Nelatha regarded Si'Wren. "What think you?"
Si'Wren stepped back and bowed, and said, "I am overwhelmed, and must
think greatly upon what you have said and shown me."
"Aye!" Nelatha whispered. "But tell no one, on your life!"
Nelatha raised her eyebrows significantly, and finally turned away with
a satisfied nod, to return to her perpetual labor of grinding herb into
powder with pestle and mortar.
* * *
Late the next afternoon, a stranger called from without the compound
gate, and the guard answered, and it was breathlessly announced by a
runner boy that a caravan was waiting to enter. There was a concerted
rush by whoever could free themselves from their duties to go and see,
and as the gates were thrown open they beheld the sight of a long line
of human porters, with oxen, and riders upon camels and burros, all
standing idle.
Master Rababull appeared quickly, and more than a few watched fearfully
to see if he would lash out at anybody for recklessly opening the gates
too soon to the strangers, or contrariwise, for not opening them
quickly enough to show his proper hospitality to important visitors.
But when his fierce countenance broke out into a toothy welcoming grin,
it was sufficient reassurance to all that the good times had come
again, and a celebration would no doubt soon be in the making.
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