Daughter of Ice and Fire

Five

Lihleih shook her head, gazing at her reflection in the polished bronze plate Setara held. Setara had cut her hair so it fell just below her ears, then darkened it with a paste made from something she had no desire to inquire about. Setara swore it would last for several months as long as no harsh soap was used. But it smelled awful and having to sit with a cloth wrapped around the disgusting mixture as it worked into her hair wasn't a process she wanted to repeat anytime soon. When Setara finally declared the dye had set for long enough, she ran to the rain barrel and dunked her entire head, scrubbing vigorously.

"Thanks," Setara said sarcastically, hauling her back out. "You've just ruined the entire contents. Help me tip it over before someone tries to drink it. Or worse, wash with it."

"Sorry," Lihleih replied sheepishly. "It's just that the stuff stinks. I don't think I'll ever get the smell out of my nose."

"Here, go wash with this. It won't remove the dye and it will get rid of the smell." Setara held her hand out, a small square sitting in the middle of her palm.

Lihleih took the bar and sniffed it suspiciously. It smelled slightly of lemon but she detected the hint of something else underneath. Something she was pretty sure she didn't want to explore further. Deciding it was better if she didn't know, she thanked her friend and headed to the river.

When she returned, her hair was plastered to her head but smelled worlds better. She kept reaching up to touch it, marveling at how much lighter her head felt. Following Setara back inside, she dutifully resumed her seat, looking around for the cuttings that had littered the floor.

"What did you do with the rest of my hair?" she asked, holding out her arms as Setara drew the bindings tightly around her chest.

"Nothing yet. I planned on burning them." Setara tugged one last time then tied the fabric off.

Giving a slight jerk, Lihleih grabbed the edge of the chair tightly. Forcing herself to relax, she did her best to sound natural. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not? You know what will happen if they're found. Several people will know exactly who it belongs to."

Drawing the shirt Setara had given her over her head, she used the motion to regain her composure. "Burning it will smell. Think about how singed pelts stink so bad it makes people gag. If you burn all that hair, someone is sure to notice," came the muffled reply.

Setara frowned, then began combing Lihleih's hair once the shirt had been pulled down. Before cutting it, Lihleih's had hung straight almost to her waist. But as it dried, it became slightly wavy. Setara drew her fingers through it, surprised it still felt silky despite the harshness of the dye. "What do you suggest, then?"

"Give it to me. I'll find a place to bury it."

Setara's frown deepened. "What if someone, or something, accidentally digs it up?"

"I'll mix some smelly plants with it. Maybe stinkwort or foulsbane."

Setara's hands stilled as she thought about it. "That may work. But bury it deep." She finished combing the hair and held up the plate. "What do you think?"

Tilting her head to one side and then the other, Lihliehe shook it slightly and smiled broadly. "Perfect. Having it be no longer straight is a nice touch."

"That's not natural. I'm not sure why it happened. Usually, the dye leaves the hair flat and a little dull."

"Whatever the reason, this is more than acceptable. Thank you."

Setara nodded and put the plate down as Lihleih rose. Taking the small sack Setara handed her, she peered inside, then drew it closed and tucked it in her shirt. Setara handed her a brown cap, which she pulled low to help shield her eyes. "How do I look?"