Numair being gone was unusual. They were so used to seeing Abal with either him or George that to see her without either was strange. Harailt grinned. "Excellent, now we can have some real fun with the old hawk gone."
The rest of the mages laughed at that. Alanna smiled though. "No. Jonathan has something to ask you, Abal."
The man in question glared at his champion, shaking his head. "I informed Alanna on your unique project," he said, as she nodded, looking slightly surprised. "And I want for you to return to the Bazhir."
Her hand pressed to her lips in surprise. "Go back?"
"Act as my envoy, a personal liaison, to learn from the Shamans and tribal leaders," he said earnestly. "I want you to work with them, to learn more about how to control your Gift and perhaps even help me understand them a bit better."
Looking amused, she smiled. "Return to the Bazhir? I would never turn down that chance. My only condition is that I can see Persopolis, and that I may return to my tribe to speak to the Shaman. He might be able to help me in that quest." Jonathan nodded, which made her smile. "Then I accept, Voice."
"Good," he smiled. "But Alanna is escorting you. I'm not letting you go into the desert alone, even if you are one of them."
Thayet smiled, "And you are to keep in contact with Jonathan here. If anything happens, you're to open a direct link with him…though I don't quite understand what that means."
Smiling, Abal looked at him in shock. "Anytime? You really are interested in me figuring this out." He nodded as she shrugged. "Well enough. When are we leaving?"
"Tomorrow," Jonathan smiled. "Unless you need more time?"
"No," she shook her head. "But I will need to shop in Corus. I know a Bazhir shop, and I need clothes. If I'm to go to my people, I would be dishonored to go in court clothes. I should go back as one of them."
Jonathan nodded slightly. "However much money you need, let us know, and we'll finance it all."
Smiling she grinned at Alanna. "Want to come along? You'd enjoy seeing the things they have." Alanna shrugged and motioned for the younger girl to lead on. While walking through Corus with the Lioness, Abal admitting knowing all about the Bloody Hawk tribe and their adoption of her. Also, of her three Shaman apprentices. "So really, I grew up hearing about you, and my mother wanted me to grow up to be strong and independent like you."
"She succeeded then," Alanna said, smiling. "So who was the Shaman boy that Jonathan told me you were friends with?"
"Hassan," she whispered. "He's twenty now, if he's still alive. He should know a few things about me I never learned, and quite a few old legends. Also, we can visit the Bloody Hawk. They are usually close by my people."
"Who are your people?" Alanna asked, smiling. "I haven't been there in years, I'm interested to meet my Shamans."
"Voice Claw tribe," she smiled. "The story is that my tribe gave birth to the first Voice. At least, that is how we got the name. And the claw is because our tribe believes dragon claws are what make up our leader's jewelry and our Shamans' as well."
"Mm…well perhaps we will see both tribes gathered together. But Persopolis first, how does that sound?" Alanna smiled.
"Perfect, and here we are," Abal smiled slightly, her eyes glittering.
The man in the stall looked surprised to see the unusual pair. His dark eyes met with Alanna's first, and he froze. After all, violet eyes like hers were by no means common to be seen. She smiled at him, and he looked sidelong at the other girl, and that drew a shocked smile from him. "Wait. You look rather familiar, milady. Abal?"
She smiled sweetly, but also froze. "Hassan?"
Throwing his arms around her in a tight hug, he smiled. "Darling little sister, I can't believe it. We all thought you were dead."
"No, not yet," she smiled before pulling back. "This is Alanna, the Lioness, Woman Who Rides Like a Man. You remember mother's stories about her, don't you?" her eyes glittered with pure adoration.
Laughing, Hassan nodded. Bowing to Alanna he smiled. "It's an honor to meet you Lioness. How is it that you know Abal?"
Alanna smiled. "We should probably sit now. This might be a long tale," she said as Hassan led them into the small store. All three took seats, settling silently.
"Well, Abal, we mostly call her Becca. It's a nickname she got from the Rogue's Court in Lower Corus, you might have heard of her with the name Becca. I met her probably two months ago, and she's been in the Voice, King Jonathan's court for almost three months. Numair Salmalín, a mage for Jonathan, adopted her just a bit ago as his sister, so now she's Abal Malikah Salmalín, also known as Becca."
Hassan laughed, "Abal always was good at stirring things up."
"Very," Alanna smiled. "She's got quite a strong Gift, and Sight. She's proving to be quite the mage. We're actually heading to the Bazhir, so she can join her people again and find out more about herself, and also to learn more information for the Voice, because he always wishes to know more about his people. Also, so she can see Persopolis, which I guess she has never seen."
Abal smiled sweetly. "Never, but I always wanted to," she said, looking over at Hassan. "Actually, would you like to come with us Hassan?"
He chuckled. "I was sent here, to wait for a sign. I do believe this is it. I would love to come with you, little sister. But you came here for a reason. Why was it again? Since you never said why."
"Clothes," she smiled. "I want to go to the Bazhir dressed as a Bazhir."
He chuckled, looking at her. He was much darker skinned than she was, as he had purely bronze skin of a native Bazhir, and she had a more milky-bronze skin, which led them to think her father had been a northern Tortallan. "Sure, no problem. Take your pick of anything I have."
Smiling at him, she wandered off through the store, grabbing breeches, skirts, tops and veils.
For her feet, she smiled at the boots he had available.
Pulling out one pair made of brown leather. Showing him everything, he smiled. "You still have good taste, little sister. Well consider this all on me. It's the least I can do for not seeing you in years."
Putting it all into a small leather sack, he smiled as she slung it over her shoulders. "Come back to the palace with us. That way we can start out early tomorrow. Wouldn't you like to meet the Voice?"
"No," he shook his head. "I'm not worthy of that meeting."
Alanna laughed, "Jonathan would want to meet you. Come on, worst thing that happens is that you say something embarrassing Hassan."
The man smiled, "That is what worries me. But, I suppose I can meet with the Voice if my little sister asks it of me." Hassan sighed as she hugged him again, laughing. She was about to ask a question. "Perhaps I should tell you that now, before too much else goes on."
Alanna looked over, "Tell her what?"
Sighing, he looked at her. "You said Numair Salmalín adopted her?" Alanna nodded, looking confused.
"Yes…your mother, never told you about me? Well…I'm her older brother's son, your cousin. Though, I'm actually adopted, so we have no blood relation. Of course, I am glad you have a brother to look after you. You need that, especially if you keep running around like you used to."
She smiled as Alanna laughed. "Family pops up all over. Well, Numair should have been here to meet you Hassan."
Abal smiled and shrugged. "Well, shall we go up to the palace then?"
