"And also, this," a circular gold pendant on a simple leather thong, "has saved the lives of many - though none in my house possess the talent to use it."
Naelah seems visibly bothered, as she looks at the pendant, at the fact that everyone seems to expect her to take it. She lifts it up, but does not put it on. It is beautiful in form and in function and that appeals to her, but something else weighs on her soul. Still holding the pendant, she closes her eyes and listens as the others talk...
"While the Sheriff is gone we would like to hire you to help defend the town until he returns. You would be like soldiers of the guard, but you would not have daily duties. If we are attacked you would be in town and available to help defend. We can pay you a retainer."
Naelah hears this and sadly knows what she must do. Her eyes open slowly. She looks at the faces of her new-found friends: Slidell, her boon companion of the last several days, is a whirl of unrelenting wind, he stops only to collect himself and pick up more speed. She smiles as she thinks of their...conversations. Vesh, so unaware and obvious on one hand, and yet brave and unrelenting on the other. She does not know what to make of him, or of his obvious affection for Veren...and herself. Ehlissa is a summer breeze--strong and radiant. A dangerous mix of beauty and strength that Naelah has rarely encountered in foreign women. Corran, silent like a night-breeze. Though she hardly knows him, she feels a deep connection with him and with his relationship to nature. Malcolm, he is the most enigmatic to her, like the turbulent sea itself. Bright and handsome, yet dangerous in a very unsettling way. He is the dark alley to her bright meadow, and yet his devotion to his crew and to this group tell a different story about him.
She looks to the Shoanti, the one they call Sheriff, and says in their language, "Thash ash theth sho kath." She hands the pendant to him.
Turning to the group, she says, "I see clearly, and I see that this is not my path. The wind cannot be bound by the walls of this town, and neither can I. I am sorry."
She looks to Slidell and takes his hands in hers. "You have been a good friend to me, showing me the ways of this town and it's people." In a lower voice she tells him, "The wind that rages within you...you must master it, or it will topple you."
She turns to see Vesh scratching Veren behind his ears. She says to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, "O ath tha verath ala tha shasha." She smiles, "this passion you feel inside is not for me. You have a higher road to travel, and your devotion belongs to another."
Hugging Ehlissa tightly, and giving Corran a kiss on each cheek, she then turns to Malcolm and says, "Your days on the sea may return in time, but these people are your safe harbor for now. Treat them as such, and do not look to return to your past too quickly." With that she sqeezes Malcolm's hand.
"Do not look so sad, my friends. I am like the wind. Today I blow from the east and tomorrow from the west. We may see each other again." And, calling Veren to her side, she strides out the door, not looking back.
Shoanti Translation:
This is not my path.
You and the wolf are the same.