The door was locked, Captain Hardoleth clearly wasn't home. She knocked anyway, then paused, what if he was entertaining? it was but a few days ago that she turned up and there was an elegant lady there with the Captain. Neyaa frowned remembering the woman's rudeness towards her, but that was soon eclipsed by the down pour of rain as the sky wept upon her.
She pulled her cloak around her and called her horse over to her. She pulled out a collection of lock picks from the saddle bags and easily found the one that opened the Captains door. Letting herself in, she listened carefully for any signs as to whether Hardoleth was there. In some ways she was relieved he wasn't there because she had been "shopping" in Laila's Market and had quite a haul.
She threw her bag upon the bed and sat cross legged beside it. The rain tapped heavily upon the house and the windows were awash, Neyaa was pleased to have missed the worst of it. Prising the bag open, she inspected the contents already planning whom to see and who to speak to. Finally she pulled the most elegant dress that she had ever beheld from the tatty Hessian shopping bag and slipped off the bed holding the gown in front of her. Moving around with the dress swaying in front of her as if she were dancing with the Lord of the Manor her thoughts traced back to when the dress hung upon a mannequin.
The vendor had caught her admiring the dress as there was no mistaking the adoration in the young girls eyes. The Vendor encouraged her to try on the dress. Insincere were her words, she knew a girl such as Neyaa would have no use for such a dress, nor could she afford it, she was clearly bored by a slow day of sales. But Neyaa did try on the dress and stared in wonderment at her reflection in the mirror, adjusting her unruly hair, for a moment the girl staring back at her looked every inch a lady. It was then, Neyaa did the most foolish thing she had done in a while, she bought the dress. It was only the second dress she'd ever bought in her life, and she had done so just to wipe the smug look off the store keepers face...in fact she would have paid double to see the look on her face again, such moments are priceless aren't they?
Of course she had repented and cursed herself the entire way home, what was she thinking of, why does she always act so foolishly? A thousand questions swam around in her head as she looked down at the dress.
She enjoyed Captain Hardoleth's company very much, but on occasion he said the strangest things to her across the pillow. Only three nights ago he had accused her of being a Soothsayer. If she could truly foretell the future, would she not have chosen a different path for herself? He had also enquired if she were mad? At the time, she questioned the nerve of the man as she had seen the dark and the lighter side of him, capable of such kindness, yet capable of being a monster.. but perhaps he was right and she was mad?
She folded the dress carefully and slid it into her bag under the bed, of course you are mad Neyaa Sunngifu!.. a white dress does not make you a lady.
