K A H L U A

Was it even allowed to be that gullible? It seemed improbable, and yet somehow the girl had made it this far. How had she not ended up food for a hungry beast or slave to some terrible stallion? Perhaps she owed her life to a string of good luck and watchful friends. Perhaps the gods had actually offered her some sort of blessing, despite her imbecilic nature. She was amiable, and often that was enough to placate even the hardest of souls. And where a bright smile cheerful words failed, she always had her pretty face. But soon enough, beauty would fade. And where would she be left then? For now, only the stars may know.

I'll just leave the message with you then. Could the girl have felt any more self-important in that moment? She practically oozed delight, smile widening from ear to ear, that she should be chosen of all the horses in the Edge to relay a message from Throat to Mirage. Oh what a day, what an excellent chance to prove her continued worth. “Of course,” she said with a smile, “I'll tell them as soon as possible.” How soon was that, though? She didn't think about it. It couldn't possibly be that urgent, could it? The black mare did not seem concerned about the altered ranks... Regardless, she nodded again in affirmation that she would send the message along just as soon as she was able to.

And then Shadow spoke again, with a wit and some sort of innate ability to make Kahlua melt with her words. Master Glazier. If pride really could swell heads, the painted girl would have been a caricature to see. For a moment, she was distracted as the winged mare moved closer, peering over her shoulder, looking into the land. For half an instant, Kahlua's smile faded and she shifted uncomfortably. Should she let the lady in? She had been welcomed into the Throat, after all, allowed to wander upon their oasis with little more than cursory attention from Onni. Regardless, the Glazier did not mind closeness and so instead she stood her ground, her musings upon letting Shadow in or not gone with the wind as she began to ponder a gift for a child.

Her eyes fell to Shadow's side, covered by her wings such that Kahlua had not noticed any increased girth and still did not see much of a difference. Regardless, she found herself falling short of ideas for a child. A glass comb for the mane, perhaps? A necklace with a wing charm? But then, her ideas meant little if they were not what the mother wanted. “Of course its possible! What did you have in mind?” She asked, absentmindedly stepping backwards and likely giving Shadow a chance to encroach further.

“As for payment...” She faded off, mind occupied with thinking. What did she want? A picture of the oasis came to her mind and she finished her sentence. “I've been looking for something to put in the bottom of a basket I have, to prevent the glass from scraping. Perhaps a palm frond or two from your trees?” She looked expectantly to Shadow. She thought the task easy enough. Surely it couldn't be too difficult to fly to the tree top sand pull a couple of leaves out, could it? As it were, the girl would have just said the gift was on the house except that she feared being chastised by her leaders for giving things away so freely.