Chapter 10

The drive back was much more agreeable than the drive out. Stanno felt as though a tremendous weight had been lifted off his soul and he grew voluble. He had Rose laughing at the story of when he recently enlisted Atash to drive out to the mountains to help him harvest cedar. It was a much longer, rather more arduous trip than this one, involving an overnight stop (Stanno slept in the cab and made Atash sleep in the bed of the truck). Atash would only come if Stanno taught him how to drive, which led to an adventure that Stanno didn't think he would ever want to recall, let alone recount to someone else. He was more disposed to see the humor in it now as well as being more kindly disposed toward Atash.

It was wonderful to hear Rose laugh and see her smile. Just one day ago he was convinced that she despised him. Now here they were, talking easily together and enjoying each other's company.

Just like friends.

The thought startled him enough to make Rose notice the change in his expression.

"You okay?" she asked. "You look like you just realized you forgot something."

"What?" Stanno glanced at her, then turned back to the road. "No, I…" He smiled and shook his head. How could he explain it to her? He didn't make friends, not real ones. "Friends" were people who made demands, who wanted things from you. He should know, because like much of what he did, he developed associations with people with an eye for what he could get out of them, if only to listen to him talk about himself. His interest in them was not mutual.

Yet here was this Amestrian woman—an Amestrian and a woman!—whose company and good opinion he craved simply for their own sakes. She was interesting, she was wise, she was sweet-tempered, and dear Ishvala, she was pretty! He didn't dare to try to think beyond that. This moment was so fragile in its perfection and he didn't want to ruin it. But he had to do something, and he had to be honest about it.

He reached out and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. "I like you, Rose Thomas, more than I've ever liked anyone. And while that may not seem like it means much, it means a lot to me."

He glanced at her, hoping that didn't strike her as pathetic as it sounded to him. To his tremendous relief, she gave him a gloriously sweet smile. "That means a lot to me, too, Stanno. I like you, too."

To his surprise and possible mortification if Rose could see a blush in an Ishvalan's complexion, he felt his face grow warm. That hadn't happened to him since he was in school. He gave a little chuckle that he hoped didn't give away how delightfully awkward he felt. "Ah…are you sure about that? I mean, this is me."

Rose gave him a patiently indulgent look. "Yes, Stanno, I'm aware of that. And yes, I'm sure. I mean, everybody has their flaws, but they also have their finer points."

"Oh, yes?" Stanno asked, intrigued as to what she might think his were.

"Yes." She considered him with a critically thoughtful look that made Stanno expect to hear something profound and wonderful. "You're like a hedgehog."

That wasn't exactly what he had expected. "Uh…how's that?"

Rose smiled a little mischievously. "You're mostly all prickly, but you've got this underbelly that you try to hide because it's all fuzzy and tender."

If anyone else had tried to tell him that, he would have cuffed them along the side of their head and called them something rude. Coming from Rose, though, he wouldn't dream of arguing with her. Still, he had his pride. "Uh…you won't tell anyone else that, will you?"

Rose laughed delightedly, which made being likened to a hedgehog rather more appealing. "No, I won't," she assured him. "It'll be our secret."

Stanno smiled. He liked the sound of that.

As they drew nearer to the outer border of Ishval's eastern districts, Stanno slowed the truck to a stop while a large herd of goats trotted across the road in front of them. Strolling along with them, the two guard dogs at his heels, was Rik. He waved a hand in greeting and walked toward the truck.

Stanno let out an impatient breath. "What does he want?" he muttered.

"Shh!" Rose chided him. She turned to Rik as the boy stepped up to the passenger window. "How's it going?" she asked.

"Pretty well, thanks for asking," Rik replied, leaning his forearms on the door. He offered a nod to Stanno. "Zhaarad." Looking back at Rose, he grinned. "If you should happen to see Kaihan, tell him that Bemba had two fine, healthy kids this morning."

"Oh, that's nice!" Rose commented. "How is the mother doing?"

Rik gave a dramatic sigh. "Pining! Kaihan wasn't there to hold her hoof!"

Rose gave a little snort of laughter. "Yeah, right."

"And tell Kaihan that they look just like him!" Rik added with a gleefully wicked smile.

Rose rolled her eyes. "I most certainly will not!"

Rik laughed and clapped his hand against the door as he stepped away and jogged after his herd.

Stanno's eyes followed him with mild distaste as he shifted the truck into first and resumed their journey. "What was that all about?"

"Oh, it's just a dumb joke," Rose explained. "This goat got really fond of Kaihan, apparently, and his family keeps teasing him about it. It's gone way past being funny, if you ask me."

