Bella

A thought flashed across Bella's mind. "Black Zari, you do not lie when you say that you are from a distant land. Everyone knows that Polabi Courthouse is on the main east-west road, and the quickest overland way to the west. Even someone with a casual knowledge of the local geography would know that." This could be important, and Granny would be pleased with this nugget of information. This unguarded statement of Astra's seemed to confirm that she had not prepared for a journey to Golabi, and seemed to corroborate her story.

Bella betrayed just a trace of the excitement that came with this insight as she asked, "Black Zari, I have never been to Corona. What was it like? Is it really as wicked and exciting as they say it is?"

"It does have a reputation. I did not stay long, and stayed in the company of the Captain, who saw to my safety, so I did not see much of the city."

Bella looked a little disappointed, as she had hoped to hear some juicy bits of gossip so that she could be the first to relay them to everyone else in Golabi. She gamely answered, "That was the proper and prudent course of action for a lady to take. Still, I have heard that the Gouvernour's Palace is beautiful."

"I might get to see it some day. One never knows."

"So do you think that anyone else survived the fire? Maybe someone should go south?"

"I did not see anybody. Even if they somehow drifted in, I do not see how anyone would survive long in such a hostile place. I am glad that I did not stay there long."

Bella then grabbed Astra's sleeve and tugged at it. Astra followed her to a dirt path beaten in the grass. "I think Granny wants us to go to the Little Pond, for a sort of picnic. We are out in the country, and we do things casually. I need to stop by Nanva's and pick up some bread. He will come to the picnic tonight, of course. He is a good fellow. He does a brisk business, but is not rich. In Golabi, there is often someone in need, and he has a soft heart. He is not a fool when it comes to business, though, and he commands respect."

"Like Granny?"

"Nobody is like Granny. What she does not know about what goes on around here is not worth knowing. If you point out a person, anywhere within four leagues of here, she can give you their life history, and the life history of their children and forebearers." And she is more than happy to give you her unvarnished opinions of those people, too, if she has known you for a while, thought Bella.

Astra asked, "Does she have any grandchildren? It seems that everyone calls her Granny."

"She has one surviving son, Darkub, who will probably inherit the store when she passes on, which may God prevent for many years. He has a daughter, and there is a grandson from the daughter that died back in the third year of the present King. So she has two grandchildren, yes."

Astra learned that besides Nanva and Darkub, the other people joining the pincic were Shirini, a woman a few years younger than Granny, who was the hamlet's midwife and doctor, and Bella's husband, Fari, who led the party that brought Astra into town. One guest who might or might not be there was Bakhtar, who was a hermit that lived to the west of Golabi. He was one of the few nearby who had traveled much beyond Golabi, but he might be able to make it on short notice.

1. Astra's mouth started to water as she sniffed the yeasty scent of freshly baked bread. They were close to Nanva's home.

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