With Théadan’s mood shifting back to a more relaxed one, Navia’s hand wandered back to her side of the table. She looked on while he and Baiza spoke of wise women and their places in Khluri and Mes’Mo’Tanian culture, her fingertips absently plucking a raspberry from her plate and bringing it to her lips. After Théadan commented on what Osa could say about his palm and how odd it was, a sly smirk crossed her lips and she was tempted to tease him for it. It would be all too easy to twist the truth around Osa, perhaps stoke the air of mystery around the elder woman, but she had made a deal with Théadan. She had to stay nice in order to have that tempting reward.<br/><br/>“I don’t think anyone knows what to expect when it comes to Osa,” Baiza answered with a shrug to Théadan’s comment, taking another bite of her dessert in the process. “The mysticism of her is part of her appeal to many, I suppose,” she paused and nodded toward Navia, “Your mother enjoyed Osa’s company before your family banished her from Mandira, but she never said much of it around your father. He did not believe in the power of the<i>kavi</i>the way she did. In fact, I was surprised when Osa recognized you. I thought the entire royal family had snubbed her.”<br/><br/>“Oh…” Navia grimaced slightly, not wanting to get into how or why she knew Osa when her reasons had been so delicate in nature. Théadan likely did not know what they were talking about though, and so used that to buy herself some time before answering Baiza, “Osa used to live in the palace with us when I was a child. She would give counsel to my grandfather and she was much respected. It was very rare for her to be wrong when my grandfather would ask for her help. Then my grandmother fell ill and after Osa predicted she would fully recover, she died only days later. My grandfather banished her from Mandira for the heartache she caused him, but she was allowed to keep the riches and residences she’d earned while working for him. She just no longer existed in Mandira.”<br/><br/>“And yet she knew you and wanted to speak with you yesterday,” Baiza pointed out, gaze curious, “Does your family know?”<br/><br/>“No,” Navia answered immediately, “They don’t need to know. I have been in contact with her for years though, and my husband knew. My business with Osa had only ever pertained to Devam and myself, so no one needed to know.”<br/><br/>“Oh, I see,” the spa owner’s voice became more apologetic for asking and she was quick to try to steer the conversation away from a topic Navia appeared tight-lipped on, “Your mother used to visit her at the beginning of every month for predictions of how that month would go for her. I think it was a comforting experience for her though; her side of the family has been blessed with an entire lineage of<i>kavi</i>, so Niemah enjoyed having Osa in the palace.”<br/><br/>With Navia asking more about her mother’s side of the family, an aspect she had not learned much on in the past, as they were from a town far north from Mandira, Baiza had proceeded to give them as much information about Niemah’s heritage as she could. Born of noble birth, her father had been a leader amongst many powerful northern families who excelled in Khluri farming, hunting, and trading. In order to maintain a positive relationship with those far from the country’s capital, a marriage between the youngest prince and Niemah had been arranged. Baiza had then spoken of how the two had fallen in love despite a bit of a rocky beginning, and Navia had smiled all through it, happy to hear of her parents in such a positive light. By the time they were thanking Baiza for their meal and leaving to go meet with Osa, the heavier conversation topics they’d shared with Baiza were far from her mind. Happy to have a moment alone with Théadan in the hallway before they moved on, she spun to face him once the door shut behind them, a triumphant expression on her face.<br/><br/>“I think that went well,” Navia announced with a grin, tilting her head back to look up at Théadan, “I should probably get a little reward for doing so well before we go looking for Osa. I didn’t tease you at all and said lots of kind things about you.”