40. Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty
Effie
"You can't keep your sister locked in the tavern." I push the door of the gym open ahead of Astrid. We took full advantage of the empty showers before we left. Washing off the sweat and chalk from the work out before heading down to third street.
"If I could find someone or something that could convince Embla to learn how to fight, then I will let her leave the tavern." Ash shakes her head as she walks next to me. "But she's young and naive. I can't let her wander around unprotected. If something happened and I was forced to return to my father without my sister. He wouldn't let me live. My one job is protecting Embla," she continues.
"I understand where you're coming from, but you will never be able to force Embla to do something she doesn't want to do." I raise my eyebrows at her.
"But maybe if she could talk to someone who has it both. A husband and combat skills, maybe it would help. She's only seen the homemakers of Demendia and the noble ladies. Those were the only positions she had to strive for at home." And I must concede she might have a point.
"Okay, I might know someone who would be willing to help. We'll head to the training grounds outside the castle to speak with her after I get my hair fixed." Astrid nods her agreement as we continue through the streets.
I heard from a couple of tavern patrons, a new Nedyahn salon has opened somewhere over here, and that is exactly what I need after so much traveling. I don't know how Ash did it, living under that dome as long as she did. The tree that houses the salon has a glass window front that overlooks the hairdressers as they set to work on their current clients. A couple of the chairs are empty. Large bold letters over the storefront read Walk-ins Welcome . My fingers go to my locs, a change is long overdue.
"Effie?" A familiar voice sounds as I walk through the door.
"Yinnie? I thought you were still on the island!" I run up to my cousin and embrace her. Squishing her into my chest like I could absorb her.
"This is Astrid." I introduce the human beside me as soon as I can let go of the closest thing I will ever have to a sister.
"It's nice to meet you, Zahn Keten." Yinnie nods to Ash slightly, and I'm surprised when the human doesn't question her new nickname.
"Are you looking to get rid of these locs?" Yinnie guides me to a chair and lifts a few between her fingers.
"Yes, I'm ready for a change." I sit in her chair and she raises a small velvet container.
"I have something for you. Your father sent it." She lifts the lid to reveal a golden lip cuff that will loop around my lip four times before lining the bottom of my lower lip to the corners. A dag a?h. A traditional lip ring, something my mother would have passed down to me were she still here.
"This isn't mine; my mother wasn't Nedyahn." I flinch away from the box, but Yinnie forces it into my hand, closing my fingers around it with her other.
"She may not have been, but you are as fierce as any of our warriors. You are one of us no matter who your mother was or wasn't. You deserve to look the part," she whispers before stepping behind me to look at my hair.