Since Demes Oresta has granted X the day off – a request that Demes clearly, by the look of his ears, considered unusual but nevertheless, saw no reason not to grant – X has made his way down to the lower quarter of Abu Dhabi in search of what, he's not quite certain. That Savanite woman he saw certainly appears to want little to do with him, and yet the whole affair tugs at his nerves. It feels… unfinished.

Here is the inn where he remembers that she worked long ago – though it was newer in those days, fresh built and with whitewash glistening on the adobe walls. Now it has become much faded and dilidipated, grime a thin coat on the lower portions of the wall, the upper parts sun-bleached from a cheery parchment yellow to nearly bone white. But judging from business, that has had no effect on its popularity. Numerous Khattans take refuge from the mid-morning sun beneath its awnings and roof.

Several musicians walk by the scarred Savanite, carrying boxes of strings and other instruments. One looks at X and then laughs to the other Skreek. "Ah! A matched pair."

X just looks into the establishment for a bit, his tail lashing nervously, his ears flicking as they poke through the holes in his hood which gives his eyes some relief from the glare of the sun. He is distracted by the sounds of the Skreeks, looking at them with a puzzled expression, the joke escaping him.

The musicians walk into the Thieves' Boots past several Katthans and Khattans sitting on cushions around a table. The Katthans give the Skreeks friendly toothed grins, then resume their talks over thin glasses holding a cool green liquid. Some sort of iced tea, from the glisten of little shards within them.

The scarred Savanite slave gathers up his courage, reminding himself silently of the importance of this mission, and he steps into the establishment to look around, hoping desperately that he can hide any hint that he's out of place and knows it.

Inside, the inn fairly bustles with life as the Savanites bring food to the patrons. A pretty Zerda vixen takes orders, her ears flouncing as she nods to several Rhians, obviously airship crew from the strong leathers they wear. X's distinctive features draw looks from the Khattan patrons.

A Zerda merchant, porculent, takes the last candied date from a dish and then taps the empty saucer on the edge of the table and leaves it there without looking at it again.

X keeps along to the side, trying to just look as if he's on some errand, perhaps ahead of his master by a few minutes … though if he remains more than a few minutes, such an explanation is likely not to apply. He keeps an eye out for any Savanite slaves that might be working here … and especially for any hint of particularly short ones.

A small Savanite boy walks out of the kitchen with a rag to the nearest empty table, and starts picking up dishes to wipe it clean. His clothing is simple, his expression bland from working, yet a certain curiousity shines in his eyes.

X looks at the child. He scrutinizes, trying to match to the one he saw in the alley.

The Zerda merchant notices the small Savanite boy, then wrinkles his nose and taps the dish again, the small clinking sound attracting sensitive ears.

The child starts a bit, then hurries over to take the dish from the merchant. He does look a bit familiar, as he wanders on into the kitchen again.

X lowers his gaze again, going back to the entrance, looking out as if he were expecting someone outside, and slips out.

The Zerda waitress smiles to the Rhians. "Your order will be ready presently, with greens cooked crisp and full of life, spiced with the rarest essences from the Savan, sirs." She walks to the kitchen and calls out the order to the cooks inside.

The merchant makes a small 'Hmf' noise. Few Zerdas are fat… But this one certainly makes a good attempt at it – perhaps an indication that business goes well. "Such service this place has," he mutters as the boy takes the dish and scurries to the kitchen with it. "Master Raboachim should use Kavis instead. So much more energetic."

"Pah, money grubbers," a nearby saluki comments, her long floppy ears draping back over her silk-vested shoulders as she turns to the Zerda merchant.

X frowns as he overhears the comment upon leaving, daring to peek back into the establishment, hoping he won't catch some sign of the little one being chastised or otherwise in trouble for not being fast enough. He furtively glances about the street, then, trying to judge whether there might be any alleyway accesses … somewhere where a servant might be sent out to empty garbage, for instance.

Outside, the mid-morning sun slowly inches overhead. The inn borders a rugmaker's shop on one side, coarse Dromodon-fur rugs on display at the front, but an alleyway goes behind the Thief's Boots on the other side. The high adobe walls shadow it so that it is almost entirely dimmed.

Overhead are the rooms that the master of the Thief's Boots rents out, their balconies looking onto the street and the other side. Curtains have been pulled shut over the open doorways and there is no apparent way to get up there except from the stairs inside.

X pauses a bit, realizing just how dangerous the alley might be, but convincing himself that at least he's no rich merchant, and has no gold to lose. He looks into the alleyway, trying to get his eyes to adjust a little to the darkness, then slowly steps on in.

