F'sresa still smiled, [i]"Thank you. You saved our lives."[/i]

This time, it was Gati, the grandmother, that responded. She gave a warm smile and a deep bow to Meesei. [i]"Meesei's hospitality has been most generous. Gati could not be more comfortable, except to be back on land as soon as she can."[/i]

[i]"Gati, do not be more polite than your health."[/i] Pudaga said, before looking to Meesei, [i]"Gati's teeth are not very strong. If it is not too much trouble, may her next meal be cut up finely? We have only been given spoons with our meals."[/i]

[i]"Oh, this one will manage. It is only another day and her jaw needs to get stronger so she can be more threatening to slavers!"[/i] Gati let out a jolly laugh, revealing many missing or crooked teeth. Given her age and stature, she was probably the least threatening person on board.

Pudaga smiled and sighed, bowing his head, but looked to Meesei again with curiosity. [i]"There is one more thing. This one assumed that all of those who were nude were escaped slaves, but...they are still walking around without clothes. Are there not enough clothes to go around?"[/i]

Tzirret was glad to hear that he would be welcome on the other ship. He took another bite of his meal as Bheja answered his question. "Hmm, Tzirret's caravan did not go as far south as Borderwatch, but he remembers hearing stories about it. Something about a bunch of people going mad there many years ago. But it must be fine now." Tzirret decided not to keep to that topic, it was a very strange story that he had heard long before he reached the Bruma clan. "But, this one believes that Ahnasha, from Meesei's pack, she is from Leyawiin as well. Her family is still there, if this one remembers correctly. Perhaps Bheja knew of them? Tzirret thinks her father was Bosmer and they had a shop, that is what Sabine said."

While they spoke, Tzirret noticed that Bheja and Ma'tanza were about done with their meals. If they decided to move on soon, Tzirret thought he might take the opportunity to ask Qa'habi about his history with Ma'tanza. Tzirret's curiosity had been growing ever since he had heard about it.