Character:  Adria<br/>Location:   South of the Arena<br/>Concerning: Walking with Kahru<br/><br/>The warmth of Kahru’s protective hand on her lower back felt good. Adria valued her freedom and reputation. But since Sand had vanished, she’d felt lost. Always, she’d had a protector, a man she could rely on to keep her safe and stand between her and the world and any insults that might be thrown her way. She grinned. It didn’t mean that she hadn’t been Sand’s strong right arm, helping him execute amazing thefts. Standing behind him when he needed her. It was just Adria felt most comfortable when she had a loving, protective man who cared about her to help her navigate the dangerous, often crude world in which she lived.<br/><br/>It was as her small feet followed slightly behind Kahur, making a game of stepping into the footprints that he left behind, that she heard yet another insult about what lay behind her veil, beneath her robes. The sudden violence as Kahru reacted shocked her out of her reverie and caused her to bite back a gasp as Kahru defended her honor like he was her kinsman and not just her husband’s friend. Since Sand had vanished, she had endured so many unanswered insults.<br/><br/>As Kahur demanded an apology, Adria stood straighter, behind Kahru, and held her head high. She waited and neither smiled nor cringed when Kahru exacted a price for the slow-to-apologize man. In the aftermath, Adria stood proudly without commend and then nodded.<br/><br/>When he asked if she would follow him to the bakeries, Adria nodded. “Yes shaqiq. I’d like that.” The term shaqiq was a powerful one that girls would sometimes bestow on men they respected. It meant brother in her community, but a very special kind of brother. It was her way of acknowledging that she had to protect her reputation as a free woman now, because it would reflect on Kahru if she did something inappropriate. It said, this is my brother who may guide me and who I will obey, because his honor is an umbrella that stands over me.” There was nothing sexual about it. And of course, Kahru had no obligation to her unless he chose to accept the role of her protector until Sand returned. He would return. He couldn't be dead.<br/><br/>Shaking off those dark thoughts, she laughed, a silver happy tone. It was perhaps her first happy laugh since Sand disappeared. “I would love to break bread and drink ale with you.” Her eyes held faint concern for him as she saw the drug hit him, but she would never criticize him.<br/>