The alleyway's plain adobe walls rise to both sides, apparently clean at first (for dirt paths), then with small bits of debris – scraps of cloth too dirty and ragged to even think of using for washcloths, broken pottery, several scraps of wood that might once have been boxes, and the like. An open doorway covered by a thin nearly white bit of cloth sounds as if it might be the kitchen… It provides ready egress for the servants, who must occasionally go out to perform such errands as laundry or fetching water from the well.

X looks around, trying to judge his chances to be able to spy on the entrance … but also considering just how much alarm he'd prompt if seen, since stealth is NOT his strength. He decides to go investigate the well, to determine whether it's the sort of thing that is private, or whether some random slave might have any business fetching water there.

The well… lies down the other side of the street, down a few blocks from where X stepped into the inn first. A public gathering place where people frequently gather to speak, it was apparently (if X remembers the stories correctly) built by the very first people to find Abu Dhabi and continues to provide water to this very day, though several times water mages have had to be called in to renew it. Indeed, that might be a good place to wait – if in fact, X can count on Little Reed being sent for water.

Ahead of X, the alleyway passes between other buildings pressed so narrowly that it might be a tight squeeze at places. More debris is scattered, even what looks like a broken cart that has been stripped down for parts, leaving just one of the handles and a shattered spoked wheel, part of the floorboards, and one side, its back swinging creakily in the breeze.

X looks out to the well, gauging how much time is left in the day, this rare day he's been given. Time is such a rare commodity to gamble. At last, though, he heads back out to the street and to the well, hoping that his notions about what sorts of errands little Savanite cubs are sent on proves out, and that only one cub is there to be sent on such an errand.

The little boy that was cleaning tables does indeed soon wander out the restaurant carrying a water pitcher, seemingly intent on having it filled. He is a bit livelier now, having excaped the restaurant for the outdoors a short while. He stops as he approaches the well, and peers up at X with curious eyes.

X smiles, adjusting his hood a bit, sacrificing the shade from the sun so that he can be seen a bit better – and also in the process sacrificing what little the shade does to hide his disfigurement.

"Little Reed?" signs the former pit fighter.

Several Khattan matrons wearing burnooses to shelter their heads from the sun talk back and forth to each other rapidly in the Khattan language, full of mews and rumbled R's. They barely pause to notice the slaves.

The small Savanite blinks a few times uncertainly as he recognizes the stranger. "Yes? Who are you? "

X's sign for his name is simply an "X" crossed in the air, mirroring that of the mark on his face. He signs, "Forgive my intrusion, but I have come from a long way away with my master, having not been in this place for many years since I last visited – before you were born. Or, I presume so. … Tell me. What is your father like?"

The boy wanders closer to the well, still keeping distance somewhat from X, and sets down the pitcher to sign better, " My father? I do not know if I have a father. "

X frowns, signing, "Your mother has said nothing of him? Everyone has a father."

The large Savanite's tail lashes once, then sways as he consciously tries to conceal his nervousness over this whole situation.

Little Reed thinks a moment, then signs, " If I do, she tells me nothing of him. I decided from asking her that I must not have one at all. "

X nods, frowning more, then signs, "Perhaps that is just as well. We have something in common. You do not know if you have a father. I do not know if I have a son."

The little Savanite frowns and signs, "That is sad. I understand how you feel. Where did you lose your son? "

X signs, "I am not sure. If I had a son to lose – or a daughter – it would have been here, seven years ago. But perhaps I will never know for sure."

The Khattan mothers laugh between themselves at some joke, then lift up clay jars filled with water to their heads, cushioned by their burnooshes, and walk off to their homes.

The large cheetah drops down to something closer to eye level with the little Savanite. "What do you like? What do you dream about when you have the time? What makes you happy?"

Little Reed pulls up the bucket from the well, and dips in the jar, then sets it back down, looking at X again. " Why do you ask me such questions? I think you would like me to help find your son, but how will those help? " His eyes falter, as if he has a few more questions, but can't seem to ask them.

The well grows busier with mid-day, as housewives visit to refresh their families' sources of water before the sun grows unbearably hot, or send servants to do so. Numerous other Savanites appear, looking harried. Some greet Little Reed familiarly, signing "Good day, little one," and others look at the strange face-slashed Savanite uncertainly. They too begin to fill their jars.

X frowns, letting one digitigrade knee drop to the ground. "I only ask. If you do not wish to answer, then … " He looks past the boy, toward the alley, signing, "I should detain you no longer."

The boy picks up his pitcher, looking back at the restaurant himself, then stops, and puts it back down again. " If you want to know, I like to dream my father is a famous adventurer, saving the day for fleets of airships, and sailing around. I want to do that when I grow up. Be a hero "

X smiles broadly, his eyes twinkling. "Would that I could be such for my son. But I was only once a pit fighter, and not the best. Now I work for the Oresta fleet." His ears wiggle. "I see many lands. I wish I had time to tell you of them."

