"But she doesn't need to know," Juhi says quickly. "She'd never let me go."
"She'd find out anyway, if you got hurt," Toni says. "Then she'd be yelling at me."
Rajni pales a little bit at the mention of the diminutive yet scary midwife but composes herself quickly, "Seriously? Do we need to go talk to her about it first....or should I just take her out and teach her how to hunt and how soon would you like to get started Juhi?" She asks as she looks at the girl and tries to figure out the best course of action that wouldn't get her into all kinds of hot water.
Nodding she sighs, "I'm afraid she's right Juhi...if we approach her and explain things and maybe have someone else with us that can make sure nothing happens to you like Clara or Esme...I'm sure we can make her see reason. What was done to you is wrong and needs to be fixed and I'll do everything in my power to make sure that happens okay?" She says as she gets down on the girls level, which with her somewhat short stature isn't difficult, and puts her hands on her shoulders in a comforting way, "Everything will be alright, I promise."
She looks at Toni, "And you're okay with this? I suppose you'll be coming with us then? You seemed to have fun the last time we went hunting together and I still have all the gear."
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Shaking her head, Sādhanā pick up the oars and begins rowing out to the lighthouse island.
"I do have a selection of nice shoes from Valania," Halfpocket says, leading the two women to several racks of shoes. "Feel free to browse."
---
After about twenty minutes of rowing, the group reaches the lighthouse. It seems pretty quiet as the boat comes ashore.
"Heck yeah, I'm going with you," Toni says, a hint of excitement in her voice. "I think you should train her before we go anywhere, but we should talk to Konstantyná first."
Juhi sighs. "Alright, we'll talk to her."
Sienna looks at all the shoes. "This might take a bit..."
"This seems like a peaceful place," Celia says.
"It is, if it wasn't for the eyesore over there," Clara says, pointing at the house. "I'm sorry if I'm being a bit harsh about Basir, but he's so full of himself and causes nothing but problems. It's very hard to like someone like that."
"We've known a few people like that..."
Clara heads to the lighthouse. "Hadrinn and Kierk used to stay on this island. It was impossible to cross the water and several ships were lost in the tangle of shipwrecks that used to be here."
"How long were they here?" Celia asks.
"According to Hadrinn, twenty years," Clara answers.
Ylrhea whistles.
She smiles at the idea of getting to go out again. She knew that she promised Dillon she'd stay home for the rest of winter...but it wasn't winter yet and a little extra meat couldn't hurt. Especially now that the others had returned and there was going to be much celebrating in the coming days. Still kneeling in front of Juhi she says, "Don't worry. By the time I get done pleading our case, she won't be able to say no. I'm sure she doesn't want you in this situation any more than we do. Plus, if we have Clara, who can heal...and Esme who kicks much a....whos an accomplished swordswoman and devil hunter with us...she can't really say no. Especially if I'm gonna teach you the basics right here in my own backyard so to speak." Tilting her head up to look at Toni she says, "I could get some fishing gear from Halfpocket and teach her how to do that as well. As long as we're in for a copper, we might as well go in for the whole pound right?" Looking back at Juhi she says, "Would you like that? We can cook outdoors and fish in the stream. You'll get to do stuff that other kids do....we'll just be doing it with a purpose. I think it'll be lots of fun. Hmmm...I'll need to talk to Clara and Esme though and make sure they can go with us. I can talk to Clara later today, but I'll have to wait until this evening to talk to Esme. If I don't wake her up too early maybe she won't be too grumpy." She thinks out loud.
Toni laughs. "Alright. Why don't I take Juhi back home and you and I can go see Konstantyná this evening along with Clara and Esme?"
Juhi smiles with traces of childlike innocence. "Thank you, Miss Rajni."
Taking a breath she looks at Toni as she stands up, "Do you want to wait to talk to Konstantyná until I have a chance to talk to Clara and Esme? I think we should have our plans all ironed out before going to her with it so that she can't poke any holes in it."
