The trader master smiles with warmest regard to the lovely Solu being brought to his tent, gesturing for her to sit and share some of the fine viands set out. "Good water and shade to you, Crista-fendi. Break bread with me, will you not?"

Crista laughs softly and bows… "That's twice today you do me a favor. First the rescue, now this."

Master Hajeem sits at ease amidst tasselled pillows. "It is nothing. Merely a trifle of my affection to you." He is not handsome but he has a certain distinguishment about his feature, someone a little more intelligent and thoughtful – wiser than the average Kavi. "What host would guest you and not even think to share a meal?"

Crista raises an eyebrow as she seats herself on some pillows… "One with less than honorable intentions, I believe." Her eyes twinkle.

"Whereas mine are of course, completely so." His eyes twinkle, and then he presses for Crista to sample all the different plates, taking a little of each to show that there is nothing here he would fear to consume himself. There are some meats done in a thick sauce, peppery and highly spiced but very tender; there are fruits covered in a light dusting of crushed almond and sugar, there are flat breads and even a light flakey pastry of honey and nuts – "Barchava," he identifies.

There are vegetables as well, including a broth of chickpeas and wild onion, and a spicy mash with bright flecks of small-cut fruits.

Crista watches Hajeem for a few moments as he takes the food. Only when he has sampled some does she take food from the identical dishes. "Of course they are, Master Hajeem. I would think no less of you."

The Kavi watches Crista with some approval. "Good. You have always had very good manners, for one of your people. It is a reason why we have made efforts to make available errands for you to run, and you have done well with us, have you not?"

Crista raises an eyebrow… "You've paid me very well… I've walked into no ambushes because of one of your messages… I would say yes, I have done well with you."

"You understand. Such work is not offered to any simple stranger. We build trust between us, you and I," Hajeem says airily as he finishes a first sampling of the dishes and nibbles on the bread. "There is greater work ahead for you, but also more danger."

Hajeem winks. "And also, more reward, for no one does work without recompense, isn't that right?"

Crista takes some of the bread, and pauses midreach. "Oh?" She laughs… "I, especially, do no work without proper… recompense… as you say."

Hajeem urges Crista to eat more. "You are healing – you must take good care of yourself. Your body needs fuel to rebuild its flesh."

Crista carefully takes more food… again only from the dishes Hajeem himself has eaten from. "You are too generous, Master Hajeem."

"It's an investment," the Kavi says with a laugh. "We have a saying among we people, the man who buys a horse for gold and refuses to pay copper for grain, he will soon have nothing but skin and bones."

Crista laughs, eyes twinkling… "You Kavi have many sayings, it would seem." She eats a bit more bread.

"Indeed, we are a wise and sagacious people." Hajeem winks, before stopping to nibble some more food.

Crista smiles. "The food is delicious, Master Hajeem. My thanks to the cook."

The Kavi leans forward. "So, then. I would imagine you have not heard this, but did you know that my brother was a chief in the Himar lowlands? A lovely village, truly. Much lush land, that would support not only grain but orchards of fine fruit trees. He had a wine operation there. We did business often."

Crista shakes her head, still chewing. "No, you've never mentioned that."

"I should say, one of my brothers – I have eleven, you know," Hajeem admits. "But he was always my favorite because he was so earnest. Not of course, as clever as myself, but he was very dedicated and hard working."

Crista chuckles… "Oh, no, of course not as clever as you, Master."

The Kavi continues, "Unfortunately, he came down with a short and violent sickness… Chiefly marked by a stabbing pain in the throat. There was some chaos and fighting, because none of his eight sons could agree which one was fittest to succeed him. Well, I picked out the one I judged the cleverest of course, and we pray to the powers that rule Sinai to find him also worthy of the land's bounty."

Crista blinks… "I'm sorry for your loss, Master Hajeem. This son… he has taken control in your brother's place, then?"

"Of course," Hajeem says. "If you should ever meet him – his name is Mihad, and he lives on the Himar lowlands of course – then you may tell him that I, Hajeem sent you and that I hope his daffodils are doing well. Very delicate plants. A private passion of his. But let us discuss my brother Mijeer's illness."

The Kavi leans back a little. "You are aware, of course, that it is said small bugs, smaller than the eye can see, carry diseases? That boiling can drive these out?"

Crista chuckles softly, trying to follow the convoluted story. "I love daffodils, myself." She nods, "Mijeer's illness, of course."

Crista nods… "I have heard such rumors, yes… I myself have seen some truth to it."

"Very good," Hajeem says. "Well, the agent that carried Mijeer's death was, by witness report, a small red fox not unlike your friend in the other tent. An assassin from what I believe is called 'Darkside'. I did mention a stabbing pain in the throat, did I not? A little bone dagger. Three inches long."

Crista's eyes narrow as she assimilates that information. "Hmm. Interesting."

The Kavi master trader's eyes narrow. "Now, I believe you when you say that you only found him on that altar. As a messenger, it is expected that you will encounter such things. But it is so convenient, don't you think, that he cannot speak our language, cannot say where he has been in the past five days? Perhaps he's only concealing his real personality."

Crista plumps down the piece of bread she picked up. "I found him with nothing, Hajeem. Surely in the heat of the battle, he would have slipped somehow… spoken a word or understood something I said. He did not."

"And you say that he was able to use a crossbow quite well… " Hajeem rubs his chin. "It is only a guess, of course. Perhaps it is simple coincidence. Foxes, especially of his build and coloration, are not completely uncommon. In any case, guest law forbids torture. But… Someone ordered my brother killed, Crista-fendi. Someone paid to have him stabbed through the throat. I want to know who and why."