A wispy-looking, thin Savanite female signs with good humor to Little Reed and X, "Oresta is famous. They say you found the Emir a new vanderat – the fastest in all the land – even though he has never even run a single race. So is this your new friend, Little Reed?" Her ears wiggle as well.

X reflexively gets back up from his crouch, his legs tingling as they remind him too late that they were going to sleep in that position. He nods his head to the other slave.

The boy smiles, first from X's comment, then up to the lady. " Wow. Yes, this is X. He is looking for a son he lost, although he is not sure he lost him yet " He shrugs.

The thin Savanite female smiles. "I am pleased to meet you, 'X'. I am Cloudsmile," she signs.

X nods his head again. "I accompanied Chiri, a very resourceful and intelligent Skreek, and Josef, a quiet Khatta, on an errand to fetch the vanderat you referred to. Alas, I had little to do with the actual feat, being little more than an observer, having to deal with petty matters. But they did indeed secure a fine beast."

Cloudsmile beams to X. "Really! You are a very modest Savanite." She lowers the nearly-empty bucket into the well and begins to fill it again.

X's ears wiggle. He stoops down again, and signs a more detailed account of the adventure to Little Reed, making a pretense of keeping 'quiet' with his signs.

The boy's eyes widen as he 'listens'.

X adds some subdued pantomime as he gets to the part where the thugs of his master's rivals had come to harm his master's servants … and where he delayed them by violently rearranging their attire. He leaves out the part, however, of the elderly Khatta spotting him and wiggling her ears at him when she caught him "bowing for the crowd" after everyone had apparently left the scene…

Cloudsmile's ears wiggle muchly as X describes his feat. "You are quite a mischief-maker! I think if anyone wishes to cause trouble at the Thief's Boots today, they had best be sure that they do not wear any clothes."

X's ears wiggle at the notion, but his only response is to go into a summarized account of his time in the Zelak hive. He finds his own memories disturbing, so finds little trouble in conveying the sheer strangeness of the Zelak Queen and her "adoption" of the alien Envoy to his little Savanite "listener".

Cloudsmile hauls the bucket back up, brimming with water, as the last of the Savanites gathered start to fill their jugs and wander off. She continues to devote her attention to X's hands, smiling. "A Zelak hive! You have been to strange places."

Little Reed grins from ear to ear as he listens, but his grin gets shorter as the story moves along, and he because visibly nervous, "I really need to be going. " he signs, finally, and picks up his pitcher.

X looks around, noticing everyone leaving from their respective errands. He nods, and walks along for part of the way. He looks down at the padding Savanite, his mind full of questions he couldn't even put to sign if he tried.

Cloudsmile signs, "I should bring this water back as well, but I hope to see you again, 'X'." She looks over at Little Reed and then, while the cub's back is turned, signs, "I think he likes you too."

X nods a farewell to Cloudsmile, then watches the cub return to the kitchen, hoping that he hasn't gotten the little one into trouble … hoping that if he has, there is somehow he can make up for it some day.

Within line of sight, X notices several large wolves – Jupani, or perhaps Titanians? Yes, they might be Titanians from their heavy builds – swaggering up to the front of the inn. They loiter about, beneath the cloth awnings.

X furrows his brow, distracted for the moment, wondering what brings the big northern barbarians into the blistering heat of the Himaat … and just what effect the heat may have on their temperaments.

The boy stops, looking a bit nervous at the wolves, trying to avoid them as he heads back in.

One of the Titanians loitering outside the inn looks over at the boy and calls to him. "Little slave! Fetch master. We have business," he growls. "Is seven-days."

Little Reed shivers, then nods, hurrying on inside.

Just down the street as well, X notices, a pit viper Naga dressed in patched traveller's clothes and a square-rimmed hat slithers toward the inn as well. He looks moderately well to do, and his sleeves bulge in ways that suggest that he carries scrolls tucked there. He pauses before the Titanians who are blocking the door.

The other Titanian sneers at the Naga. "So sorry. Closed."

Looking up at the Titanian the Naga takes a deep breath and seems to rise a little higher, until he is in level with the wolf's eyes and says "I belive I hear ssoundss from within. You are very active when you are clossed."

The little Savanite boy disappears into the back of the Thief's Boots Inn… Perhaps to fetch the Innkeeper? At least he is momentarily out of harm's way.

X's eyes narrow. It doesn't take the nose of a Jupani to smell trouble here … and if it has the tinge of blood to be mixed with it, he's not going to tolerate any risk to Little Reed … or his mother. X stands up to his full height and walks toward the front of the restaurant.

The Titanian sneers. "I say is closed," he growls as he puts his hands on his hips. "You calling me liar?"