"Well, they're goatherds," Stanno said with a shrug. He wasn't inclined to feel charitable toward Kaihan. "What do you expect?"

Rose gave him a light smack on the arm. "Don't be a snob!" She held up a warning finger. "And you absolutely did not hear that story from me, all right? I'm serious!"

Stanno smiled and nodded. "It'll be our secret."

It was late afternoon when they returned to the Desert Dove. Stanno parked in the access road and walked Rose to the back gate and through the garden. He was about to ask her if she would join him for dinner, something he fervently hoped she would say yes to, when they became aware of a number of voices coming from inside the hotel lobby, a mix of Ishvalan and Amestrian. One voice carried over the others.

"Yshtue als ta niye, laleh! I'm good for it! I need those rugs!"

Stanno halted abruptly and moaned his disbelief in Ishvalan. This otherwise enjoyable day threatened to sour. Of all times for that jumped-up fiddle scraper to come back!

A young girl, about thirteen, stepped out through the back door carrying a basket and humming to herself. The girl looked up and saw the two newcomers.

"Oh, hello!" She looked back over her shoulder to the inside of the hotel. "Djaari!" she called. "He's back!"

An exasperated oath was heard from inside, and a moment later, Shua appeared at the door, scowling with consternation. "Where the bloody hell have you been?" he demanded of Stanno. He turned and flashed a smiled at Rose. "Hello, love! Nice to see you again!" He frowned again at Stanno. "Where the bloody hell have you been?"

"What are you doing here?" Stanno demanded in reply.

Shua rolled his eyes and waved his hand at their surroundings. "I own this place, remember?"

"So do I. Is there a problem?"

Mika had set her basket on the flagstones and had taken up a broom. "The Fuhrer's coming to stay!" she announced grandly.

Stanno stared at her, then back at Shua. "Honestly?"

"As the day is long," Shua replied with a nod.

Rose had drawn in a quick gasp. "Fuhrer Grumman's staying here? At this hotel?"

Shua grinned at her. "That's right, darling! You're in for some very fancy company." He turned to go back inside, beckoning them to follow. "Come along, then!"

"When did this get decided?" Stanno wanted to know as he and Rose stepped into the lobby.

"Last night," Shua replied. "He called me just before I was leaving the Parliament building and said he wanted to come out for the festival and do a spot of fishing."

"Tch! The word at the last chieftains' council was that he wasn't coming," Stanno said with some contempt, folding his arms. "Other pressing matters of state or some horseshit like that. Ishval doesn't rate high enough."

"Well, it does now," Shua said with a shrug. "Seems all these other pressing matters of state pressed straight up his backside and he needs a vacation. I think as soon as he heard that there was trout in the unsullied waters of the Halik, suddenly Ishval sounded very attractive. The point is," he went on deliberately, "that this place has to look as polished as we can make it. I want to—"

The telephone at the reception counter rang and Shua yelled over his shoulder toward the office. "Atash! Get that!"

"I've got it! I've got it!" Atash rushed out of the office and snatched up the phone. "Thank you for calling the Desert Dove Hotel!"

While Atash listened to whoever was calling, Shua turned back to Stanno. "I want to really impress the old fart," he said. He pointed toward the ceiling. "I need an upstairs room and two downstairs rooms"—he pointed to the floor—"fully furnished because he's got a bodyguard and a secretary coming with him, too. How's the plumbing?"

Stanno shrugged. "Fine, as far as I know."

"I should hope you knew!" Shua looked at Rose with a warm smile. "How do you like it here, Zhaarana? Do you like your room? Is everyone treating you nice? Does the toilet work?"

Rose nodded emphatically. "Oh, yes! I've been having a wonderful time! Atash and Pashmina have been so sweet! And the toilet's fine."

"Well, thank Ishvala for that!" Shua rubbed his forehead wearily. "Let's see. Oh! A couple more tables in the dining room! Stanno, tell me you have some in your shop!"

Stanno ran through a quick mental inventory with a dismal, sinking feeling. So much for a nice dinner with Rose. "A couple. They're not quite—"

Shua waved his hand quickly. "They don't have to look pretty! We'll throw tablecloths on them. And maybe some—"

"Zhaarad Shua!" Atash clamped his hand over the telephone receiver. "It's Brigadier General Mustang! He's coming, too! Him and his wife and his baby girl!"

"Eh-h!" Shua threw his hands up in the air. "When Ishvala hands out blessings, they're in abundance!" he exclaimed, not entirely with a sense of reverence. "Let me talk to him."