"I don't want just the assassin," the Kavi says as he leans forward. "I want the man he works for."

Crista shakes her head. "He almost died because he doesn't speak our language. What disguise would be worth that?" And many are trained in weapons use."

Hajeem looks skeptical.

Crista looks at Hajeem for a long while, thoughtfully. "And what does this have to do with me, Hajeem?"

"It is very simple," the Kavi says. "As a messenger, you are expected to go many places. You will see many things. In exchange for seeing things, you will be rewarded over and above your normal fees for your errands."

Hajeem continues, "I wish you to follow this 'Exile' fox. Try and listen through his interview – make sure he does not escape your sight! If he is not a true Exile, the priests will find out quickly."

Crista takes up the bread again and chews, eyes dark and thoughtful. "I am not a detective, Hajeem. You wish me to… follow the Exile? And how will I persuade the priests to let me stay?" She shakes her head… "I don't know, Master Hajeem."

"Then, if he is in fact an assassin, he will need to report to his master that the deed has been accomplished. Follow him and perhaps you will gain greater insight."

Hajeem spreads his hands. "My favorite brother is dead. I ask much, Crista-fendi, but I will pay you well. One piece of silver in advance. One more if you do as I ask and are able to tell me what happened between him and the priests." He pauses. "One gold if your information leads us to my brother's murderer."

Crista laughs softly… "I will require much incentive for such an involved assignment, Hajeem. It is not my practive to involve myself in such a manner."

Hajeem leans back and laughs softly. "Robbery! By my own guest! Very well then. Two silver in advance, two if you are able to successfully bring me the information I ask?"

Crista laughs and bows to Hajeem. "You drive a hard bargin, Master Hajeem. I must warn you that I am not an assassin… I will do no killing for you in this matter."

"That is understood," the Kavi says. "It is information that I must have."

"You will of course, say nothing of this conversation to the fox," Hajeem says.

Crista nods… "I must also warn you that I will not endanger my life unduly in this matter either." She raises an eyebrow… "I am not stupid, Master."

Hajeem grins. "I am overprotective, I fear, Crista-fendi. I feel great concern for all the lives of my employees who are so dear to my heart."

The ferret makes great sweeping gestures. "Indeed, I fear that they swindle me greatly because they know the largeness of my heart!"

Crista laughs, extending her wings at the humor. "Of course you do, Master Hajeem, of course you do. I can envision nothing of greater concern to you then one of your employees."

The ferret laughs softly. "Well then. Shall we have sherbert? It is a confection that my mage is able to provide by magically cooling fruit juices and certain herbs… "

Crista nods… "As you wish, Master Hajeem. I am, in a manner of speaking, at the mercy of my host."

The master trader smiles. "You are my honored guest, Crista-fendi. You need fear no harm at all will come to you, while you are under my protection. I shall arrange for an airship to come as soon as possible, to ferry you and your friend to Rephidim." He claps his hands and serving girls begin to clear away the dishes, while a smaller Kavi brings forth two bowls of frozen sherbert.

Hajeem gestures for Crista to choose one for herself.

Crista says, "I thank you, Master Hajeem, for you kind generousity to myself… and the Exile."

Crista takes one of the bowls, but does not begin to eat. "This looks… interesting."

Master Hajeem beams, and takes his own sherbert, lifting the wooden spoon to dip into the icy confection. He fills it with a sliver of multicolored ices.

Crista watches Hajeem carefully.

The ferret has every appearance of enjoying the fine confection.

Crista hesitates a moment, then spoons a ridicuously small amount of the desert onto her spoon.

The sherbert tastes like… Fruit. Iced. Very similar to some desserts that the Solu has enjoyed back home, where the natural cold climate allowed freezing of fruit juices nonmagically.

Crista puts the spoon into her mouth, tasting it carefully… "Very… good, Master Hajeem."

"Thank you, Crista-fendi," the master trader says with a smile. "Observe! The desert is not so cruel and unforgiving when one has such treats to sustain one, is it?"

Crista chuckles softly, eating some more of the dessert… "Such a life is indeed wonderful, Master Hajeem. I could see how one can get used to it."

Crista puts her dish down and stretches… "Thank you for a wonderful meal, Master Hajeem… but I am afraid I must get some sleep and rest my wing."

Master Hajeem is all solicitous courtesy. "You must allow my servants to make sure that you rest well, dear Crista-fendi. Good night. Rest well!"

Crista smiles and stands, bowing. "I thank you, Master Hajeem. The same to you." She straightens, and appears to be waiting for something.

He gestures toward one of the serving girls to guide Crista. She takes the Solu's arm and begins to guide her into the night…

Crista tilts her head, eyes twinkling… "There is that small matter, Master Hajeem… "

The Kavi laughs. "Ah! After my heartstrings, you are, to see if there is gold in them, are you?"

Hajeem takes two silver coins and displays them to Crista. "Here! Catch!"

Crista bows, her wings sweeping over her shoulders… "I am a daughter of my tribe, Master."

The master trader tosses Crista's payment, an easy arc of silver through the air.

Crista watches the coins as they arc through the air and catches them easily on the downsweep. "Many thanks, Master… I will do my best to find what you need."

Hajeem chuckles. "Good night, Crista-fendi!"

Crista smiles… "Good night, Master Hajeem." She turns and exits the tent gracefully, the coins safely stowed away.