With a sign the Naga reaches into one of his sleeves and asks "What do you want? I do not have the time, nor energy to deal with you. Jusst get it over with." then he flicks his tongue and says "I have had a rough day, and it iss not over yet. Sso tell me what you want, and do it now."

X walks closer, standing a bit behind the Naga, sizing up the Titanians … and the surroundings.

The Titanian's grin widens, showing huge yellow fangs, some of which are chipped. "Good snake," he rumbles. "Is toll. Fifty shekels." He holds his hand out.

The Naga looks the Titanian over, rising a little more, towering above him as he says "I'll give you ten sschekelss, and you leave me in peasse. Yessno?" as he rummages around in his sleeve.

The other Titanian adjusts his trousers, from which several knives dangle. He, like the first, is shirtless and beaded necklaces drape about his neck, with little leather pouches dangling from them. Both have a diamond pattern with two dots shaved into their left arms.

Quickly eyeing the other Titanian the Naga seems to calculate his chanses. He then looks back to the first wolf and is prepared to give him ten shekels.

X strides up to the Naga, and lightly rests a hand on the snake's shoulder, in what he hopes is a supportive gesture to the snake … and an "I'm with him" statement to the Titanians.

The Titanian eyes the Naga scholar's sleeves. "Hah! See what you have there. Show us," he rumbles. "Turn out. Empty."

The scarred Savanite looks to the last Titanian to speak.

The other Titanian looks at the face-scarred Savanite and scoffs. "Marked slave. Like other one. Master making collection?"

Sighing with a sharp hiss the Naga says "Thingss of no interesst to you." as he hands the money over and says "Thiss iss what you will get, take it, and we will ssolve thiss with a minimum of disscomfort."

The Naga continues "You get what you want, I go where I want, everyone getss what they want." then he adds, silently to himself, in Imperial "And I get a little peace."

With a discrete one hand signing the Naga asks X "Are you with them?"

The Titanian looks at the ten shekel piece he has been handed and growls. "Know got more. Open sleeves. Or we open for you." He looks over at the other Titanian to hold the slave if the strange marked one decides to interfere.

X presses a hand to the Naga's back, signing one-handed, "I am with you. Prepare to duck."

The other Titanian makes hand-waving motions to X, shooing him away as if he were a mere fly.

The Naga looks at the Titanian as he says "I have given you ten sshekelss, but very well. Ssuit yoursself, I have little elsse of value here." and he leans forward slightly to pick something more out of his sleeve, in reality preparing to duck, as he tries to get out something heavy, like a wooden scroll or something.

X flicks his ears, ducking his head and taking a step back as if he's going to leave … grabbing one of the supporting poles as he does so.

The first Titanian moves as if to grab at the Naga scholar's sleeve, growling in his throat…

Dropping to the ground, the Naga takes the heaviest thing he could find in his sleeve and pounds it down on the Titanias foot, as hard as possible.

And as he does so, at that moment, the face-slashed Savanite pulls the pole out, causing the awning to drop – which catches Shesseth's hat and both Titanians. The wolves yelp startledly, then start struggling with the cloth.

The chitin rod snaps and shatters, but causes the Titanian to hop with outrage. The awning starts to tear away from the front of the Thief's Boots, to the startlement of the patrons inside.

X tries to poke at the struggling forms with the pole, figuring that the tallest targets are NOT the Naga. He can't really expect to knock an opponent out with this makeshift weapon, but perhaps he can knock his opponents off-balance long enough for the Naga to escape.

Crawling on the ground the Naga quickly gets out from under the cloth.

The Titanians howl! They begin to tear at the cloth, their claws stabbing at the heavy cloth, but pushed off-balance by X's pole and struggling as they are, the awning tears away completely and drops them to the ground. One of them growls, "Kill you, slave!" muffledly.

The ruckus seems to have attracted the attention of neighbors who were dozing off for their mid-day siesta. "Call the guards, someone!" the master of the rug shop yells. "Thieves! Thugs!"

Revealed in the doorway of the Thief's Boots is the silk-vested Zerda proprietor, who looks aghast at the damage to his inn's awning and at the two Titanians attempting to escape their canvas coccoon, and Little Reed…

X grabs the other pole, poking at random places, hoping to maintain the confusion while it will last … but he's definitely mindful that it may soon be time to make a hasty exit!

The Zerda proprietor wrings his hands. "Oh no! This is terrible," he moans. "Guards! Someone, help!"

Looking for the actions of his unexpected helper, the Naga seems to consider his next move.

X pauses a moment to look at the Naga and make a head jerk toward the entrance to the restaurant. Surely THAT would be safer than within grasp of the Titanians, if the snake hasn't a mind to flee entirely…

The Naga dodges into the safety of the crowd in the restaurant with a hiss. Not minding if he accidentally happens to punch one of the Titanians in the process.

