<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(209, 72, 65)">Heat bloomed on Sabina's cheeks when Lia said she learned the Nubian word <i>jinsia</i>. She realized the woman was testing her, wondering if her knowledge came solely from books or from experience, so she forced her embarrassment back and replied in a steady, calm voice laced with a tinge of humor, "Ah, a different use for the tongue, indeed. I might be a linguist, but that kind isn't my specialty. I leave that for the men and women out there who are so inclined."<br/>
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<b>"For all this bunch of brutes know our destination is a days ride from here but they blindly follow this path wherever it might lead them," </b>said Lia.<br/>
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Sabina remained silent. From what she'd observed, the leader was cautious, and he and the soldiers and leader seemed familiar with the path. However, she let the comment slide, allowing that Lia's ire was related to years of professional misogyny and her recent spat with Grimsson. When the woman said she wanted to begin her work and suggested that talk more when they made camp, she agreed and maneuvered her horse out of the way and ahead of the mapmaker.<br/>
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Just as the girl settled into a peaceful ride, her horse whinnied and started.<br/>
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"Nyugodj, fiú," she intoned gently, tugging the reigns authoritatively and rubbing her steed's neck. "Yes, that's a good boy," she continued, comforting him. She perused the crushed grass below and saw nothing untoward, so she clicked her tongue and guided him to continue. Reaching up, she caressed the locket she wore and breathed deeply, closing her eyes for a moment. She inhaled the sweet fragrance of the grasses, but there was a bitter bite that lingered in her lungs long after she exhaled. Brow furrowed, she tapped her heels against her horse's flanks and caught up with the healer.<br/>
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"Pardon me, you are Kira, the healer, are you not?" she asked. "I'm Sabina, the linguist. I have a question for you. Besides <i>winter root</i> and <i>elder vine</i>, there is another bitter herb that once grew in the Northeast part of the Empire. I cannot remember the name, but I believe it is quite poisonous and grows quickly under the right conditions. The Empire eradicated it a few years back. Do you remember?"<br/>
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Sabina paused, breathing in deep and wrinkling her nose again. She coughed and gestured loosely to the air. "Do you smell that? Do you think that scent is the herb? It would have to be in large quantities to be in the air, wouldn't it?"</span>