He stepped over to the reception counter and took the phone from Atash. "Brigadier!" he cried cordially. "This is a nice surprise…Oh, well, that's understandable…" He chuckled. "Traveling in style, then, are we?...Of course we can. How big is she?...Not at all. Listen, there are so many children around here, I'm sure we can borrow something…What do you mean, don't make a fuss? Grumman's coming! The fuss has been made!" Shua laughed heartily. "We'll see you then!"

He hung up the phone and pressed the heels of his hands to his forehead. "Right, that makes four rooms we need now. Better make it two up, two down." He strode to the garden door and leaned out of it. "Mika! Set that aside for now."

"But—"

"There'll just be more leaves tomorrow anyway. Go run after Pashmina and tell her we'll need all the linens. And see about those rugs. If Nenya doesn't have enough, see who else does."

"Okay, djaari."

Mika came scurrying through the lobby toward the front door, where she nearly collided with Rada, who had just appeared with a thick armload of folded fabric. Giggling, they jockeyed for position until Mika slipped past.

"I've got the rest of your bedspreads, Shua," Rada called cheerfully as she came through the door, peering around her burden. She beamed at Stanno and Rose. "There you are! Isn't this exciting?"

Stanno felt a sudden welling of warm affection for Rada, more than he ever had for her before. She could have so easily ruined his life with a few words to Rose, but she didn't. Maybe he truly never deserved her in the first place. He practically leaped forward. "Here, let me get those for you! You didn't carry those all this way, did you?"

"Thank you, Stanno!" she said. There was a bit of surprise in her voice, but she sounded pleased. She bundled the spreads into Stanno's arms. "No, I only carried them to the door. I took a 'shaw here."

Stanno shifted the armload of fabric to get a better view of her. "And the little squit didn't carry them in for you?" he demanded indignantly.

Rada waved away his remark. "Oh, it's all right. I lift children all day, sometimes two at a time." She turned to Shua. "Did Roy call you? He called the governor's office earlier to talk about the Fuhrer coming." She rolled her eyes a little. "Andakar and Miles are having fits—well, as much as they do. They're really quite calm—but they've got everyone else running about like headless chickens."

"Oh, I daresay," Shua commented with a smirk.

"Anyway," Rada went on, "Roy said that he wanted to bring Riza and Christina out for the festival—nothing official, just a family trip."

Shua gave a short laugh. "Well, he still managed to hitch a ride on the Fuhrer's train, so it's going to have to look official."

"Then it's an official family trip," Rada declared. "That's Fuhrer Grumman's granddaughter and great-granddaughter, after all. We offered to squeeze them into our house, since Miles has baata Zulee living with them now and they don't have a spare bed. But Roy said he didn't want to be outdone, plus he wanted to see your hotel, too!" She took a breath and lifted her shoulders. "So there it is. Did you need anything else? I still have a lot of fyil to roll out, a chicken to pluck, and a house to clean."

"No, laleh, thanks, it's all in hand," Shua replied, glancing around the lobby. "Oh!" He turned quickly back to Rada. "We need a bed for the little one! Would you happen to have a spare that your brood isn't using?"

"No, sorry, Shua."

Feeling inspired and wanting to impress, Stanno spoke up. "If you don't want it to be too fancy, I can throw one together."

Shua gave him a mildly surprised look, but nodded approvingly. "That'd be grand!"

"I've got some extra baby blankets!" Rada offered as she turned to leave. "I'll have Danika bring them over."

"Thanks, Rada!" Shua called after her. He rubbed his hands together. "Good! This is coming together nicely. Atash!"

"Right here, Zhaarad!"

"Take those bedspreads upstairs. Then go help Pashmina carry back any rugs her auntie could spare. See if she's got something to cover the seats in the dining room, too."

Stanno handed the armload of fabric over to Atash, who bounded up the stairs with them.

"Is there anything I can do?"

Both men turned to Rose, who had been quietly observing all this activity.

Shua gave her a slightly scandalized look and shook his head. "Oh, no! I couldn't put you to work!"

"Hey, I'm a working girl," Rose replied.

"No, no, Zhaarana!" Shua wagged his finger back and forth. "You're the guest, remember. That makes you the quality."

"But I want to help out!" Rose protested. "I can't just sit around and watch everybody else do all the work!"

Stanno grinned. He moved to Rose's side and put an arm around her shoulders. "I say we let our guest do as she likes."

Rose looked at Shua with hopeful expectancy, and Shua lifted an eyebrow and smiled a knowing little half smile as he regarded the two of them. "Ah, well, who am I to say no to that?"

Rose let a pleased little giggle and leaned into Stanno as he gave her shoulders a squeeze. Go ahead and grin, you vatrish bastard. You're damn right she's quality.

