Snippet #2650542

7th Breh 3528 C.E.,
Signed, Mazha Phrina

Madame Phrina placed the quill down, and rolled her fingers before picking it up again.

She breathed a sigh and craned her sore neck, letting loose a few pops before she returned to her task. She worked beneath the light filtering from the large arch just above her workroom. One hand was settled on attempting to complete several forms for her back taxes. She owed a significant portion of gold to the Imperials, and they had repeatedly threatened to vacate her colosseum by force. The vocal threats felt insufferable and ever unwarranted. Their mouths often shut once the coins fell into their pockets. It was the price to pay to live on their land, do business on their land, and be protected on their land.

That one hand managed a quill on the thick stack of papyrus while her attention was elsewhere.

The other hand leafed through several pages of the daily combat records, a list of fighters slated to appear in the arena and their opponents among other information.

She glanced back and forth between her tome and the tax records.

A young boy out of breath reached her open door, "Madame Phrina.."

His name was Ehlan.

"Yes, Ehlan?"

Ehlan was one of her many messengers who relayed the results of each battle to her. She had no particular desire to sit through each individual match when she had other work to take care of.

She looked at his round eyes. Never a day has gone by that she is in awe at the blood that the boy has seen, and yet his eyes still remain bright. They will darken once he has taken a life for himself.

Ehlan caught his breath, "Tumhathil won his."

"Thank you Ehlan," she replied.

He nodded with a satisfied smiled, and disappeared down the hall leaving her alone once again. She was never truly alone though, for she could hear the echoes of the crowds roaring from the colosseum. She could tell a flurry of bets were being placed. Occasionally a piercing scream could be heard, she knew it was someone who had lost his family fortune.

She returned to the tome and flipped to Tumhathil and crossed off his opponent's name for the day's fight.

"The 'Lion' made short work of his opponent," a honeyed male voice came from the door where the young messenger stood only moments ago.

Phrina looked up to see the marred face of her long time friend, Dhaxi. He did not don his usual robes today it seemed, appearing rather relaxed in his white thawb and brown kufi. He had a bit of a shadow growing, she thought it out of character considering he preferred to be clean shaven always. Almost always.

She smiled from the corner of her mouth, before she oped warmly, "Marḥaban. Sleep well?"

"Salaam alaikum. The gods willed it. It seems you are busy, if not I would have invited you to attend a match and then shahan ful."

Phrina's smile deepened before her eyes returned to her records, "You know I do not watch the fights personally, it is more business than entertainment to me."

"Yes, your continued absence among the maenianum is ever felt. The boy is fighting today."

She managed a chuckle at his quip.

"The Black Hammer of Noro," she flickered a glance at his figure before returning to her papyrus, "Clearly another 'short work' to be made."

"If not him, then maybe one of the others. A considerable lot of interesting characters will be making their pay today."

She continued writing, "You seem questionably relaxed this morning. Even if Syel'Breh is coming, I'm rather surprised to ever see you so contented."

The corners of his mouth raised in pleasure, "Contented? Perhaps. I was merely informed by one of my people that Zilindar managed to acquire a wanted Duuthesh thief. She's withering away in one of his rat infested cells. I'll see how the fractious fool will worm his way out of things when the first Imperial soldiers show up in town with warrants for her arrest."

Lovely. And while they were at it, they could get on her case regarding the taxes. She rolled her eyes, things would take care of themselves, she was sure.

"Shahan ful, you said?"