Silly. Didn’t you want something too? The words echoed in Kitya’s mind as she browsed the market in Oba, a keldari charm hanging from the jeweled belt draped along her waist. The coiled snake held an amethyst crystal, Kitya’s favorite, and the golden flecks along the metal shimmered against the dark indigo of her silk dress. The young Yaeli mage had ventured into Sauti a while ago to check out their markets, hoping to get some word to her father while he was away in Belrea, but instead of finding out anything on her family the woman had lost a precious charm instead. The encounter had not been completely frustrating since she had endured it with another earthling, a boy who had also lost a charm to the thief, and the pair had finally settled on a stand where he had gifted Kitya with the keldari charm before disappearing into the crowd.

Now Kitya was browsing the markets again while thinking about her family back in Yael. The memory happened to resurface because she saw a similar stall with carved figurines, perfect for creating charms. While Obans had a variety of gods to receive blessings from, Kitya found herself looking for figurines that reminded her of Lurin and Dafiel. Maybe it would not be a bad idea to send something back home? It wasn’t as if she was in hiding. Kitya had expressed that she was going to travel to the mainland in hopes of catching up with her father when he returned from Belrea and the new islands. The man had gone to map the new areas for merchants who wanted to try to set up trade routes throughout the countries and so far work was taking a bit longer than expected. Kieran was fine since he constantly sent letters and gifts to his family, the delay worrisome but the eventual news keeping them somewhat confident that he was doing fine. Kitya realized that she should probably do the same especially since it was the season for gift giving with the winter solstice coming up. Not that one could really feel winter in the heat of the Oban desert but the longer nights had been somewhat noticeable…somewhat. Kitya did miss the thrill of seeing snow though, something that they had on occasion in Yael even though it hit mostly towards the north and nothing like the many feet of snow in Zena. But here she was in the desert country just doing her best to get along while her family stayed back home. It was definitely a good idea to send gifts then so that her mother at least didn’t worry about her current existence.

“Let’s get some charms then.” Kitya smiled as she browsed through the trinkets, settling upon a bird that could hold a small moonstone in its talon for her mother. It was a hunting bird native to Sauti and surely it would help her mother with her hunting trips back in Yael. Kitya thought it was the perfect gift, especially for her superstitious mother who would rely upon charms and the like. While her siblings may not be as superstitious as her mother’s family, Kitya thought that they would appreciate some figurines representing beasts of the mainland. She also included some crafting materials, including paint for her brother and beads for her sister, that they could use while passing time back home. Her father was always easy to find gifts for since he enjoyed journaling and so Kitya purchased Oban parchments, colored ink and a few books on Oban histories for him to enjoy whenever he did return home. Her fingers hesitated over another figurine, that of a mythical ocean dragon from Matori, and Kitya could not help but to think of Xenia. Was she doing well out in the ocean? Or was she actually somewhere in Sulburi? Kitya’s gaze narrowed as she picked up the serpentine figurine and purchased it as well. If her sister was dealing with troubles then it would only be fitting that one of the most ferocious beasts serve as her charm. “Eventually I will find you and give this charm to you.” For her protection….after Kitya had a few sharp words about her recklessness. Now that it had been almost a year the woman’s fury had faded and instead turned into more of a longing, a worry over her sister’s wellbeing as she just hoped that she was doing well.

At least she could buy these gifts and think of her family while doing so. Kitya could send the rest back to Yael but the ocean dragon she would keep with her in Oba with the hope that she could personally give that to Xenia in person and soon.

[790]