Lion Head Mesa rises the moon

The girl was very far from the palace, and so Nazli would mind her. It was her duty; beyond that, she was another amiirad and she could not stop her from making her plea to the fates, or the gods; whichever the prayer was for, Nazli listened.

She also watched as the shadow shifted. She saw the bones through the flesh, the sorrow that weighed the mazoi in such a way that it draped across them, dripped from them.

There was a moment of silence between them, and then Nazli advanced to where Toula rested with the mazoi. That was very kind, young miss. Very beautiful.

She felt at once that they were disturbing Jakoul, but did not dare whisk the girl away either, after the brief look that passed over their dark face. Nazli waited patiently for any orders from the child, and nosed close to Jakoul's ear to ask very softly, Is there anything I can... get, for you, or do? A hot meal would do her well.