X stands guard, daring occasionally to look to see if any guards are responding to the call. Flight would be good, but too many would be able to identify him. Best to face the authorities now and hope the snake gives a good account.

Little Reed stares for a moment shocked, then cheers on X, kicking the canvas a few times himself in a small assault of his own.

Bowing to the keeper of the restaurant the Naga says "I am ssorry for what have happened. Letss talk about it later." as he continues inwards.

"Standing guard" includes a few pokes at the Titanians, but X tries to wave Little Reed away, freeing a hand to sign, "Inside! Inside!" and flailing a finger to point to the door.

Unfortunately, little cub kicks don't do much to big heavy Titanians, even if the Titanians are presently encumbered by canvas… One of the giant wolves gouges his claws through the cloth, then struggles trying to get his arm into a more useful position. "Stop! Kill you slow, you keep poking," he yells. "OW!"

X sees this getting more serious, and abandons the pole to swipe up Little Reed and pull him free from the Titanians' reach.

Spinning around in the doorway and looking at the commotion, the Naga seems to consider something.

The Zerda proprietor almost fails to notice the Naga, then moans again. "Guards! For what do I pay taxes if not to receive the shelter of the Emir's guards? Am I now to be beset by thuggish Titanians in my very own inn? Quickly! Stripes! Your cub!"

And a cheek-scarred Savanite woman appears at the entrance, looking pale in her ears as she takes in the sight. She takes Little Reed from X quickly.

Cloudsmile's form is seen briefly as she races down the street from her master's shop.

X surrenders Little Reed, looking worriedly after him, then returning his attention to the Titanians and their progress through the awning. He goes for the pole again.

The Naga sticks his hand into his sleeve again and grabs a scroll, unrolls it and looks at the scene with a triumphant smile.

Willow-wind, or 'Stripes' as she is called by her master, scolds Little Reed with one hand. "They are dangerous! You shouldn't get them mad at you," she signs, but the relief in her eyes that X got Little Reed out of the way of combat is evident.

The canvas rips some more, but with careful prods and stabs of the pole, X is able to keep the Titanians howling and ineffective… Long enough for two large vanderats and mounted warriors to appear at the end of the street. One blows a shrill horn. "The Emir's guards!" the Zerda proprietor says in relief.

X keeps trying to put the Titanians off balance until the guards can approach to sort out the mess.

Little Reed pouts, " But they are after my friend…

The Titanians rip holes large enough to poke their heads out of the canvas awning… Just in time to see the Emir's guards. "Dagh," one grumbles seeing the spears at the ready. They are strong, but the warriors have the advantage of training and armor and longer weapons. The lieutenant Khatta stares down at the trouble-making Titanians coldly.

X drops his pole and his gaze, holding his hands out to make sure that he presents no threat to the guards.

Crawling a little closer the Naga puts a hand on X's shoulder saying "The guards will take care of the ssituation from hereon I think." then he smiles with relief to the guards and says "Thank you for answering so quickly. You are indeed dutiful and competent guardians of those sstreetss."

Willow-wind signs to Little Reed, "He is strong and knows how to take care of himself. Your – " Her hand trembles as she realizes that her son called X a friend. "Your friend has fought stronger than these before. And won."

X looks away from the scene, toward Little Reed – and Willow-wind.

The Lieutenant motions to his companion to put heavy wood shackles on the Titanians, once they have been freed from the canvas. "It is our duty as the Emir's guards," he says coldly. "What has happened? Is that slave responsible for this brawl?"

X snaps to attention at the Lieutenant's voice, then signs to the Naga, "Do not forget your ten shekels."

The Zerda proprietor says, "Thank the First Ones that you're here!" He bows to the guards.

The Naga looks up at the guard and says "My guard you mean. No, he merely kept the ssituation form getting out of hand before you arrived. He hass done hiss duty well."

The innkeeper nods in agreement. "Yes, yes. These are notorious trouble-makers," he says. "Always starting fights, making trouble, asking money before they will go away." Catching the monstrous glare of the Titanians, he adds, "You will see that justice is done, will you not, good sir?"

"Then your guard should have done so with a little more care for the property of the innkeeper," the Lieutenant snaps. He gestures for the other guard to search the Titanians, coming up with a grand total of two hundred and thirty nine shekels, then hands fifty shekels of these to the innkeeper. "For disturbing the peace, such a fine is the least of what they will pay."

X sighs. Lacking a weapon, his methods of fighting DO tend to damage property in the area…

The Naga assures the guards "I will of coursse bring my contribution to the innkeeper ass well." as he tries to locate his own ten shekel coin.

Willow-wind signs to X, "Thank you for saving my son." She pauses, not quite sure what to say next.

