The Picnic Begins

The two of them walked over to where Bakhtar was sitting on the grass. When he saw them approaching, he stood up and bowed. He was a wiry man who looked to be aged about sixty. Astra thought that he might not be a native Hespaniard; even by their standards his complexion was swarthy. His black hair was in the process of turning gray.

"Zari, I'd like to introduce Bakhtar," Shirini said. "Bakhtar, this is Black Zari, a visitor to the village."

"Pleased to meet you," Astra said politely.

"The pleasure is all mine, khanom," Bakhtar replied. "Nanva has told me about your arrival." He gave a nod in the direction of the baker, who had also already arrived. "So you come from Foggy Island, eh? That's one place that I've never visited on my travels; indeed, I confess that I've never even heard of it before now. Once we have finished eating, you must tell me all about it." He fixed her with a gaze that she found uncomfortably penetrating.

I don't think that he believes me, Astra thought. But he can't prove anything. I shall just have to try to bluff it out, and hope that I don't make a slip and say something that he knows definitely to be false. "I shall look forward to that," she told him.

She was glad when Shirini said: "Now I must introduce Zari to Darkub, who I see has just arrived. I don't think that you've met him yet, have you, Zari? We'll talk to you again later, Bakhtar."

As they were talking to Darkub, Bella arrived, together with a man whom Astra had seen before; he must be her husband, Fari. Astra saw that Bella was carrying a musical instrument that looked very similar to a flute. That must be the nistle that Shirini had mentioned.

Now that everyone was present, the picnic began. After everyone had finished eating, they would talk, play with Darkub's skipping stones, and listen to Bella play her nistle.

The food was mostly plain, but plentiful and appetising, especially to the hungry Astra. Mary passed her a glass of the local pear brandy to drink with the meal. Astra found that it was excellent.

After a while, she found herself:

1. Getting a little sleepy. Perhaps it was the pleasant scent of the Xermes grass that was responsible, she thought.
2. Feeling slightly drunk.

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