Breakfast

Gra'akast

A servant woke Shalia Nix early in the morning. The young witch woke up feeling refreshed and relaxed in a way she had not in years. The feel of the silk sheets against her skin and the softness of the bed and pillows a far cry from what she was used to among the Odonine.

Once she was ready she was escorted from her quarters towards the ground floor through the same winding staircase she had taken yesterday. Through corridors decorated with frescos and tapestries they made their way into the cloistered gardens at the heart of the residential building. Everywhere she looked she saw depictions of the twin tusks, large and small reminders of that she was in the house of the Twins. Her guards now as rested as her walked behind again, feeling out of place. The surroundings too a far cry indeed from their lives in Fang.

The first thing she noticed was how much green there was. Several fountains and ponds dotted the large garden. Carved archways lined the square interior. She saw plants and flowers she had never seen before, bright oranges, reds and pinks. A stark contrast to the desert beyond the walls. A reminder that where there was water regardless of how arid the land was, life would flourish.

Her eyes were drawn to strange looking birds that walked the grasses. Blue and green, no taller than her knees, with short necks and plumed heads, and long tails. She watched in fascination as one lifted its tail and opened it like a huge fan, showcase amazing patterns and colours.

She found Tamazzalt sitting at a small table under the shade of a fig tree, laden with fruit. He was dressed in dark brown robes embroidered with golden stitches around the hems of his garb, and reddish glyphs along his chest.

Despite the morning heat the design of the building and the flora of the garden along with its fountains made it much more bearable than Shalia had expected.

He smiled at her and rose to greet her again in perfect Odonine. The two had much to talk...