The Lieutenant looks at the Naga suspiciously, but after confirming that Shesseth attempted to give the Titanians a ten-shekel piece to get them to go away peacefully, he nods and hands the coin over.

X just looks back at Willow-wind for a long moment, unable to find anything to sign, except to bow his head to her … and sneak a smile to Little Reed.

Again bowing to the guards the Naga accepts the coin and says "You are indeed a resource to your profession, and a just keeper of justice."

Little Reed smiles, and sign, " Yes, thank you, X. " He continues smiling, giving off a beam or two of admiration in X's direction.

The Lieutenant nods curtly. "Go about your business," he orders, then has the Titanians stumble along behind the guards' vanderats as he walks them back to the Emir's palace, to await justice.

The Zerda proprietor smacks his hands together as if dusting them of something distasteful, then looks over at the Naga and his guard. "Please! Come in, most esteemed sir. You will have the best seat in the house that I can give you, and the finest food." He bows low. "I am most apologetic for this distressful greeting that the two trouble-makers brought you, and hope that we may ease the tranquility of your spirit with good minte tea and delicacies."

The Naga turns around and nods to the innkeeper saying "Thank you, I belive I will, indeed." looking around for a place he can take a rest at.

Willow-wind shoos her son back to the kitchen. "Don't bother the Naga or your friend," she signs. "They must have business of some kind."

X smiles. He doesn't care for the seat or food that the Naga is being offered … but perhaps he just might have an excuse to linger a while longer. X finds an opportunity to sign to the Naga, "If Demes Oresta, head of the Oresta Trading Company, were here, he would extend his greetings and be pleased to see that no harm has befallen you while here in Abu Dhabi."

The boy runs off, glancing back a few times at X. He finally stops at the doorpost and waves, smiling again, before disappearing.

Finding a suitable place the Naga crawls over and attempts the difficult position in which he rests on his own coils, as he signs to X "Come over here, I wish to talk, communicate with you"

Inside, another Naga, solitary amongst the Khattas and Rhians, waits impatiently near the back of the inn. He looks up with visibly concealed impatience to see Shesseth's arrival, the remains of a yiffle's brushy tail on a plate next to him.

X looks as if he could melt. But then, maybe it's just the heat. He smiles again after the departing cub, then follows the Naga, bowing his head.

The Naga taps the ten shekel to the table as he says "I am grateful for your assisstance, think no less. Therefore I belive thiss iss your desserving, not thosse thugss outsside at leasst." as he with a loud click slams the coin to the table and moves it over to X.

The other Naga waits for Shesseth to be done with the Savanite he has brought along.

X bows his head at the Naga's offer. "You are most gracious. I will sign well of you to Master Demes Oresta."

"Then give him Shesseth regards, and my thankss again for your help," says the Naga. and with a bow he says "You are free to go on your own errandss now."

The Zerda proprietor sends his daughter, the pretty waitress that X noticed before, to wait upon Shesseth and the other Naga. She bows to the newcomer Naga. "Milord, the kitchen of the Thief's Boots is at your disposal. What may we serve you today? The glazed yiffle on a bed of candied dates is very good, as your companion may attest, and of course there is cool minte tea… "

X bows his head to the Naga again, and turns to leave, though not going too hastily. He surreptitiously looks about, eager for any last glimpse he can get of a certain cheetah family before he has to leave entirely.

Waving a hand irritably at the serving girl and saying "Assk me later, when my bussiness here iss done." the Naga motions her to lave him alone for now.

As the Savanite leaves, the other Naga leans over to the first. "Very good, Shesseth. We are not long on time here. What have you learned here?" He glances toward the other patrons, then continues in Imperial Nagai…

X gives a longing look to the kitchen, pausing near the entrance, then shakes his head and steps back out into the street.

Listening to the other Naga, Shesseth nods some times and replies, silently, in Imperial, usually quite short. Listening intensely, supporting the tip of his nose with one hand.

The first Naga nods and replies likewise. They have a certain furtive quality that X recognizes… Or is it just his imagination, in the aftermath of the combat? As the Savanite slave continues outside, something crunches beneath his feet, something that crinkles – parchment on a rod of chitin. The Naga must have dropped this scroll and forgotten it.

Out in the street, X stoops down to pick up the scroll. Curiosity getting the better of him, he takes a look.

A diagram of what looks like machine parts, along with detailed annotations. The language is Nagai, but he would guess that it's some sort of analysis, the sort of thing scholars are forever making up, and not a blueprint.

X rolls the scroll up, figuring it must belong to the scholar. It just looks … scholarly. He sees an excuse to step back inside for another brief visit, and pokes his head back inside, looking to make sure the snakes haven't slipped away while his back was turned.

The scholar and the other Naga are still discussing, even more intensly than before. Not noticing anything around them.

