Yara had spent the whole afternoon with Asiza, while Phinehas grew weary of waiting for her. After debating which errand to run first, he rose to his feet only to see Egen standing silently at the shop's entrance.
Egen lifted his hand in greeting. Phinehas returned the gesture, then turned away and quickened his pace toward the cart stage.
Climbing into one of the carts, he instructed the rider to take him to the nearest trading centre the opposite direction from where Yara had gone. Minutes later, he arrived and stepped out, heading straight for a shop across the road. Its front was stacked with boxes and rolls of fabric spilling into the open air.
The shop owner spotted Phinehas and discreetly signaled his workers to step outside. He walked into the inner room and left the door open.
Phinehas followed and closed the door behind him. With a polite bow and a faint smile, Phinehas extended his hand in greeting.
"Where is she?" the man asked, motioning for him to sit.
"She had an errand to finish," Phinehas replied, lacing his fingers together as his eyes fixed on the man.
"So how are we supposed to test these things without her?" The man leaned back, clearly dissatisfied.
"I can handle the testing," Phinehas said evenly, holding onto his thin smile.
The man shook his head. "It's better for the one who formulates these things to be here in person." He pointed toward a shelf in the adjoining room. "That's not how my superiors prefer to do business."
The man's hands tightened on the armrest, fingers tapping lightly.
"I'll pass this message to her," Phinehas responded to the man, lowering his gaze.
"Good. I expect something better next time," the man concluded and stood up. Phinehas stood up and bowed slightly.
The man escorted Phinehas out of his private room and returned to the front desk.
"Let her know we are waiting." The man sat in his chair.
Outside, Phinehas exhaled heavily through pursed lips and turned down the road toward another trading centre. Halfway there, he paused, sensing eyes on him. Glancing sideways, he caught a shadow dart into a side street. The road wasn't crowded, though people passed here and there.
He slowed his pace, slipping into an inn with a garden on the side. At the far corner, he turned sharply waiting. Moments later, Egen entered the garden. Their eyes met.
Phinehas stepped forward halfway, a faint smile on his lips. "You should be at the shop," he cautioned.
Egen's voice was steady. "What exactly are you keeping there? You guard it more closely than I do." He took another step forward.
"Perhaps you should get going. I've no business with you," Phinehas replied, retreating toward the exit.
But Egen followed, pushing into a fenced off grove of trees behind the garden. "Is it drugs? Minerals?" he pressed, gaze locked on Phinehas.
"I don't know," Phinehas muttered, turning away and leaving Egen standing alone.
Hours slipped by, and darkness began to settle. Walda roused Asha gently from her nap and invited her outside for a walk. She handed Asha a cup of iron drink and a steaming bowl of potatoes to boost her energy.
Asha ate slowly, soft smiles lighting her face. When she finished, Zera helped her out of bed, and together they stepped into the cool evening air. The girls were already asleep. The last streaks of sunset glowed orange on the horizon.
"I'd be more embarrassed if Mother saw me," Asha murmured, holding Walda's hand.
"She'll never hear of it," Walda chuckled. They walked until they reached a row of kiosks, sat, and ordered a small platter of starters.
It was fully night and the moon light out. Meanwhile, Yara and Asiza were still at a friend's place, nestled together in the same bed. Yara stretched her arms before slipping out from under the covers.
"I have to go home," she said, throwing on her outer tunic.
"Shall I see you tomorrow?" Asiza asked, reclining against the bedframe.
"Maybe." She leaned in and kissed him.
Asiza dressed quickly and walked her to the main road. They chatted lightly as they went, laughter softening the night air. But halfway through, Asiza paused.
"I need to check on my mother," he said.
Yara sighed, then nodded. "Alright." She smiled, and he returned it before turning back.
The walk home took her longer than expected. The moon shone bright overhead, but her house compound was unusually silent. Only a single lamp flickered in the sitting room.
"Is it just Mother at home… or someone else?" she wondered, quickening her steps.
She pushed the door open gently, lit another lamp from the sideboard, and carried it down the corridor.
A faint hissing sound drifted from Zera's room. Yara froze, tiptoeing closer, then leaned against the door. Suddenly it swung open.
Darian stood there, a shawl was wrapped around his waist and a dim lit candle was on the stool in the corner. Yara's eyes widened as she saw Zera in bed, her bare arms visible above a loose sheet. Zera's eyes went wide in shock.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to... " Yara stammered, gaze dropping to the floor as she backed out of the room.
"What are you doing here?" Zera's voice snapped sharp from behind.
"It was a mistake. Forgive me." Yara bowed her head and slipped away.
Darian walked into the kitchen, poured himself a jar of water, then disappeared back into the bedroom.
Back at the shop, Egen had turned everything upside down, searching for whatever might be hidden there. But nothing he found sparked his suspicion. With a frustrated sigh, he rested his hands on his head and began pacing back and forth across the room.
"What are they hiding here? And why doesn't Zera seem to care?" he muttered, running his tongue slowly over his teeth.
Meanwhile, outside, Phinehas lingered near the entrance. He kept a watchful eye on the shop, though he occasionally broke the tension by tossing cards down with his buddies.