She laughs as she talks almost at the same time as Toni and Juhi, "I'm sorry...I guess the idea of another excursion has me a bit excited. I just really like being outdoors, but we'll have to see about getting you some warmer clothes as well." Smiling she bends down to give Juhi a hug, "Anytime kiddo. You're giving me another chance to go out and do what I love before winter officially sets in around here, so thank you."
Nodding at Toni she says, "Thanks for coming by and including me in this. Once Kama gets back I'll go and try to find Clara and talk to her before talking to Esme. I guess I'll see you both later this evening." She says with a warm smile at Juhi and then Toni.
Toni nods. "I'm just taking her home. The rest can wait until later."
She takes Juhi by the hand. "Thanks again, Rajni."
The summoner nods at the little girl and heads out of the house. "If you ever need to find me, Juhi, I live here."
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Juhi nods, hoping that Konstantyná had enough time to get Lucy "settled" and that the midwife was relaxed.
She waves at the pair as they head out, "Yup, okay Toni. See you guys later. Pleasure meeting you Juhi." She chewed on her lower lip a bit, worried about what Konstantyná might say...or do to her when she found out what she wanted to do with Juhi. Maybe she would understand though. Surely this isn't the life she wanted for the little girl with the still somewhat childlike innocence. Why should she have to suffer for something that she had no choice in? The mere thought of it angered the young ranger. Juhi would not have to live like that. Not if she had anything to say about it...and if Konstantyná didn't like it..well then maybe different arrangements could be made for the girls care. She wouldn't need a midwife if she wasn't a summoner and there was no way in nine hells that she was gonna make that child endure that kind of life. She was still just a baby...she needed to have fun and learn things the way other kids her age did. She should only be worried about playing and not some crazy BS made up by people hundreds of years before her time. No...this simply would not do and she would do everything in her power to make sure that Juhi's fate was not attached to something else that she had no control over. No...they would make this right...no matter what. Hmmmm....those are pretty maternal instincts aren't they? I know we said we weren't ready for a baby....but Juhi is pretty self sufficient and she should be around someone that understands what she's going through and that is warm and loving....what are you thinking Rajni? You can't be serious? You're not fit to care for anyone..... She gets lost in her own thoughts as she sort of wonders back out to the other room and sits on the couch next to Elena in a sort of daze.
"Yeah when we first got here the water was both full of undead, and would drain you life to touch it." Sādhanā says as they approach the island beach.
"How awful," Celia says.
"What are you thinking about?" Elena asks Rajni.
"Should we have tied up the rowboat?" Clara asks Sādhanā.
After she gets Rhy settled in front of her, she turns Blaze and heads towards the stables, "It's just a bit chilly, but a beautiful day." She comments as they make their way through town at a slow canter.
Looking perplexed she shakes her head, I....I'm not really sure."
"Is something wrong then?"
Laying her head on her sister's shoulder she tells her all about the visit from Toni and Juhi and what was done to the little girl that couldn't be more than six or seven years old. She told her about the way they would be able to fix it and then why Konstantyna might have a problem with that. After a brief pause she also told her about the strange feelings she was having about Juhi, "So...now I don't know what to think except like when I first came here, I realize that I have a purpose for being here and now Juhi is part of that purpose too and I just....after having so much of my life controlled before, I think I can better understand where she's coming from and give her the support she needs to over come the things that were done to her. I mean...I don't know her life story...but she has that look...you know? I don't know Elena....am I being totally stupid right now?"
"While being empathetic is not stupid, taking her in might not be the best idea," Elena says. "You don't know what Konstantyná is feeling or thinking, so don't be quick to judge her."
She nods, "Yeah...you're probably right...that's why I'm going to talk to Dillon and let him know what's going on, and then I'm gonna talk to Clara and then Esme. Then Toni, Clara, Esme, and I will go back over there and talk to her about it this evening and I'll figure out what her feelings and thoughts are. I'm sure Konstantyna didn't plan on this happening anymore than Juhi did."