X looks around, then strides back toward the scholar, confident on his errand, holding the scroll at his side until he reaches the scholar again.

Shessteh puts his hand into his sleeve once more and pulls out a map. Unrolling it on the table he points to some location and speaks about them shortly in Imperial. Not noticing X's approach, he does not hide the map showing the crater-valley of Abu Dhabi.

The other Naga peers over the map and then asks some rapid-fire questions, also in Imperial Naga.

X walks so that the first scholar can (theoretically, if he were to look up) see his approach, and looks for an open spot to lay the scroll down on.

Suddenly seeing the look of the other Naga, the scholar looks over his shoulder, spots X and quickly rolls the map up, putting it on the other side of the table as he leans a little closer and says "Well, wasn't that a nice painting, do you think." in Standard.

X bows his head, offering the scroll to the scholar.

Skreek musicians play a cool and breezy tune, thin notes hanging like silk threads in the air. The numerous patrons nearby are all busy eating, or talking over the remains of their meals.

Eying the Savanite, Shesseth asks him "What do you want now. Wass not our business finished?" sounding a little irritated, then notices the scroll and grabs it, unrolling a bit of it and looking a little closer. His eyes widen and he looks back to X saying "You have indeed proven yoursself invaluable to me today." then adds, after a little pause "Are you for ssale?"

X blinks, then signs, "You would have to consult my master, Demes Oresta, of the Oresta Trading Company." He then proceeds to give directions to find his master – not that he's eager to be sold, but while he's made a favorable impression on a scholar or merchant, it can't hurt to advertise his master's business.

The other Naga hisses as he reads the signs. "Demess Oressta, hmm? We sshall be cssertain to look him up." He gestures toward the scroll. "Did you read it?"

Pulls out yet another scroll, the Scholar writes the instructions down and says "If he iss willing to part with you, I am indeed interessted." smiling.

X signs, "The pictures look nice, but, alas, I am not educated. I am of use for my arms, not my mind."

The other Naga studies X for a long time, then nods and turns to Shesseth. "Ssee, thiss one appreciatess your artisstic abilitiess. I have alwayss ssaid you would be wassted on mere field work." He smiles fangily.

Looking stern for a minute the Scholar seems to think for a moment, but relaxes and says "You have done well. You can go about your business now." waving X away with the Savanite sign for leave.

X bows his head and heads back out to the street.

Shesseth smiles to his companion and says "Thank you. But the respect of a Savanite I can do without." in Imperial.

The scarred slave looks about, then makes his way to the alley, peering in to where he saw the door leading to the kitchen.

The other Naga replies to Shesseth in Imperial, glancing after the face-slashed Savanite. "Does he suspect?" He rubs his chin, and then they resume their discussion.

X slips to the door, peeking into what he presumes will be the kitchen.

The kitchen bustles with activity, under the dominance of Willow-Wind who keeps everyone busy – though she is not the chief cook, that pleasure being reserved for a pleasant-looking tortoise-shell Khatta, she makes sure that there are no idle hands, not even Little Reed's, who is washing dishes. She looks up at the newcomer and begins to sign some orders to him to cut up the meat for the evening meals, then stares at the slashed face that looks back at her.

X wiggles his ears, trying to smile. He signs, "I will not bother you long. I have just one thing to settle before I leave."

Willow-Wind smiles a little, ears tilting up.

The Savanite boy turns from his dishes, looking up at X with a big smile, his hands obediently still in the water.

X slips in, surreptitiously passing the tenner to Willow-Wind. "Please. Use it for yourself and Little Reed how you see fit. I know it is a paltry … but it is all I have to offer now."

Willow-Wind looks shocked and begins to brusquely sign, "I do not need… " She stops, then folds X's hand back over the ten-shekel piece, looking into the other slave's eyes. "Money cannot buy a son. But love can. Little Reed needs more than I can give him." Her eyes look down, and then over to the small Savanite boy.

X looks uncertainly toward Little Reed, then back to Willow-Wind. "I do not mean to buy anyone. Please forgive me. I ask nothing from you. My time here draws short, and I must be away to serve my master, Demes Oresta, wherever his airships take me. I do not know if I will ever come here again. This is but a token. Please take no offense at it."

X adds, "My generous master gave me the day off. That is why I am here."

"He grows too big for little inn," Willow-Wind signs. "Soon he will be asking questions again I cannot answer. Dreaming dreams I cannot give. Ask your master, please. He is generous. Perhaps he will give a little more."

X blinks, taken aback by this, "What do you wish me to ask of my master? I will ask it, but tell me plainly. I am just as simple-minded as I ever was." He manages a small smirk.

Willow-Wind glares a little at X's smirk. She signs, "I have given him seven years. I have tried to give him hopes. What will you give him?"

