The midday sun hangs lazily overhead, beating down on the rooftops of Husk Horn like a drunkard pounding a tavern table. A breeze tries to slither through the narrow streets but barely stirs the air as it reaches the porch of a small but charmingly crooked house.
The porch creaks beneath the weight of rest and heat.
Vuvi and Veena sit at a makeshift reception desk, really just an old writing desk propped on two crates, fanning themselves slowly with decorative hand-fans they won in a card game two towns ago.
Penelo lies sprawled across the floorboards in a dramatic pose of defeat, groaning, "I'm melting…"
Ka'Lula sits beside her, legs swinging back and forth as she sips a bottle of local fizzy fruit soda. "You said that yesterday," she chirps.
Penelo whines louder.
Two small children pass the property and come to a full stop. They stare at Ka'Lula with wide eyes and dropped jaws.
The boy, cheeks red, blurts out, "You're the prettiest girl I've ever seen!"