With a sigh of weary satisfaction, Stanno leaned back against the cushions propped up into a corner of the dining room seating. He'd put his feet up on the table, but it was one of his tables. After hours of flurried activity, it was now late evening. Stanno looked around him. This was a nice room, very warm and inviting and very Ishvalan. The shutters in the deep set windows were not as ornate as those in the guest rooms, but they still boasted of his craftsmanship.

Running nearly the entire perimeter of the room was wide bench seating, just simple pine with woven coverings in pleasantly muted colors. On the red tile floors were spread bright rugs in rusty scarlet and gold. Scattered against the walls were pillows and bolsters in a variety of colors. Pashmina, Atash, and Mika had scoured the marketplace for all these goods. Then Pashmina and Rose spent the rest of the evening dressing up this otherwise bare room as well as making up the rooms that would soon be occupied by the next day's influx of guests.

Stanno had spent his time building a child's bed out of scraps of pine. He didn't bother with oil or varnish or paint, only giving it a good smooth sanding. With some soft padding and the embroidered blankets that Rada sent over, it turned out perfectly.

But what pleased him the most was the sight of the woman sitting next to him. She had dropped down beside him, announcing that she was exhausted but just as pleased with the fruits of their labor. She had thrown herself into it enthusiastically and even spurred the rest of them on when their energy started to flag. He was so proud of her. But as much as he would have loved to just gaze at her like this forever, she really did look just as worn out as she claimed to be.

He gave her shoulder a nudge.

"Why don't you call it a day?"

"Mm," Rose murmured as she opened her eyes. "But I'm so comfy here."

"You can sleep out here if you really want to," Stanno said reasonably. "I could throw a blanket over you."

Rose laughed quietly and sat forward, leaning her palms against the edge of the seat. "No, that's okay. I'll head upstairs." She turned and gave him a smile that turned him into butter. "I'm tempted to say that this has been the best day ever."

"I would be more than happy to give into temptation," Stanno replied before realizing just how that could be taken. He nearly apologized but then decided with a burst of confidence to let Rose gather whatever meaning from it she liked.

Rose looked away quickly, very prettily flustered, and her smile grew. "Well, tomorrow's another big day," she announced. She looked back at him. "Good night, Stanno."

"Good night, Rose. Sleep well." He wanted so much to kiss her, if only on the cheek, but Rose stood up before he could take the opportunity.

Rose crossed the room toward the door just as Shua came strolling in. He spread out his arms. "Ah, thank you so much, laleh! We couldn't have done it without you!"

He grasped Rose by the shoulders and soundly planted a kiss on her cheek. Stanno could have killed him. That was so like that desert rat! So blithely familiar with everyone and everything.

Rose just giggled. "It was my pleasure," she replied. "I had fun."

"Well, I'm glad we could oblige," Shua told her, stepping aside to let her pass.

He continued on toward the corner where Stanno sat and dropped down onto the seat. He started to lift his feet up onto the table.

"Don't even think about it!" Stanno growled.

Shua lifted his hands, sarcastically apologetic, and lowered his feet to the floor. He sat back and surveyed the room with an approving nod. "Nice. Very nice. Couldn't have done it better myself."

"Of course you couldn't," Stanno scoffed. "You used to live in a hovel."

Shua didn't rise to the bait, something else that was so like him. "Your girl did a nice job."

Stanno hesitated. To presume too much could only lead to the most bitter disappointment, more than what he was even used to. Besides, in a couple of days she would be going home.

"She's not my girl."

Shua lifted a sly eyebrow at him. "Sure about that, are we?" He had slipped into the lazy drawl of his old street vernacular, something he knew would be irritating.

Stanno let out a bored, impatient sigh. "We're friends."

Shua gave a shrug, but the smirk on his face suggested disbelief. He looked toward the door. "Hai, Atash!"

"Zhaarad?" came the young man's reply from the lobby.

"That bottle behind the counter there. See it?"

"I do."

"Fetch it here. Couple glasses, too."

In a few moments, Atash walked into the dining room, holding a bottle of halmi in one hand and two short glasses in the other. He set them ceremoniously on the table, then took a step back with a little bow. "Anything else for you, Zhaaradii?" he asked in a simpering nasal voice.

Shua chuckled. "No, l'haat. Just turn in."

"Right." Atash turned to leave, waving over his shoulder. "'Night, Zhaaradii!"

Shua picked up the bottle and pulled the cork out with his teeth then spit it into his hand. He leaned forward and filled both the glasses with a generous shot. He handed one to Stanno, then clinked his glass against it. "Ho'avaat!"

