”Of course I miss my homeland, sir,” Nishv set the cup down on the table. Some of the sweet pomegranate wine sloshed over the side and dribbled down the cup to pool at its base. It had been many years since the Vudrani man had been on this side of the Inner Sea and the wine was opening several wounds he thought had healed.
Nishv paused to dab at his mess with his sleeve before continuing,”But just because Shelyn misses her brother does not mean she ventures into Xovaikain.” The Man on the other side of the table, another Vudrani from Jalmeray -- though much older than Nishv -- lifted his own cup and smiled, ”Spoken like a true son of Vudra!”
It was only when Nishv shared a drink or a meal with Munahdt that he noticed how much of his accent had faded in Absalom. ”Is that a compliment or an insult, sir?” Nishv lifted his own cup and returned the smile.
Later, in what would be the last true bed before Solku, Nishv found himself reliving his last day in Niswan.
The bright, silk banners beat hard in the autumn wind. The waves lapped against the merchant vessel and rocked the floating pier back and forth. A pair of young eunuchs were loading crates onto the ship while the captain barked orders at his sailors. A solitary gull perched on a marble column and proceeded to empty its bowels on Nishv’s shoulder. As he struggled to wipe the white mess away, his brother, Sujander, stepped up next to him, a satchel over his shoulder. Sujander pretended not to notice his brother’s predicament but, the corner of his mouth belied the serious expression he wore, ”When Father hears that you have truly gone he will be most displeased.”
”Let him be. I seldom have acted in a manner that has not displeased him in some way. Why should things change now that he is bedridden?” Even as he spoke the words, Nishv regretted it. Their father had always been harder on the younger Nilara brother. While Sujander had tutors and went to social gatherings, Nishv had masters and went to tournaments. Sujander was gifted fine clothes, Nishv secondhand sparring gloves. When Nishv would cry to their mother she would simply smile and say ”I know that things seem unfair but, you must remember, Suja had a thirteen year head start before you came along. You may have to work hard to prove yourself to others, but never to me.”
”Sujander will take over all of my contracts,” their father had told him,”You must honor our family by being the first in our house to join one of the Houses.”
Sujander placed a hand on Nishv’s shoulder, ”If you are truly set on leaving Niswan, then I cannot stop you. I can only pray to the gods that you find whatever path you are searching for.” For a moment Nishv believed that his brother may embrace him. Instead, Sujander handed NIshv the pack, ”One of the masters of the Untwisting Iron wanted you to have this copy of ‘Mizravrtta Brahmodya.’ I believe his exact words were ‘Thaat braat brother of yours maay be ah fool, but he shows promise!’”
Nishv watched his brother from the ship’s deck as they left port. Sujander’s children had joined him on the pier to watch their uncle leave Niswan. Caline, the young girl, wailed and reached for her father. The boy, Rasul, stood silent beside Sujander, trying to hide his deformed ears.
As Nishv mimicked the banners of Niswan with his hands, he swore that when he returned to Niswan, on the island on Jalmeray, he would embrace his niece and nephew and tell them that they both are beautiful and wonderful and smart and strong.
