Page 10 of Own To Obsess

“Ah, you have a sister,” the high chief said, delighted. He leaned forward and lowered his voice conspiratorially. “It is a good sign in these blessing rituals if family is mentioned.” He winked and grinned. “You’re doing well.”

Shaya almost laughed with him. “Thank you, high chief.”

“What is her name, your sister.”

“Kyus.”

His brows lifted. “Another K? That is… excellent.”

“It is?”

“Indeed. Those kinds of signs and patterns are important in the Southern Lands. Are you close with your sister?”

Shaya nodded. “She raised me. My mother and father were not around.”

“Ah,” the high chief said, his tone and expression turning sober. “Then she is like a mother to you.”

Shaya nodded and tears sprung to her eyes. “She has always looked after me so well. She gave me freedom to pursue whatever I liked, she kept me safe and gave me advice… she protected me always, even at risk of herself sometimes.”

The high chief nodded slowly, taking a sip from his cup. “And how do you honor her?”

Shaya looked at him curiously. “Honor her?”

“Yes. What action do you take in reference to her and all she has done for you, to make her proud of you even though you aren’t with her.” The high chief kept his eyes on her as he sipped again. “It is something we do here in the Southern Lands when we’re not with the people we love.”

Shaya thought for a moment. “I… I look after my hair because I know she’d love it if I did?” she offered. “Is that what you mean?”

“Does it take time, and attention, and care?”

“Yes.”

“Do you feel close to her when you tend to it?”

Shaya nodded.

“Then that’s exactly what I mean.” The high chief smiled, his eyes running over her hair. “And you honor her well, Katashaya,” he added.

A burst of melancholy relief flooded Shaya and she swallowed, willing the ache in her throat away. She missed Kyus so much, and she was so far away now. She knew she’d never see her again.

“So what did your sister think of the arm-scalding incident?” the high chief asked lightly.

“She said we don’t learn unless we make mistakes,” Shaya explained, her voice shaky for a moment. “And then she made me make the potion over and over so I could either fix it or learn what it was good for.”

“And did you?”

Shaya nodded. “It is a powerful sealant and healing balm for open wounds.”

“Hmm.” The high chief took another sip from his cup. “We are not as tolerant of mistakes here.”

Shaya nodded, her eyes lowered. “I learned that on the way here.”

“There is good reason for it.”

Shaya thought for a moment. “The weather?”

The high chief hesitated. “It isn’t as simple as just saying the weather,” he said finally. “When you have been through your first blizzard, you’ll understand more thoroughly. Mistakes can cause deaths here—even the potential to wipe out most of the lives in the Isles. They must be kept at a minimum at all costs.”

“Then why do you live here?” Shaya asked, bewildered. “Surely there are other places you could choose to settle that aren’t so dangerous?”

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