just go see if she needs any assistance.”
She scurried off as Baralt gave a frustrated growl.
“Let her go,” Izzie said softly. “This really isn’t the time or place.”
“Do you know what she was talking about?” he asked.
“Some of it. But it’s not my story to tell.”
“Females,” he said in disgust. “I’m going to bathe.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
After Baralt stalked off, Izzie considered following him but decided it would be better to let his temper cool, although she suspected it was frustration rather than anger behind his sudden departure. Instead, she walked over to where Zemma and the stranger were standing over the paxha.
“Izzie, this is Laralla. She is the finest zuraach in this or any other tribe.”
Laralla looked up and flashed her a friendly smile. “And this is the finest paxha that I have ever seen. Your mate is a very skilled hunter.”
Pleasure filled Izzie at this female’s praise of Baralt. “He’s very special,” she agreed.
“I must begin before the scales begin to decay. I want to capture every detail.” Laralla smiled again. “And I am sure that you are ready to start preparing the feast, Zemma.”
As Izzie watched in fascination, Laralla bent over the paxha. She began by placing a thin layer of cloth beneath each of the fins so that they were easily distinguished from the rest of the body. After making a few notes in an elaborate leather-bound notebook, she scattered a fine substance over the paxha, making sure that every inch was covered. Then she unrolled a long, wide sheet of what looked like a very fine paper. She positioned it carefully over the body, then took a soft brush and worked the paper against the scales.
Izzie finally realized that she was essentially making a rubbing of the paxha. That explained the clarity of the image in Baralt’s bedroom, but somehow the process transformed the fearsome-looking creature into a fine work of art.
Both she and Zemma watched as Laralla worked quickly but with exquisite attention to detail. After she finished with the tail, she waited a few minutes and then very carefully removed the paper.
“There. I have no more need of the body.”
“What do you do next?” Izzie asked.
“I will take this back to my studio and lay in the colors. The machi powder captures the texture, and then I add the shading. The end result is an image that can be transferred to wherever Baralt would like it.”
“Did you do the one in his bedroom? It’s beautiful.”
Laralla looked pleased. “Thank you. It was a fine specimen, but this…this is the best I have ever seen. It is an honor to render it.”
Carefully rolling up the paper, Laralla nodded and hurried away.
“I had no idea,” Izzie murmured.
“It’s fascinating, is it not? I wanted to be a zuraach when I was a child.” Sadness crossed Zemma’s face, but then she pushed it aside and grinned at Izzie. “Now comes the messy part.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that the paxha has to be skinned and cleaned in order to be prepared for the feast.”
Izzie gave the creature a disgusted look. “Really? And we have to do it?”
“It is tradition that the females of the household prepare the paxha.” Zemma paused, then her eyes sparkled with mischief. “But many things are changing these days. I wonder if Baralt’s admirers would care to assist.”
Izzie looked down into the main cavern and saw that the crowd of young warriors were still clustered below. One of them looked up and saw her watching. Before he could duck his head and look away, she gestured for him to come and join them. He raced up the ramp looking pleased and nervous.
“Yes, mistress? Did you summon me?”
“I did. While we are of course thrilled that my mate had such a successful hunt, the creature is so large and there are only two of us to prepare it. I was wondering if perhaps you and your friends could assist?” She all but batted her eyes at him, and she saw Zemma laughing behind his back.
He looked first shocked, then thoughtful, then finally excited. “Of course we would be happy to help. And perhaps you could reward us with tales of your mate’s prowess while we worked.”
She almost laughed at the casual way he slipped that in, but it was a small price to pay not to have to touch the paxha.
“I don’t know that many stories, but I could tell you about one of his fights? If you would like that.”
He grinned. “I look forward to it.