You enter the Careen and catch the aroma of roasted Est'iit sausage with Qalfa bread toasting. You cross the room to sit at your favorite table, removing your bag. You slide the chair for you to sit, and Kia' Nuusa, the owner of the Careen, comes forth greeting you, "My little one!"
You rise up and meet her with an embrace, as Kia kisses you on your forehead. Her hand gently hold your face, like a mother showing her love for her blessed child.
"Are you hungry, my girl?" Kia says with a smile.
"Yes, please..." you reply with joy.
"Be right back, Iviaena. I have freshly squeezed Ishin for you. Will your friends be joining you?"
"Yes Kia, but they are taking too long, and you know how much I hate rushing for lessons. Today, I want to show them my drawings, my notes, my idea for creating a Water Irrigation that I am working on with father - to help him bring water from the Mountains, to the fields and to the pots we've created for the saplings of Anii' Fik. This will bring father much honor, but most of all, I believe it will bring our people a great harvest for the coming years."
Kia yells from the back, "I am hearing you Iviaena. You are very excited about this?"
"Yes Kia, it would be the first time ever a young one has imagined the unthinkable - it would help our people, and make our cities grow, like the Spear Trees of the North."
Kia comes out from the back, bringing forth two pitchers of Ishin, toasted Qalfa bread, and roasted Est'iit. As she walks towards the table, you can see her joy shine forth from her face - she speaks to you, but it sounds like mumbling. Your attention is on the food.
Kia lays the the pitchers and platters on the table, the first thing you see is the melted creamy butter on the toasted Qalfa bread. Kia says, "Be right back - I have the bowls, spoons, and your favorite, Rak' eei eggs to bring out."
You could not stop yourself from reaching over to grab a piece of the toasted Qalfi bread covered in butter, and bite into it. Kia returns with a big smile, placing the plates and bowls of food on the table. She takes the pitcher to pour you a cold cup of Ishin and then returns to the back to finish her meal preparations for visitors.
While you are enjoying your meal, folks enter the Careen and greet Kia, as she serves them the breakfast of the day. One of Kia's helpers enters the bar area where she prepares more Ishin to serve. There are stronger drinks on the shelves but we are told it is not for us young people.
Later, sounds of young people arguing and laughing come close to the entrance, and with a loud bang, the front door swings open. You see your friends as they call out your name, "Iviaena!" and they run towards your table.
Kia stops them short, "Now young ones, do not run in like Yuetii's, stomping on my floors. I don't lose my clients. Mind your manners at this Careen." They stopped short, and looked to her, as she looked at them with a smile, saying "Go now - eat and enjoy!"
"Thank you, Kia!" Your friends said, as they make their way to your table.
You and your friends spend time discussing the work on the Water Irrigation, when the front door opens, and three men in black clothing walk into the Careen. You see them look around, as though they were trying to find a person, then they walk to the opposite side of the room to sit at a round table. The servant greets them and begins to take their orders.
Your eyes return to the large scroll where you have drawn up plans and images on how this Water Irrigation will work for your father's Anii' Fik plants. From time to time, you raise your head and find the stranger who sat on the barrel outside, looking at you. When your eyes meet with his, the stranger turns to his companions. It is very hard for you to see their faces clearly because of the people going about in the Careen.
Time has passed, and you filled belly with enough breakfast - it is time to get to the House of Notisi for lessons. You hesitate a bit to stand up, remembering about the strangers - they make you feel uncomfortable. Lost in your thoughts, a conversation next to your table becomes a bit loud, mentioning about a Desert Curse...
Atruii breaks your attempt to listen, and asks, "Are we leaving?"
What do you do?
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