Daria looks up at me, still smiling. “I'll tell you if I hear anything more from the rebellion."
“Use the common tongue!” the new giant guard bellows from nearby.
We all look up at the red-faced being as he arrives to his station.
We murmur our apologies and switch back, but when he looks away, I nod to Daria, grateful.
Then I start to gather the hanging clothing, replacing it with the newly washed pieces. We are quiet as the sun makes its path through the sky.
When dusk approaches, I look at the two women and bid my farewells.
At last, as I walk down the beaten path away from the river and to the cabin, Ra'Sa prods at me. My heart quickens.
Soon…he whispers.
A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth.
I knock on the door, leaving the baskets of folded shirts and pants on the steps. Then, I return for a second trip. Hibsej doesn’t retrieve the laundry immediately, which forces me to knock again on the door to the main house and wait.
I need to see my girls, but I can’t go without her permission.
The door cracks open, and she stands there frowning.
I wait for her to address me, which she doesn’t do, before saying, “My Lady, all of the laundry has been washed. I would like to take leave to visit my family.”
She still doesn't respond.
I stand there, waiting. Uncomfortable.
At last, one of the boys makes a noise behind her, and she sighs.
“Fine. Begone,” she commands before the door shuts.
A lightness picks up in my chest. I don’t just smile. I grin and hurry back to my room.
I bathe, clean myself, and toil away, grabbing the two dolls I made from scrap cloth. Once finished, I grab a bone from the discard pile for Coco and leave the cabin.
I am on my way,I say through my bond.
Meet you there,Ra’Sa returns.
A part of me is sad that he will not walk with me, but it would be foolish to be seen traveling together.
As I reach Griselda's door, there's a whistle from the far side of the road. I whip around, and the hair on my neck stands up.
Several buildings down, there's a group of men. They've all come from the lumber yard, but I don't see Ra'Sa around. One of them waves his hands to make the shape of a woman, and another makes a crude gesture.
“¡Mujer tan bella!"?2
I turn back around, only for one of them to yell,“¡Puta!"?3
My fists clench, and I bang on the door. Coco lets out a howl, and the men behind me laugh.
The door opens a second later, revealing Griselda. She looks at me with a stern expression.
"What are you doing here?"
"I came to give the girls gifts for their birthday," I say quickly.