Sekali, "The Sister City"
Chapter 26
Mabuhi stayed as far from Uther as possible as they continued their journey. She spoke little, and then only in hushed whispers to Sekali. As the day's light began to fade, Sekali noticed a city far in the distance and pointed. Finyat and Uther both looked at him, and ahead to where he pointed. Finyat's eyes flared with delight, and Uther grunted.
"Now we come to the moral of this story. This is what we have been waiting for, eh black skin?" Uther spat and smiled at Sekali, who ignored him.
Finyat began jogging up ahead.
“We are escorts, then adventurers,” Uther cursed at Sekali and turned to follow Finyat.
Sekali watched them go, and after they were out of earshot he turned to Mabuhi, "I will take you to your forest; let them get lost."
She shifted her gaze back and forth, from the two ahead, then back to Sekali. "You have not traveled together long."
Sekali shook his head, exasperated. "Nor do I wish to. I am not here to rummage through ruins and offend all those I may. Again, Mabuhi, I was wrong to treat you the way I did. Will you pardon my actions? Never again, I swear it by my throat."
Mabuhi eyed Sekali with a new look. She did not answer him, but nodded. With that, Sekali held out his hand toward their destination. He fell into step beside her and she walked by him in the silence that followed.
Within an hour, Uther and Finyat caught up with them, both in a foul mood.