In the Skin of a Nunqua Read Online Free PDF

something.”
    *
    Shanti’s nose twitched as she entered the apothecary. The cloying aroma of incense turned her stomach. Spices lined the shelves, and black leeches squirmed in a bucket of water. Tobacco leaves hung from nails on the ceiling, and barrels of animal parts rested on the floor: sharks’ teeth, bear claws, desiccated cougar hearts, bull scrota. A sign on the wall read “ Confidentiality Guaranteed .”
    Leanna took her arm and led her to a section with jars behind glass, labeled “hemlock” and “opium.” Shanti picked up a tourniquet with a metal turning mechanism.
    “Mossgail’s been black-marketing our supplies,” Leanna whispered. “This shelf represents a mere handful of the things he’s stolen. He has buyers all over the kingdom. Never sells his stock to just one place—makes it harder to trace.”
    A woman emerged from the back room. Body paint of a moon and stars accentuated her exposed cleavage. Designs of mythical creatures covered her feet and hands, and her hair was dyed an inky black. Her mannerisms and appearance were crafted to give the impression of a witch, as if power were something one could put on or take off like a robe.
    “Good afternoon, ladies.” The saleswoman smiled. “What are you interested in today: love, revenge, fertility?”
    “Sleeping potion,” Leanna said. “A very strong sleeping potion.”
    “Right this way.”
    Shanti continued to inspect the contents of the store, pausing at jars of snake venom.
    “Hiet va shay.” A Nunqua man came out of the back room and stared at Shanti. “Hiet va shay.” Spots covered his skin, and he wore a black coat over a blue vest. His long hair was oiled and braided.
    Leanna backed away from the man and bumped into a display of fortune-telling cards.
    The saleswoman admonished the man, “Stay in the storage room. Customers aren’t used to Nunqua. My apologies—he’s one of my suppliers.”
    Shanti stood her ground, wondering what the medicine man sensed in her. “ Hiet tae, ” she said. The saleswoman had a seductive quality, and the Nunqua man was fine looking, though a bit thin for Shanti’s tastes. A thought occurred to her. “Isc taka no schira?” (Is she your woman?)
    The man laughed and answered in the Nunqua language, saying the saleswoman would rather die than take a Nunqua man as a mate.
    Was Shanti truly the only half-breed? “Deape na tey vuy a?” (Do you know who I am?)
    “Yes,” he replied in Willovian.
    He must have seen her fighting in the arenas during her time with the Nunqua. Damn. A Nunqua man in Willovia. If this medicine man could get here, so could Caravey. “May I see your arms?” she said.
    He lifted his sleeves. Manly hair and spots covered his skin, but no scars made by the blade of a sword. He wasn’t a warrior.
    “Do not speak of me,” Shanti said.
    He gestured to the sign guaranteeing confidentiality and bowed before returning to the storage room.
    Leanna bought a yellow powder. They left the apothecary and walked down the street to a tavern.
    “Problems falling asleep?” Shanti asked.
    Two other women who worked at the infirmary were already seated inside the tavern. They joined them at the table. “I need your help,” Leanna said to Shanti. “I’m going to take the medical supplies that belong to us.”
    “This isn’t my fight.” Shanti said.
    Men passed by and nodded, eyeing her companions. The waitress brought over a round of drinks from an admirer.
    “You work with us,” Leanna said. “You see what’s happening. Mossgail tried to buy you with that armband. I’ve exhausted all legitimate means of getting the supplies we need. The soldiers suffer from this injustice.”
    “You’re the only one who can help,” the others chimed in.
    Shanti sipped her drink. “I’m flattered, but I won’t steal.”
    “It’s not stealing if it’s rightfully ours.” Leanna traced the rim of her cup. “I see appealing to your integrity won’t work. What were you and the