Chapter 28
Shay's Rfissa Recipe
Ingredients
cooked green lentils
fresh coriander
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ras el hanout
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
vegetable or chicken stock
msmen, for serving
Steps
Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large saucepan over a medium-high heat.
Sear chicken legs until golden brown. Transfer the seared chicken to a dish and set aside.
Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
Slice and add the onions, cover the pan, and cook until soft.
Add coriander, garlic, turmeric, ginger, ras el hanout, salt, pepper, and saffron and cook for 5 beakers.
Return all the chicken legs to the pan and cover with stock.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low, cover the pan, and leave to simmer for about 45 beakers, stirring occasionally.
In a separate small saucepan, add in the lentils along with a ladle of the onion sauce and warm up over medium-low heat.
Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning with salt if necessary.
Serve chicken with lentils on top over a bed of shredded msmen.
Something is wrong. The thought wakes Shay like a pebble pinging against glass.
Sunlight hits her eyelids in washes of red until she squints them open, and then it streams through the salon window, reassuring in its golden hues.
She swallows, her throat a little dry. In the moon quarter since they put the past to rest, Hind has been steadily improving, she reminds herself, repeating it a few times.
She sits up on the couch. Judging by the leaves scattered over the table in front of her and the candle nub that has burned itself out, she must have fallen asleep while picking a bundle of fenugreek stems the evening before.
After her morning prayers, she stores the herbs in a jar and goes upstairs to check on Hind.
Hearty rumbles greet her as she ascends the stairs.
They can't be coming from Hind, because in Shay's experience, Hind doesn't snore louder than a Chanalan bear.
Inside her sleeping quarters, Hammu slumps on Shay's pallet, his swerving antlers splayed across her pillow.
She assumes he saw her dozing downstairs and, not wishing to wake her, decided to take over her nightly post in case Hind had need of something.
Which would be sweet of him, if not for the alarming fact that the other pallet—the one Hind should occupy—is empty.
After a quick and fruitless look around the cottage, she circles back and shakes Hammu awake.
“Huh?” He blinks slowly, wiping a rope of drool from his chin with the back of his hairy hand. “Oh, I must have fallen asleep.”
“Where's Hind?”
“I was keeping an eye on her in your place. I had a hunch that was the first sleep you'd had in days, so I couldn't bear to disturb you.” Hammu heaves himself into an upright position and scans the room. “Did you check the washroom?”
“Of course I did!” Shay's voice rises. Something's wrong, something's wrong, something's wrong, her mind shouts over and over like an insistent street merchant.
Hammu leaps to his feet. “I'll help you look.”
Soon, all the brothers have joined the hunt, rambling up and down the stairs, in and out of rooms, flinging open closets and shouting Hind's name in a frantic chorus.
Shay is headed toward the front door to extend the search outside when there's a knock.
She pulls the door open at the same time Aidi appears at her shoulder.
Hind is standing outside, unharmed, which is not the relief it should be, given the creature standing beside her, his gloved fingers folded over her frail shoulder.
“Hello, neighbors,” Tarik says amicably. “I found this lost kitten wandering the streets. I believe she's yours, yes? I thought the neighborly thing would be to return her.”
Shay tugs her mother inside firmly by the wrist and nudges her behind her own body, next to Aidi. She glares at Tarik. “Stay away from her.”
Tarik frowns, making the gesture almost elegant. “Thank you would suffice.”
Aidi steps around Shay and strikes his heavy cane against the door with a thud. “You'd better hope our guest reports that you were an honorable escort.”
The bloodsucker staggers back a step. “I would never harm a pregnant human. Well, alright, that's a lie. Fetuses and newborns are an exquisite delicacy. But that's all the more reason why I expect a modicum of appreciation for my restraint.”
“Get off my property now,” Aidi seethes through gritted teeth.
Tarik doesn't acknowledge him. He keeps his dark eyes trained on Shay as he slowly backs to the edge of the lawn, a greasy smile smeared across his pale face. Just before he turns toward his imposing dwelling, he frowns. “I noticed you have new gauntlets, little dove. I hope they fit you well.”
As soon as he's out of sight and Aidi closes the door, Shay rounds on Hind.
“What were you doing outside?” She scans her mother carefully for any injury she may have initially overlooked. “I was so worried about you.”
