Salt & Spice

Chapter 13

"It's Bilqis-chachi." Ismael peeked out the window and wrinkled his nose.

"Did she see you with her?" Nosheen hissed at Nassir.

"I was careful. I didn't want anyone to see me carrying a naked girl through the village." The knock rang out again. Nosheen stood, adjusted her dupatta, and swung the door open.

"Assalaam 'alaikum."

"Wa'alaikum assalaam."

An ancient woman stepped into the room. A dupatta was wrapped tightly to her head, which emphasized her hooked nose and wrinkled face. Her eyes were quick and darting, taking in the entire home and its inhabitants in a second. Her demeanor reminded Honor a little of the Eldest, and how she somehow knew the business of everyone in her shoal. Those eyes immediately settled on Honor.

"You have to excuse us," Nosheen said. "My cousin is visiting, and she's not feeling well."

"I didn't think you had any relatives."

"You remember my brother? She's from his wife's family in Noorabad. The poor girl has been sickly her whole life, and her family thought the sea air would be better for her. We haven't heard much from them since he died, but you can't say no to a sick girl." What was she saying? Honor wondered. She was no cousin of theirs.

"I suppose not. What's your name?" Bilqis continued to eye Honor with curiosity, who opened and shut her mouth soundlessly, like an eel waiting for its next meal.

"Saira," Nosheen cut in. "She can't speak."

"That's very unusual." Bilqis squinted in the dim room. Honor waved hello. Good first impressions were important.

"Her family thinks it's the result of a fever when she was a baby."

"I've never heard of such a thing," Bilqis turned from Honor for the first time to raise an eyebrow at Nosheen. "But city folk do get some strange ideas."

"Let me get you same chai," Nosheen said and immediately poured out a cup. They proceeded to exchange all the village news as Nassir and Ismael quietly slipped into the next room. All the names they referenced washed over her in meaningless waves, both because they were people Honor had never met and because the names were so strange. Still, their concerns seemed to be the same. They talked about babies and sicknesses and family troubles, like any two old women in the shoal would do. Finally, they reached a lull in the conversation.

"I need to go home and get dinner ready," Bilqis said as she down her empty mug.

"So do I. It's amazing how much those boys eat," Nosheen laughed.

"I hope you feel better, Saira," Bilqis nodded in her direction. Her gaze lingered on Honor a beat too long, and then she left.

"I'm so sorry about that. I hope you don't mind I told her you're my cousin. But you understand, people don't trust strangers and it will be easier for you to be related to us. And you know how people talk."

Gossip was more than common in the shoal, but it struck Honor as strange that they wanted to hide they helped a stranger. She cocked her head and hoped Nosheen would elaborate. At that moment Nassir and Ismael came back into the room and she did not.

"That's especially true with Bilqis-chachi. The entire village will know everything about you within the hour." Nassir said as he squatted on the floor next to Ismael.

"We should introduce ourselves properly. I'm Nosheen, and these are my nephews, Nassir and Ismael." Honor had already figured out their names from context, but recognized it was still a polite thing to do. "It's been an exciting few days. I'll make us some chai, and we'll try to figure out how to help you." Nosheen put a pot on the stove.