Now all that was left was to be alone with her thoughts.
Shortly after Hawking had found her, she took a great deal of time to play with him and feed him, but even he grew tired and slept perched on a table.
Salīa did intend to stay still. She really did. But then her fingers started playing with the links around her neck for too long, and the itch to step out grew.
It's not like she could go to an eating house because someone would certainly disturb her.
A brothel wouldn't exactly be welcoming to her unless she was offering to work to pay. And any gambling den would welcome her, but certainly spit her out once they swallowed whatever coin she brought.
No wonder she kept trailing back to the flower house ahead. For whatever reason, her whole being felt a strong pull to be there.
It was of no coincidence that as soon as she opened the window again, Hawking flew out and seemed to swoop to no other place by that glimmering place.
It'll only be for a few minutes.
And it's so close to this inn that I could easily slip in and out. I'm sure Bazil will still be having a time long after I return.
Salīa pulled some paper from her book and scribbled in: Going to look at the pretty flowers, will be back soon. I'll call out if I need to.
*
With the help of the innkeeper's wife, who had a penchant for any pocket-filling requests, Salīa managed to secure a disguise.
She chose the one that looked most like what her great-grandmother Queen Khoisa used to wear in portraits, a mokorotlo, otherwise known as a high-rising conical hat of woven grass, crowned with a looped knot at its peak, and a short, flared brim, still long enough to shadow her face by a slight tilt.
She was ready to walk out, but the innkeeper's wife clicked her tongue. The woman shook her head side to side, contemplating.
When she returned, she revealed an option of dresses.
"My sister is a seamstress. She asked me to keep these for any special guests. I know you can't buy it, but maybe…I can loan it. If you tear it, however, you'll pay plenty."
Salīa was in awe of the dresses. It took her less than a glance to see the one she'd wear.
It was true she hadn't considered that such a place wouldn't allow her in with what she was dressed in, so Salīa wasted no time in asking for the full cost.
She knew better than to pretend that loaning it would be possible. If there was one thing she'd been quite good at over the years, it was ruining clothes even in a short stroll.
The innkeeper's wife hesitated, studying Salīa, then offered a price to test her. Salīa was just as clever, trying to appear even more hesitant.
She even rubbed her face nervously a few times and nibbled at her nails.
As the innkeeper's wife was about to lower the price, Salīa offered the coin, yet let her face hang low as if to appear as someone who shouldn't be doing something but couldn't help but do it anyway.
It's not that she wanted any sympathy, but just that she heeded Bazil's advice in not seeming too wealthy.
Something softened with the innkeeper's wife, and she tossed some coin back, seemingly taking only what was fair this time.
"Are you sure?" Salīa asked, not intending to bargain.
"Yes, yes, yes," the innkeeper's wife wavered her hand as if not wanting to see the discarded coin again. "But only if you'll wear it at the right places."
She then proceeded to tell Salīa which eating houses held the wealthiest men, boasting of nobles who might wed her right there.
At first, Salīa was surprised that she was encouraging her to be unfaithful, but then she remembered that Bazil was introduced as her brother, and so she thought that was the reason.
But it became evident that the innkeeper's wife was indeed trying to encourage her to be unfaithful when she said Salīa should, "Flaunt that dress off to every man except that miser."
So, she does think we're more than brother and sister. I guess it's better than her suspecting we're incestuous with how close we seem. But still…
"My brother won't care for such things," she said anyway.
"Your brother," she scoffed, "is too busy caring for other things, it seems. Who knows where he's wandered off to, leaving you here? It's his fault if his sister finds a new brother tonight."
With that, Salīa snuffed out their conversation so that she could quickly dress.
The mirror revealed how snug the lustrous black and gold brocade dress plumped up her breasts, hugged over her curves, and swept in slits that adorned her legs.
With a quick plop of the hat and wrap of the coat, she stepped out.
X