Liquid Sun

Lei had kept her fever at bay for a full day and night now, though I still kept her close to me and we did not leave the wagon last night. Things still felt too fragile. I worried a strong wind would come and, laughing at us, blow her health away from me. Magda stayed with us, going on and on about the Skies and calling Lei a favored daughter. Normally I did not like the old Spex to talk that way about my family. It made me uncomfortable that things I knew so little of, things that scared me so much.. could know me, know my daughter. I preferred to think that Lei and I were too small, too insignificant to catch the wide eye of the spirit world.

But tonight.. I let Magda speak of her spirits, her colored pebbles, and her premonitions. Tonight I only smiled. The Healers would have agreed with Magda.. Lei was favored. How else could she have made such a sudden recovery form what had seemed a certain.. death? No one said that though, no one said my daughter nearly died. I am not an intimidating woman but this time.. no one had the nerve to tell me those things.

I fed her Canas broth and she drank Canas juice. We roasted the tabuk Fonce had left us and I encouraged her to nibble on the sweet meats. "You need your strength." I told her. "Also has asked after you, there are children waiting to play with you." she smiled a little and I showed her all the pretty things she had been given.. Alsos Flowers and the pretty golden bowls from the artisan. She had been on my mind a little; I had heard she had been asked about her usefullness. I did not like that sort of question, it feels strangely personal. Her answer did not suit the new Ubar and I suppose I can understand that. He wanted to hear what she could do that was tangible. I sighed and ran my finger over the rim of the first gold bowl. It glowed and brightened the side wall of the wagon. Lei smiled and I smiled and I realized.. that was what the artisan brought to the first fires.

Smiles.