Phoenix Maplewood not from others

"I may smell of them, but I am not," said Alya, making an impatient gesture at the woman. "Get up already. You can bow if you want, but you should speak to others face to face. Betters or not."

She looked the other woman up and down, taking in her lissome figure and bright green eyes. With a pang, she thought of her mother, and wondered what Amekaze thought of her extended absence. "I'm Alya Ostrega, from Moonspear," she introduced, forgoing her usual pseudonym. Let Aditya find out from someone other than her. She hoped it would burn him. "Who are you?"