“I'm sorry.” Hind draws her eyebrows together and pouts. If she's pretending to be confused, she's doing an admirable job. “I wanted fresh air. I didn't think it would be an issue. Walking is beneficial for early labor, isn't it?”
Shay opens her mouth to continue chiding, but stops short. “Early labor? Have you had any contractions?”
“Only mild belly hugs,” Hind replies cheerily.
Shay lays a hand on her mother's shoulder, squeezing gently. “Any bleeding?”
“A faint pink drizzle.”
At that, the brothers all turn their faces away in various degrees. Shay's chest tightens, zinging between anxiety and excitement. Labor poses serious risks for Hind, but its occurrence is inevitable, and Shay can't wait to meet her sister.
“Let's go upstairs and prepare the room.”
“Actually, I have a request.” Hind smiles timidly. “I was hoping you could make me rfissa. I have a strong craving for the dish, and fenugreek is known to push labor along. See, I also know a thing or two about birthing.”
“That's a lovely idea,” Shay says, pleased she already had the foresight to forage a hefty bouquet of the herb. “I'll send one of the brothers up with you.”
“No need.” Hind waves her thin hand in the air dismissively. “I'm just going to finish up that blanket while I have the chance.”
“You shouldn't be alone,” Shay insists, looking around at the brothers, not one of who meets her eye. “Really? Are you all that embarrassed about female bodily processes?”
“I'll go,” Deebi says, his expression making it clear he'd rather do anything else. He smooths a hand over his curving horn like it's a strength-giving talisman.
Shay peers intently into Hind's eyes and says, “Send Deebi down if there's any change in the frequency or intensity of your contractions. Understand?”
If she's excited about the birth, or afraid, or anxious at all, it doesn't show. Her face is serene, almost stoic. “Yes, I promise.”
Shay fends off a shiver as Deebi follows her mother upstairs. Experience has taught her nothing good comes of promises.
While the chicken-and-lentil stew simmers, Shay rolls out the dough to make the flaky squares of msmen traditionally served with rfissa. The give of soft dough beneath her fingers and the fragrant steam of spices swirling in the air have a calming effect on her.
Shay whispers blessings for a successful birth outcome. She never got to prove herself to Ghita while her foster mother was alive, but she hopes she honors her memory. That somewhere in the life that follows, the midwife's soul will guide her. That she'll be proud.
She leaves the dough to rest, empties the crumbs collected at the bottom of yesterday's khobz basket into her hand, and scatters the grains on the windowsill.
Several midnight irises soon arrive to hungrily peck at them.
The dark-brown birds have yellow beaks and a crest of shiny feathers down the middle of their heads.
Propping her elbows on the window, Shay watches them. “I wish I could fly like you; it would certainly make the mission I've been tasked with easier.”
The biggest of the birds hops closer to her and lowers its head. Our recent journey has been long, Lalla. Your offerings are much appreciated. A ruffle passes through its glossy feathers, showering the windowsill in tiny white specks.
Shay catches a speck on her fingertip, and the cold crystal melts on contact with her warm skin. “Is this snow?”
The bird bobs its tufted head. We've just migrated from the mountains of Umm Chanala, where the weather is not quite so warm as it is here.
The weather is another factor she didn't consider that will increase the hardships of any potential travel.
Even if she and Shadi make plans to leave right after Hind delivers, it will be next to impossible to cover such distances in so short a time while navigating diverse terrains like snow-flooded mountains and underwater seascapes.
Even Khawla's gift may not have been enough to guarantee them success.
Think about how the gift you possess may aid you in your task, the Morchidat said.
Do you really want to feel what it's like? The bird interrupts Shay's thoughts.
“What's that?”
Flying? Do you want to feel what it's like?
She thinks the bird must have meant to say know not feel. Or perhaps it did say that—or think it—and her magic missed the correct translation by a degree. “Are you going to describe it to me?”
No, I'm going to show you. If you want me to.
Shay isn't sure if the bird is saying what she thinks or if such a thing is possible, but … sometimes in her dreams, she doesn't just talk to animals. Sometimes, she dreams that she becomes one with them. It's not something she ever imagined attempting while awake …
Regardless, it's not an offer one receives every day.