She awoke the next morning with Iloli’s bed sheets strewn around her while the woman herself stood nearby starting to dress. The sun blinded Vaenuth, shining through an open shutter and across the bed.
“I’ve got to get to work,” Iloli said, quietly. “But I really enjoyed last night.”
Vaenuth looked away, and stared up at the ceiling. She had also had fun, lots of it, but Iloli had not given her what everyone else seemed to get out of this. Vaenuth hadn’t been with a woman in a long while, and she’d been quite hopeful… but again, she awoke the next day disappointed. She didn’t let Iloli know that though. She sat upright. “Certainly made my stay in Nokire better.”
Soon enough, they walked back to the Mediator’s office building, where many traders were already negotiating. “I’ll write a list,” Vaenuth told her friend. “Don’t give me a discount just because of our—”
Iloli laughed. “Fine, but I reserve the right to ask you out to the bar again the next time you’re in Nokire.” She had worn a violet robe today, a much lighter colour than the normal blue tunic that Vaenuth wore most of the days she spent in towns.
They exchanged their business information easily enough and Iloli sent a runner to procure the proper supplies from the warehouses in the settlement. Once it was all concluded, Vaenuth and Iloli, in the privacy of the latter’s office, gave one another a parting kiss, quickly, and then Vaenuth was on the way out of Nokire. Their camp was abuzz with activity and the smell of fruit seemed prevalent.
Banno was waiting, on watch, instead of one of their usual guards. “I was worried—” he began, but cut himself off. “Did you have a good time?”
She smiled at his second attempt. Before she could reply, Tagg brushed past her, tapped her on the arm and then said to Banno, “Damn, I bet she did…. That little trader girl is fine!” Vaenuth could only laugh at Tagg’s random interruption, and Banno rolled his eyes.
“Did things go smoothly here?” she asked.
“They did,” Banno replied, quietly. Tagg had run off again, to help with the loading of their tents. “I posted guards on the white lead specifically. We’ll be tired and slow today, but at least we’re still getting the job done.”
“That’s good,” Vaenuth said. “For once, I actually need some food, I think. Shall we?”
“Of course!” Banno led the way, and they went toward the smell of jam and bread.
Within the hour, they set out from Nokire and Vaenuth didn’t look back. They would finish this deal, at Kivrad’s estate, within three weeks time. The jungle got denser and more humid around them, and Vaenuth felt at home in some ways. But she always longed for the Expanse, the open reaches without human touch.