"I'm sure."
Giving her sister a quick kiss on the top of her head she says, "You always seem to know exactly what to say to make me feel better....though.....there was kinda something else. Arista brought me a bag of stuff left to me by fa....Farron." Getting up from the couch she goes to the kitchen to retrieve the doll and shows it to Elena, "There's kind of a small fortune in there with a bunch of jewels and other stuff....but near the bottom and packed very carefully in a box was this doll. It....I think maybe a part of him....no matter how small...really loved me like Arista said and now....now I just don't know how to feel or what to think." She says as her eyes start to look a little moist as she looks at the real treasure that was in the bag, her father's love.
Celine smells the fruit that mommy gave her and takes a bite before looking at the shriveled up looking piece of meat she gave her. Making a yucky face she throws the meat out of the wagon as they make their way back home, "Don't want it. Hungry mommy...want food."
Her mouth popping open in surprise she stops the wagon, "I know Celine...I'm sorry. I forgot how far away Priroda was. I promise you as soon as we get back to town and I see the Captain I will make sure you get something good to eat okay?" She sighs, "But please...just for now until we get home...just try to eat a little okay?" Digging around in the bag she pulls out a thick slice of cheese and another piece of fruit. Handing Celine the cheese she holds onto the apple and takes a bite out of it, "There...you like cheese right? Eat your fruit and cheese and when we get back I'll make sure you get something to eat." Holding the reigns with one hand she signals the team to start moving again as she eats her fruit with the other while making sure Celine stays covered up with the blanket. It would be getting dark soon and she wanted to make sure she stayed warm. She knew the others would probably be upset, but she didn't really think about anything other than keeping her promise to Daphine and she would have told someone where she was going if she had remembered how far away Priroda was. By the time she had figured that out it was too late to turn around and she had to deliver the message to them anyways. She just hoped that people wouldn't be too upset at her, but she would understand if they were.
She sighs and makes a kind of whining noise, "Okay...." She sits under the warm blanket and eats her fruit and cheese while sharing the water in the weird bag with mommy.
Elena pulls Rajni into a hug. "At least you know now."
She nods as she sniffles a bit, "Yeah...I don't really remember a whole lot from when I was really young...but he could be really...sadistic sometimes and would "punish" me for the slightest things. I never stopped to think about his reasoning for what he did to me. Until your family took me in....he was the only parent I could remember having. I think...I think I need to take a walk. Will you be alright here until Kama comes back?" She asks sounding a bit out of sorts.
"Sure," Elena says. "I'm going to make some tea and then start on lunch since Mother and Auntie Priya are so busy."
"Are you sure you're feeling up to all that? I just want to make sure that you're okay after that previous episode. You kinda had me worried there for a minute Sis."
"I'm not going to be walking all over the place, so, yes, I can do this," Elena answers firmly.
She puts her hands up defensively, "Okay okay...I'll let you be then. I just worry about you...especially right now okay? I just want you to be okay." She says as she gives her a hug, "I'm sorry if I'm being a pain in the ass."
"I know it's because you love me," Elena relents. "Don't be gone too long. Lunch should be ready in half an hour."
She kisses her cheek and gives her another hug, "I won't...I just need some air." She pats her leg and Shamara follows her out of the house as she wonders through town a bit, her hood covering her face from the garish light of day.
Rajni wonders about town for a while aimlessly as she tries to think things over in her head about the whole Juhi situation. It was true she had no idea what exactly Konstantyná was feeling, but surely she didn't desire for this to happen any more than Juhi did. If they were able to unbind her from whatever you call it, then she would no longer be a summoner and would no longer need a midwife...but then where did that leave Juhi? Would she want to stay with Konstantyná under those circumstances? If not...where could she go? Would Dillon still want to be with her if she wanted Juhi to be part of their life? UGghhh....it was soooo frustrating not understanding her own feelings. Shamara kept close to her mistress, winding her way in between her legs as she walked as she tried to sooth the distressed young woman.