Runa stepped into the sun for the first time in months, shading her eyes as she stood in the gateway to the prison courtyard.

Antyza sat on a low wall nearby, dangling her legs and tail. When she saw Runa, she slid smoothly to her feet. She wore a rather revealing dress made of thin material that accentuated the fluidity of her movement. The neckline dipped to reveal her belly button, showing off the expanse of blue skin between her breasts. A bag was slung across her body.

“Need I tell you that won’t protect much from the sun when we’re traveling?” Runa felt her face heat at the scandalousness and looked anywhere but where her eyes drifted.

‘Do people wear clothing like that on the street?’ Runa thought to herself. It seemed more like an evening dress.

Antyza rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, I’m sorry I wasn’t arrested in a more useful outfit.”

Runa waved her hand as she walked past Antyza. “C’mon.”

Antyza fell into step beside Runa. “Slow down a bit.” Runa begrudgingly obeyed. “There, see? Was that so hard? Now I can keep up.”

They passed through side streets and cut across larger roads paved in brick.

“Are we going to the palace?” Antyza turned, looking at Runa.

“No. The market.” Runa shook her head. “I have a small amount of money. Enough to get us perhaps two weeks of food and a set of good clothes for you.” She didn’t look at the horned woman. While she wasn’t keen on having her along, having her be useful would be a boon.

Antyza hummed. “I suppose that’s a good idea. But you have to admit, this dress is flattering?”

Runa spared a quick glance and regretted it. Why would anyone want to show that much skin? “Yes.” She said in a clipped tone. “It is very ... nice.”

Runa glanced again and found Antyza smiling smugly at her. “What?”

Antyza shrugged, the smile becoming half-lidded as she looked around, away from Runa. “Oh, nothing. You’re just very amusing. Very proper.”

Runa hummed. It was true. She enjoyed relaxing as much as anyone, really, but she had been trained for years to obey proper etiquette and follow the right sensibilities.

It also didn’t help that the man she loved was out there and needed her.

“What were you doing to be arrested in a dress like that?” Runa was well within her right to talk any way she pleased to someone who was barat.

They reached the market and began passing stalls covered in almost every ware a decent person could want. Knife sharpeners called out their service, surgeons worked on cutting hair and minor healing, the smell of food of almost every type permeated the air, and so much more.

Antyza’s voice did not carry beyond the two of them. “I was with somebody who I shouldn’t have been with.” Her hands slid along the rim of stalls and tables as she looked at the items soberly. “Have you never worn something like this? I’d imagine you would have worn something like this for your–”

“No. I haven’t.” Runa cut her off. She gave a quick look at the dress again. It seemed to leave Antyza’s entire back bare until just above her bottom.

She really did look very fetching in it. Runa imagined how a dress like that would look on her. She thought her shoulders might have been too wide but perhaps Narran would like that.

She imagined herself towering over him in that dress. She could almost feel his lips upon hers and his hands running along her body. She imagined herself kneeling before him and-

Runa cut her thoughts off quickly. Now was not the time for those thoughts. Even as enticing as they may be.

Antyza nudged her. “Hey. Are you in there?”

Runa frowned at her. “What?”

The blue woman pointed to a stall with clothing folded on it and more hung nearby on lines of rope. “I said there’s a tailor. We could probably find clothes for me.”

Runa blinked. She had been so caught up in her own mind she hadn’t been paying attention. If something dangerous had happened, someone could have been hurt. She could have been hurt and then who would save Narran? “We also need to find a place for food.”

Antyza nodded in a direction off to the east side of the plaza they were in. “There’s a stall over that way. A woman named Ba’ati owns it. She’ll sell you smoked meat and goat cheese. She might even have bread if we’re not too late.”

They had come in on the west end of the plaza, which meant Antyza knew this woman personally. “Well, we can go there once we buy some clothes. I don’t want to walk back and forth.”

Antyza agreed and they both looked at what was on display at the stall. They both bought cheap but durable clothing that would help them stay cool in the heat before they headed to see Ba’ati.

When they walked up to the stall Antyza indicated, the half-elf who watched over the booth looked startled. “Antyza?” she said softly.

Antyza opened her arms. “Hi, Bibi.” A split second later, her arms were filled as Ba’ati embraced her.

Ba’ati pulled back, wiping tears that had begun to escape from her eyes. “It’s been three years, Tyz!” She laughed or perhaps sobbed. “How did you get them to let you out?”

Antyza nodded to Runa. “I was let out on the condition that I’d travel with her. It’s important.”

Ba’ati frowned. “You didn’t come back to see me, did you?”

Runa thought it might be best if she stayed out of this.

What finally decided her involvement in the conversation was Ba’ati who gave her a second look before her eyes widened. “Oh my, you’re ... you’re a Yeniczar!” She dropped to a deep bow. “Forgive me, miss. If there is anything I may do, please ask. It shall be yours.”

Runa smiled softly. “There’s no need for this. You may rise.” When Ba’ati did, Runa continued. “We came for food for two weeks and waterskins. That is all we require and we would gladly pay.”

“There’s no need for you to pay, miss.” Ba’ati gave another small bow. “It is merely an honor to serve one of the Chosen.”

Antyza rolled her eyes. “Take the d*mn money, Ba’ati. Fields of heaven. I know you need it.”

Ba’ati looked from Runa to Antyza uncertainly. “No ... no. I couldn’t. You serve a chosen, Tyz. It wouldn’t be right to charge for my service.”

“I don’t serve her!” Antyza was turning purple.

“Then we will ask no more than you can spare,” Runa said as graciously as she could. “My servant and I will not trouble you.”

Ba’ati continued to bow until she turned and began assembling a pack of supplies. Mostly, it contained dried meat, goat cheese wrapped in leaves, tack bread, and dried olives. And water, of course.

After thanking her, and Ba’ati thanking Runa for the pleasure of serving a Chosen, the pair began walking in the direction of the city gates.

A call of “wait” made them turn.

Ba’ati huffed up to them carrying a bundle. “I wanted you to have this, Tyz.” She proferred the bundle to Antyza who took it gingerly, unwrapping it revealing that it was a poncho in a pattern of shades of red and black.

Antyza looked at it confused then looked up at Ba’ati. “I can’t take this.”

Ba’ati nodded. “I don’t need it and Father would want you to have it now that you serve a Chosen and are going out into the world.”

Antyza looked at the poncho, running her fingers over the material before moving in and hugging Ba’ati. “Thank you. I’ll see you again, one day.”

Ba’ati’s eyes were closed. “I know.” She pushed back. “Now go. And may the wind speed your return.”

And with that, Ba’ati turned and hurried back in the direction of her stall.

Antyza slid the poncho over her head and continued walking.

“So she’s your ... ” Runa said, catching up to her.

“Sister. We have the same father.” Antyza stared straight ahead and there seemed to be a weariness there that Runa had not seen in her before.

“Interesting,” Runa said, looking back toward the plaza before they continued toward the city gates.