Going Visiting

Ba'atar asked if she had seen T'zuri. The question puzzled her somewhat, for she had been thinking of the young woman just a few days earlier. We should see about her, see if she is in need of anything with her mate gone. She had been thinking the same thing, but somehow with the boys and various other things going on in her life, she had been remiss in not following through. That would change.


The next morning, she was up and packing baskets. It was a new day, and she was on a mission. With the baby hanging from her back in the carrier, she was laden by two baskets when she approached the Ubar's wagons. Why was it that these wagons had a way of making her nervous? She laughs softly at a memory as she walked.

When she and Trilok were children, on a dare, they had run to the first fires, and lay a rock on the steps of the Ubar's wagon. They were running away, when Trajen stepped out from behind the wagon, and bellowed at them to stop! She will never forget how he towered over them, glowering down at them. At that moment, she had actually hoped that the ground would open up and swallow her. Somehow, they had managed to stammer out that they had only wished to leave gifts of rocks on his steps. He was Ubar after all, and people left him gifts. He did not find this amusing at all and told them to git, and git now! They did not have to be told twice. And that fear had somehow hung on in her memory. Since that time, she had only been near the Ubar's wagons once, and that was the night Sahli had been paying the bride price for Jaella. But today, as was said earlier, she was on a mission.

Approaching, she nodded to one of the slaves that seemed very busy, then asked for T'zuri. She was told that the Mistress was not here at the moment. Frowning, she still approached and saw an older woman there. She was not sure of her name, she had only heard Fonce call her Aunt once. With T'zuri not here, this would be the woman she would leave the baskets with. Lowering down beside where the woman was, she greeted her, then introduced herself. The old, dark eyes appraised her, then the woman allowed that she knew who Cana was. She was the honey woman. Laughing she had nodded. The old woman had tapped her shoulder for her to turn so she could see the baby. Shrugging out of the cradle board, she had taken the baby from its' confines and delivered it o the old woman. What is it about a baby that can soften the features of anyone?

As the woman held the child, she began to speak to her of her mission. She knew that Fonce was away, and had felt remiss at not seeking T'zuri out sooner. She had brought some small gifts for those of the Ubar's wagons. Lifting the covers off of one of the baskets, she revealed three jars of honey, that she asked be saved for Fonce when he returned. There was also some of her honey cakes that were to be shared by all, and several bags of her salty, honeyed nuts.

The other basket was for T'zuri, and contained more of the cakes and nuts, along with a small pouch of her treasured hard cinnamon discs, and two bottles of scented oils. The old woman rocked the baby as she looked into the baskets and nodded.

Cana then told her a message to be delivered to T'zuri. She wished for the woman to tell her she was missed at the central fire, and that she hoped to see her there soon. She also imparted her plans to ride out to see if the bee hives were in the same place, and would enjoy T'zuri's company if she had time to ride out with her. The woman promised to deliver the gifts and the messages.

In a way, she hated to leave, but she still had much to do. Settling the baby back into the carrier, she slipped it on and smiled to the woman, allowing that she had enjoyed the visit. The woman said nothing, simply nodded.

Walking away, she was smiling. She was concerned about Fonce, as they all were, but she did wish to try and connect with T'zuri, for she knew how lonely it could be with your mate gone.