. she turned aside at once, toting a wooden platter of liver-pieces in the opposite direction. "oh! hello," she said to the gilt stranger. "you must be our guest. is this your daughter?" tavina asked warmly, curious despite herself.

just beyond them, the fetching hips of inji swung, and tavina bid herself not to look.