U'tu appeared from inside an adjoining tent, carrying a wooden bucket filled with pale beige fruits. His grin matched the elder man's, but his was cocky and more sure of himself, "Don't stop on my account."

"Slacking away again, aren't we?" En'tum sighed, taking a seat next to the window on a rocking chair. "Hand me over a Kiyerlia."

U'tu tutted, wagging a finger, "The healer said you are not allowed to eat right before your afternoon nap."

She suppressed a smile, "How old are you?" she asked U'tu.

"Twelve." he answered, taking a seat next to her on a log bench and began tending to the fire.

"Barely twelve." The old man grumbled.

U'tu puffed up his chest, "Age is a state of mind."

"By Brumcia, are you talking to Lei'la again? I thought I told you to stop hanging out with that know-it-all poof." he griped.

The young boy sneered, leaning forward "You don't get to talk about her like that. Only I get to call her that. Take it back, old man."

"Please, that big girl has enough fat to make another human." he retorted with derision, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes to sleep.

The nerve of the old man made anger simmer through River. Clearing her throat, she was surprised her words came out steady. "Having large amounts of fat is not a disadvantage, En'tum, the blacksmith."

He replied back with his eyes closed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "If a behagthi says so, then it must be true."

U'tu hurled a pale beige fruit at the old man, hitting right at the face of his sneering condescension "Take it back!" he said, before hurling another fruit at him.

"Damned kids. If you like her that much then why don't you marry her!" he yelled, slamming down a fist on the arm of his rocking chair.

It wasn't clear if the kid was embarrassed or furious, maybe both. "Just you wait, old man. I'm getting you back for this! An insult to Lei'la is an insult to me." he said matter-of-factly, looking every bit like a young mafia boss whose honor had been disrespected.

River followed after the angry boy as En'tum grumbled a few strings of curses before wiggling his bum back to sleep.

Outside the tent, U'tu walked briskly with his chest bowed over the overflowing bucket of fruits, covering it so that nothing dropped in his haste. Right then, he looked to be on a mission.

"U'tu" she called after him, "Don't take off. I can't move that fast."

She was finally able to catch up when he stopped in front of the smallest cozy tent out of every other grand tent they passed by in the avenue. This one didn't have any smaller tents adjoining to it. It was a lone single tent that was colored white with an abundance of colored flowers on the front lawn. He stepped in, pushing the flaps of the tent entrance to the side with a sweep of his arm. Knots of tension leaving his shoulders at the moment he got inside.

"Kiyerlia!" She heard Lei'la squeal in delight from inside, "I thought you hadn't cared enough to notice."

He set it down besides her, crossed his arms and scoffed. His cocky demeanor returning back in spades, "I notice everything. What kind of player would I be if I didn't notice the game? We played. You played." he said, offering the fruit bucket like a prize. "And, Lei'la, you won fair and square."

Ohh, the little charmer, she thought, peering in the doorway and waving at the little girl sitting with her knees on the floor, back straight and her buttocks resting on her ankles. She was wearing a dreamy smile, her cheeks flushing pink. On her thighs draped a red quilt blanket that took up half of the room space and she was holding it with a needle on her hand.

"No campfire?" River noted. The dome-like structure of the tent boasted six large windows in every direction filling the quaint room with a wash of natural daylight.

Lei'la jumped startled, clutching a palm over her chest, "Brumcia forbid! A fire burning in a weaver's hut."

"Not if you build it right" U'tu said, casually observing her quilt blanket in closer detail.

The girl shooed him away but he didn't budge. He stepped even closer, pretending to be engrossed in the artful details on her quilt. "I bet you wouldn't finish this in a day."

"I bet you two buckets of Kiyerlia I could make it in less than a day." she said, raising a brow at his challenge.

"And if I win?"

She shrugged, "Same as before. A victory blanket in your honor. The design will be in your choosing, of course."

U'tu hummed in thought, "My design garners a whole lot of details, Lei'la. My accomplishments are innumerous. You could end up weaving it for seven years or more."

She was unfazed, looking bored as she continued her needlework. "Do we have a deal or not?"

"Deal." he said, pushing a stray lock of pale yellow hair behind her ear. "An original customized quilt is such a prize, Lei'la. I'll do whatever it takes. No matter how many games it's gonna take for me to win."

"Then prepare to lose some more. By the end of the season, you will have done all of my fruit-picking chores."

River took a seat across the girl, matching her sitting posture. "How old are you, Lei'la?"

"Fifteen."

She darted a surprised glance to the boy. "Wow, that's three years ahead of you, U'tu."

"Age is a state of mind" he repeated, raising a stubborn chin.