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Six years! We've been here six years and Diamond Lake still feels like a nightmare. Solrisa seems to love it, and seems equally oblivious to its many dangers. Her sculptures, though, seem to sell well. I can't believe mother thought this would be safer than home. Kaer Maga was never as nasty as this.
Today could have been a disaster, but thankfully, Lazare was there to head off the danger. I wasn't.
I was NOT.
I have to do better, to keep my petty irritations and frustrations in check. To keep her safe. If I have any purpose in life at all, it is that. If I am just one thread, then we are two, twisted together; stronger together.
I owe Lazare now. That can't continue. He's not someone I care to owe for anything.
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Sol smiles, looking out the tiny window that allowed the light into the small kitchen area. It was her favorite window (as it was the only one she was staring out at the moment), and she was recalling the visit she had yesterday...
* * *
The town is full of them, but never so many of them, at once in time and place. Perhaps they're deciding whether or not the door charge is fair. Lazare enforces the amenity fee on all, so that all may enjoy themselves without care once they've relaxed within.
It all happens so quickly.
"Well, what do we have here? Are you selling them, or are you a player. Arfer, why don't you help the young lady with the box." "Sure thing, Spence, that box looks heavy. Wouldn't want her getting 'ert..."
As the front door opens, Solrisa can see Lazare advancing, the light to his back, but his eyes are very easy to see.
"Yes, yes, she's delivering them, isn't it obvious? Take care, she has special work there, and we wouldn't want to damage any pieces, now, would we? Come, my dear..."
The men look at each other, at Lazare, then at the man staring from the doorway. They all seem to come to an unspoken agreement, and make way for Solrisa to pass.
When the items have been inspected, and Lazare brings forth a rather generous coin purse, he insists on escorting her home.
Arriving at Solrisa's and Raella's studio, Lazare inquires with Solrisa as to the whereabouts of her sister. "I would have expected... Well, never you mind. It would do me well if perhaps we shared a cup of tea? The cold night's air, you see."
*
"Rae? Oh Rae? She is probably out earning money. She is really dedicated her to many jobs," Solrisa explains as she puts on a kettle to boil. "She loves work so much, she constantly finds new jobs...almost every week."
Sol cleans off two places at the nook table, moving the flowers she picked on the last weekend's Sunday fun hike and hunt to the side. She notices that they droop more today than yesterday, a sign of the temporary nature of things.
And it means she might go hunt for newer flowers this weekend.
Flowers are so pretty.
She then arises and gets two tea cups ready with her tea herbs...a toasty jasmine wheatgrass blend. It was cheap, but something the two sisters could agree upon.
"Did you really like the new pieces, Lazare? Do you think they will sell in Egorian? Or might you take them further to sell?"
*
It's late. Later than it should be. She'd lost herself again, out in the ugly. She is just one thread.... and she is tired and frayed, but calmer now. Her tread falls heavy on the boardwalk, then the stairs; fatigue has finally slowed her limbs and brought her home, or at least back to the studio. Candlelight brightens the windows and she can see Sol's shadow dancing upon the greased canvas. It lightens her spirit. Home. For all the frustrations, Solrisa will always be that. She smiles, and makes a note to be extra nice to her sister.
Another shadow looms up, overtaking the first. Large and linear and more male than has any business being in the studio at this time of night!
R'ell pounds up the steps two at a time, shaking the place far more than might seem possible for a person of her size, or perhaps that is all in her mind.
The studio is small, too small for large weapons, but large enough for a dagger, she thinks. It is already in her hand before she hits the landing. The door she closed so carefully on her way out cracks loudly against the wall as she thrusts it out of her way, out from between her and the man menacing her sister with... tea?
" ...tea?" R'ell's voice falters to nothing as she sees them, her sister already far away from the man, and he seated so carefully in best guest chair so as not to break it. It is the one closest to the window, furthest from the lamps upon the sideboard.
Her cheeks go white, then flush, and she bites back a growl. Hell's Fire and Damnation!
"Uhhh..." she scrubs at the back of her neck as she tries to think of something to say.
*
Lazare visibly starts as the door opens with much more force than is necessary to open it. He seems to steady his hands quickly enough, the tea encouraged to slip back down the inside of the cup. He sets the cup and saucer on the little table, and checks himself for signs of wetness. Finding none, he stands and bows slightly, making sure to keep his hands visible.
"Ah, the sister, returned! From where, I wonder. None of my business, of course, and it gave me the chance to walk your sister home. She is such good company, quite the envy of the crowds in the Vein. They knew enough to prize her pieces, and were even willing to help her out. They were practically falling over each other to do so. All eight of them."
Lazare's voice is silk, his gaze, steel. He approaches the flowers, and lifts the fading yellow bloom. "So fragile. This one would have already snapped at the neck, if it weren't for the company of the others in the vase." The elder gentleman smiles gently, looking from Raella to Solrisa.