X frowns. "I do not know." The cheetah looks about, suddenly feeling that he'd be a lot more comfortable back out exchanging blows with a rabid Titanian…

Little Reed wanders over to his mother, still washing a dish between his hands. He looks between his mother and X with big, curious eyes.

X signs, "If Little Reed did not have chores to detain him, I could spend what time my master will allow with him while I remain. Otherwise, I do not see what I could do unless you are suggesting I take him with me."

Willow-Wind throws her hands up, and then signs, "You are impossible. But come back and see Little Reed again. I will make sure he is… " She signs the last word, "free" with black irony dancing in her eyes. "You eat here, if you have the day off. Then take Little Reed and show him something. You should know him."

X's ears wiggle faintly and he bows his head. "I will treasure every moment you give me with Little Reed. I will sign to him every adventure I know of … except, perhaps, one."

The cheek-slashed Savanite, nicknamed Stripes for the marks her scars form, moves efficiently about the kitchen to put together a large sandwich and a smaller one with slabs of meat and cheese. A huge lunch for both X and Little Reed. "Eat."

X bows his head and signs, "As you wish."

Little Reed puts up the dish, then wanders ove to the table, finally asking what he's been wanting to all this time. " Mother, how did you know X before? "

X moves to guide Little Reed to his dinner, but pauses as the question is asked. He is just as curious to see what answer will be given.

Willow-Wind's ears draw back, and then she looks over at the awkward-looking face-slashed Savanite. "It was seven years ago," she signs. "And we were very young. He saved me from a beating I was too stupid to avoid, because I did not yet know how to be a Savanite, by taking it for himself."

The boy thinks about it, " Isn't that about the time I was born? And your son, X? I would love to meet him if he is my age. "

X smiles a pained smile, and looks to Willow-Wind with a "should I?" look in his eyes.

Willow-Wind's ears twitch. She looks over at X, and then signs to Little Reed to go eat his sandwich in the alley. "Your… friend will go outside with you and he will show you where he works for his master today, Little Reed."

X's ears twitch as well, and his gaze drops at Willow-Wind's reference to him as 'friend'. He turns to Little Reed, nodding, and leading him to the alley with lunch in hand.

Willow-Wind signs to X as Little Reed goes outside, "There was no one else in that year."

The boy jumps eagerly after him, signing with the hand not holding his own lunch. " After you find your son, we can all go searching for my father! "

X pauses as he sees Little Reed out, and signs, "I'll be right with you," before going back inside with Willow-Wind. "But is there another?" he signs. "I am sorry for being irresponsible. What I did was wrong. But it means so much to me to see Little Reed. I have wondered over all these years… "

"It was not wrong," Willow-Wind says almost bristling. "But… " She drops her gaze and signs, "I waited for you. I knew you would come back some day. But it is just the same. You will still go away because you serve your master, and I serve mine, and he will not sell me… But maybe, he will sell Little Reed because he is only a little cub. And not worth so much."

X's ears flush at this. "That cannot be! How would I ever find him again?" Nothing, not even a spiked Vykarin or a cornered skedat could inspire this much fear in the disfigured cheetah.

Willow-wind looks astonished at X's fear, then wiggles her ears in a laugh at long last. She signs, "Then your master must buy him first. Before someone else does."

X tries to smile, signing, "I will take him along. My master's heart will melt when he sees the child. I will work most diligently to earn my master's favor… " He pauses, then signs, "I will not fail you. I will give anything for our child."

Willow-Wind gives a small sigh, then smiles. "Thank you… My far-wandering heart." The last word is a small flicker of the fingers that suggests how much scarring she must have had to fight through to admit it.

X smiles wearily, then signs, "I have not forgotten you. Nor will I ever forget." His gaze drops, and then he signs, "I should not leave Little Reed alone in the alley."

The tautly muscled cheetah woman leans forward and nuzzles X's cheek. Her hands flicker again. "You'd better take this water to Little Reed before he melts outside from this heat."

Once again, X looks as if he could melt as well. He nods his head, then hurries outside with the water.

Little Reed runs up to X as he sees him coming out, the few bites left of his lunch still in hand.

X smiles, offering the water and making short order of his own sandwich.

The boy beams up at X, drinking some water, then handing it back to him to quench his own thirst. " I think I know what I want to be when I grow up now. A big strong warrior, like you "

X looks down with his marked face, smiling weakly at the child, trying to see himself – or Willow-Wind – in those eyes. He takes some of the proffered drink, makes sure Little Reed has had his fill, then darts inside just long enough to return the cup, before returning to the little one. "Are you ready to go on a trip?"

The boy nods eagerly " Sure! "

X stoops down, offering Little Reed a ride on his broad-shouldered back.

The small Savanite clambers up, and looks out at the world from this new height with a bit of awe.