"Ho'avaat," Stanno replied automatically. He took a swallow from his glass then held it up to inspect it in the lantern light. "Good batch," he remarked.

Shua nodded. "The zhitai were plump this year, thank Ishvala." He sat back again, resting his elbows on the bolster behind him, and he lifted his chin and began to sing. It was a tune that Stanno hadn't heard in a very long time, one with heavily suggestive lyrics that would not be heard outside of a seedy tavern and brothel, which happened to be where he heard it last. It brought back a lot of memories, ones that he would rather not be reminded of.

He swore under his breath. "Shut it!" he grumbled.

Shua stopped singing and let out a chuckle. "Ah, now, was a time Vashto's place was nigh to your mother's teat."

"That was a long time ago," Stanno replied with crisp, patrician enunciation.

Shua took a sip from his glass. "Ollie's folks're as quality as you can hope for, I sing it to her."

"Does she know what it means?"

Shua gave another low chuckle. "She does now. So…" he drawled. "This friend of yours…"

Stanno frowned. "What about her?"

"She's a sweet thing, Ammy or no."

"I'm aware of that."

"I'll say you are. You like her. She likes you. Plain enough."

Was it? Stanno was sure it was on his part. Rose was just naturally friendly. She wasn't bold, though. She wouldn't throw herself at him. And he wouldn't force himself on her. That wasn't what he wanted.

Back in the days before the Exile, when he wanted a woman, he would simply go to the falshaii at Vashto's or some other place. When he wanted a wife, he approached Rada's father in the proper, customary manner, fed the girl pretty compliments as needed, and treated her with respect and courtesy—outwardly, anyway. He had no experience of anything in between. He never had to win anyone. He wasn't like Atash, whose gawky schoolboy efforts got him Pashmina. He wasn't like Andakar, whose high-minded devotion stole Rada away.

Stanno closed his eyes. Stop fooling yourself. You know why you lost her. Can you trust yourself to not lose Rose as well. Can you even manage to win her heart?

"Ah, now, give yourself some credit, l'haat."

Stanno flinched and scowled. "Bloody hell, Shua!" he snarled. "Don't do that!"

Shua gave him a curious look. "Do what?"

"Don't…read my bloody mind like that! I hate when you do that!"

Shua let out a derisive snort and picked up the bottle of colorless halmi. "See this? I can see through you better. Always could. Why you can't see yourself, Ishvala knows."

Since the bottle was in hand, Stanno held out his glass for a top off and Shua obliged. "That's the problem. I see myself a little too well."

Shua gave his head a noncommittal tilt. "Oh, I don't know. You're not the God-cursed viper spawn you used to be."

"Oh, thanks!"

"My pleasure," Shua returned easily. He put the bottle down and frowned in thought for a moment. "You went and grew a soul or a heart or something. Whatever it is, whether you own up to it or not, it's starting to show. So much so that a fine lass like Rose can see it." He poked Stanno in the ribs to emphasize each syllable as he added, "So why don't you?"

Stanno let out a slow sigh, taking another drink. "It doesn't matter, anyway. She's leaving the day after tomorrow," he said.

"Well, then, you've got a whole day to grow a pair!" Shua countered impatiently. "Tell her to come back! Ask her to stay!" He threw his hands up in the air, careful to not spill his drink. "Tell her you love her, damn your hide!"

The familiar buzzing sensation in his face started to set in. Shua's halmi could do that quickly, especially neat. Setting down his still full glass, Stanno gave a quiet, grim laugh. "This is how you talked me into this," he said, waving his hand at their surroundings.

"What? This?" Shua looked around the room and up at the ceiling. "This is grand, this is!" he declared indignantly.

Stanno rose to his feet. "Thanks for the drink, Shua. I'm going home to bed. I have to look like the chieftain of Kanda tomorrow."

"Good luck with that."

With quiet snort, Stanno moved around the table and headed for the door. Then he paused and turned around. "I…um…might think about what you said, though."

Shua grinned at him and raised his glass. "Good luck with that, too."

The sentence that Shua says, Yshtue als ta niye, means something like whatever she has, referring to Pashmina's aunt's rugs. I just make this stuff up.

Fyil: Sometimes I cheat and take an actual word for something and tweak it around. In this case, fyil is phylo dough.

In the previous chapter, I used the word kalcheh, which I got from caliche, which is a type of hardpan made of calcium carbonate. It's like chunks of concrete that form naturally under the ground and it's a pain in the ass when you're trying to plant stuff.

I think that's everything. Let me know if you have any questions.