"I'm sorry, Solrisa, I was interrupted. Forgive me. Yes, your pieces are quite prized. So much so that you have local admirers who insist I show them your work first, before I send them to Egorian. From there, I am unaware of how far your art travels. The older I become, the more I prefer to deal intimately with purchasers, and traveling takes a lot out of me, I'm afraid. It's quite stressful to see something as precious as your sculptures make it safely to their destination. You never know if a product gets diverted down dark alleys, never to be seen again. That would be quite the loss." Lazare turns back to Raella, and smiles.
*
"I... yes. " Raella forces her emotions back into line, back into the tightly controlled package they were but a few minutes ago. Awkwardly, she sheathes her dagger again and closes the door behind her.
His words wash over her, leaving her hot and cold and with fury and relief and fear. Who she holds responsible for each changes with every breath, every word from her sister's evening guest.
When she can speak, and that is by no means immediately, her voice sounds odd to her own ears. "It is good to see you here. I had no idea that Solrisa was ready to make a delivery this evening, or I would have surely made time for the visit." She should have known, though. Had 'Risa told her? She cannot recall. Sometimes, when she is angry... but no, that is only an excuse. Her emotions are hers to own. If you give the blame for your mistakes to others, however can you correct them in the future? her mother's voice echoes in Lazare's words somewhere, and were she here, the old woman would be nowhere near as veiled with her meanings.
"I... I must have forgotten. Thank you for seeing her home." She watches the man, visions of what could have happened were it not for him begin to haunt her. She weighs how much she owes him now.
*
Solrisa rises, offering her own cup of tea to her sister.
"Welcome home, Rae! I'm glad you're here," Sol gives her sister a quick hug. "I think Laz will be able to sell all my pieces...even the one that you don't like as much." Sol smiles, appreciating her sisters different outlook on her work. "But it might be enough that we can save it for a trip or something...if you wanted."
Sol does to start more water to boil in case anyone wants seconds.
"I appreciate you always helping me find buyers, Laz. It's nice to have a friend who can help," Sol says.
*
"It's my privilege, really. It's not often one comes across this craftsmanship in this region. Being able to represent it, well, even better. Glad I can help. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before you seek better representation in bigger cities. I'll enjoy my role for now."
Lazare looks from Solrisa to Raella, a light change of expression as he speaks to a different person.
"You are welcome, Raella. Think nothing of it. I'm sure she needed no escort. She was well-armed, and likely could discourage the unwanted attentions of a lone ruffian. Isn't that right, Solrisa? I'm not sure I've been witness to anything other than your sculpture work. No, I'm sure of it. No matter, I'm sure you would have been up to the task." Lazare adjusts the sleeve at his wrist, a momentary reflection of metal.
"I really should go. The night is still young, and I may still find an audience tonight for your wares. Perhaps you should invite your sister the next time you deliver your creations. You wouldn't need to make two trips, then."
Lazare finishes his tea, tonguing his front teeth clean. He moves to the front door as if an infant sleeps beneath the floorboards, but quickly enough.
*
Sol blushes a bit at the compliment from Lazare.
"I do appreciate that you've been so supportive, Lazare," Sol says, tempted to re-fill his teacup despite the fact he just said he was leaving. She follows him to the door, teapot in hand.
"If you have any requests for work, please let me know. I had this one piece that I was thinking about creating. It reminded me of that time I was picking lilacs," Sol turns to address Raella. "Do you remember, Sister? It was on that hike, up in the hills where we saw the cow with the white spot?"
Sol waits a moment for her sister before continuing to blather describe the scene to Lazare.
"Well, we were on this hill and I saw the cutest little squirrel who chirped at us for being too close to his nest..." Sol continues, trying to explain to Lazare in ditzy detail about how she came up with her next idea.
She will continue to talk about the day that inspired her graciously and with genuine charisma. It feels like it's important for her to share things that matter to her, like this.
* * *
Sol smiles, thinking fondly upon Lazare's interest in her work.
Rae jotted down the notes as she readied to rush out the door. The message from Lazare had come, and with it, hope hat she might pay off her debt to the man. That was reason enough to go, but Sol was up even earlier, fluttering about as she got ready. *That* was enough for Rae to wait outside the door, scowling into the morning.
"Come on then. Let's get a move on, Ris." was what she would have said, if her loud flouncy sister hadn't rushed right past her, her braying laugh grating on Raella's laugh nerve.
"We'll get there when we get there, Riz. Just slow down, and be quiet. You haven't woken the *entire* world just yet." Rae's grumble, a quiet rumble more suitable for this time of the morning, appeared lost on her sister. There was nothing to do but hurry after, to keep both her blathering sister and the world at large safe.