As I walked through the town I tried to notice anything I could do that would put some of my ascended talents to work. Just not relying on my fighting abilities all the time. I found myself at the entrance to the bath house and looked at it with a faraway look in my eyes and heart. It was a place of relaxation, of pleasurable moments.
It might be improper to offer sex in such places but… what if I found some place that offered other ways to relax. I could use my aura, my presence as a way to enhance everyone’s experience. Taking a deep breath I walked back to the hut I was staying in and grabbed a slate to put my thoughts down. It would also help me practice my writing.
‘Questions for Neferit
Where are places of pleasure?
What jobs are women expected to do?
How does the city look upon sex?
Are there places to learn more about the culture of the city?
Are there bigger cities with similar places?
Is there a safe place to keep money?
How do I track my owed money?
Will you guide us?’
I crossed out the last question. I didn’t even know when I would be leaving this place. With Tala lording over me I wouldn’t have a great option until I was out of debt. I tapped the chalk on the tablet a few times before I set it aside and took a deep breath.
Not following my instincts like I had all my life felt alien and strange. Yet that was the old way. I needed to act in a new way. With a quick count of my coins I left the hut and started looking around the town. I held the tablet with me.
I need a way to save money. That means not buying our meals all the time. I need to let Bongani make us some food. The free meals once a day from the restaurant was going to help a long way but dinner and breakfast needed to be taken care of. ‘How do I get a cooking item? What do I need to cook with?’
I slowed down my walk as I perused through the streets. My mind trying to collect all the information around me. Keeping myself as calm as possible I found myself walking in circles. The main areas of the town that I see money flow are the arena, the markets, and the artisans quarters. Bathhouse?
Looking at the artisans quarters I started to wonder if there was something I could do to learn such a skill. ‘Do I need to pay to apprentice somewhere?’ My ears swiveled and tried to soak in all the things around me. There was so many things bouncing around in my head, hard to pin down.
My eyes fell upon an older woman pushing some sort of contraption loaded with all sorts of items and crates. I had never seen anything like it. My head tilted back and forth as I watched. Even such a small woman was moving so much more than I could in the same single trip. “Elder,” I walked up to the woman. “What’s that?” I pointed at the contraption.
“What do you mean? That’s just my cart.” Her voice was like the whispering of the wind.
“Do… do you need help? I can move it for you if you can answer a question or two.” I tucked my slate and chalk away as she stepped aside and motioned for me to take place behind the two hilts sticking out of its back.
“Come on, follow me.” The woman started limping and once more I was shocked that she would have been able to move all this while being crippled in some way. “What’s your questions young lady?”
I lifted and started walking beside her. The way it smoothly moved over the dirt path made my curiosity burn as my ears flicked back and forth. I chuckled lightly, “So, are these other things like this… cart?”
“Where the hell must you be from if you don’t know what a cart is,” She shook her head and kept ahead guiding us down the artisan’s sector. “There are carts, wagons, sand sleds, boats, all sorts of things that help move a lot of things.”
“Boat? Sled? Is there a… place to learn about all that stuff?” My mind felt like a sponge being introduced to water. Desperate to soak up more and more of all this around me.
The old woman eyed me, “Really, where are you from or I’m not answering questions.”
“I’m… I’m called the Savage. I’m from the south, the Savannahs.” I watched her as we approached the end of the street and turned between two of the huts.
“Savage, that is probably why you don’t know nothing,” The woman opened a door in the back of the place. The cart wouldn’t fit. “Unload it for me young woman and I’ll tell you where you can learn about each thing.”
So, helping the woman I started to haul things back into the hut for the older woman. She had been one of the few women that didn’t cover themselves fully. “Why aren’t you covered up everywhere?”
“That is a different question, first, you can learn about all the sorts of things at the church of Thoth. They look for followers, donators, and will share with those that spend their coin or time with the church.” The woman settled on a chair outside the back door sighing. “They might not be too enthusiastic in taking a woman amongst them. They usually keep it to the men folk.”
I frowned to myself, this place was so backward. Men being in charge over the women. “What about the clothes?”
“I’m too old to be marriageable. No need to hide what I look like for my husband only to see. Only in the privacy of your home or the baths do most women fully expose their face and body. Such like Isis guarding herself from being seen by anyone but her husband.” The woman rubbed her bad leg as I put the last crate away.
Stretching, I grabbed my tablet ‘Where do I go and learn more about the Gods?’ I looked at the old woman and her leg. I knelt and pushed her hands away. “Let me pay you back,” I placed my hands on her leg and pulled at my magic. Pushing healing magic into it, I could hear the woman let out a long slow moan.
“Oh, that feels heavenly. I can even feel my feet feel a little better.” I could see a flush on her cheeks and smiled, I knew the healing felt pretty good. Slowly I cut off the power.
“There, thank you for helping me old woman,” I stood but she grabbed my wrist quickly.
“Here, answering questions isn’t enough.” The woman pulled me inside her store and shuffled around behind a counter. “Three coppers, it isn’t much. You’ve earned it.”
She placed them in my hand and I felt my ears twitch and my face spread into a smile. I looked at the elderly woman and nodded at her, “Thank you for your generosity elder.” It was more than Bongani would make in a week. Which is only right as being his superior.
“Well, it is more for the healing than the moving stuff. My leg feels like it is young again. I’m surprised you aren’t working at the church under Sekhmet. It could be a good place for you. Such powers are rare.” The old woman shooed me out of the back door and I stood there staring at the coins before tucking them away.
“I’m Aphelele. Of the Savannah.” I looked at her.
“My name doesn’t matter, Aphelele. Go on now. I have things to do.” The door closed in front of my face. I looked around me, ‘Can I join the church? Are there other fights outside every three days?’ I could do some betting, if it could make me some more money. Though, that felt dangerous to do.
All of this I wasn’t comfortable asking Tala. That bastard would probably charge me or tell me information that would only cause me to go further into his debt. My mind ached as I thought about everything I had learned lately. I needed to change it. Make it easier to learn.
Intelligence: 14 (+2)
Wisdom: 14 (+2)
