Emberwood you're a dime, plus ninety-nine

bhediya would never understand easy's willingness in the situation. she admired it, envied it, but knew that she would always question its validity. too good to be true, she thought to herself. 

still, a hopeful smile grew across her maw. bhediya used her shoulder to bump against easy, the first attempt at physical contact since they'd met. i don't mind you calling me akuti if that's easier. it's just a name. there were stories of home that she'd long since forgotten, stories that she thought easy might enjoy.

it means princess. which is funny to me now because i'd make a horrible queen. bhediya laughed then, hoping that easy would pick up on her humor. names mean everything in the south. that's why i made sure all of you had a southern name. that, and because she'd been much more proud of her roots back then. now, they were just another part of who she was. easy is nice, too. your dad had some good taste.