Two Eyes Cenote Dear Arkansas Daughter

Scuttling footsteps echoed faintly from within the tunnel, breaking the serene quiet of the hidden garden. The soft patter of small feet moving swiftly over stone carried a promise—news. Machi’s ears perked up, heart quickening at the thought that perhaps, just perhaps, the plan was moving along quicker than anticipated. A wave of relief washed over him, tinged with a sharp edge of nausea. He had prepared for this moment, yet the reality of it still left him unsteady.

He turned to face the approaching figure, expecting to see Eset’s piercing gaze, those eyes that always seemed to burn with a fire fierce and relentless. But instead, he was met with a different pair of eyes—soft, seaspun green, filled with a mix of curiosity and fearless determination that could belong to only one in Muat-Riya. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized her.

Safiya, he breathed, standing up so suddenly that he nearly knocked the shell of shimmering powder into the stream, only managing to catch it just as the side splashed into the clear water, resulting in some unfortunate spillage. His heart pounded in his chest, not just from the surprise of seeing her but from the implications of her presence here. The garden was a secret—his secret—and only Eset knew of its existence. That this child had found her way here sent a ripple of alarm through him.

What are you doing here? he asked, his voice threaded with concern. He kept his tone gentle, despite the unease winding through it. Safiya’s presence was dangerous, not just for her but for him as well. If she had found her way into his sanctuary, others could follow.

Did Lady Eset send you? He didn’t want to think about what the Hebsut might do if she discovered the child here, or worse, if the poisons that had once been hidden among the blooms hadn’t been moved in time.