The nights have been long and loud. In the large house, the only three occupants were Saliko, Zahaer, and their month-old newborn Súfyan. To say the least, the house was always banked in unnerving silence on the outside. Zahaer was always work—Saliko was traditionally tasked with the care of the child, the heir to their legacy.
And what a legacy it was supposed to be. What a long journey to end up here; the new lands felt small, the taste of the air to the blow of the wind so different than home. The setting of the sun and even it's shine felt foreign and unwelcoming. Once more to say the least, Saliko felt unwelcome. Threatened, even, to go as far as saying that she couldn't envision prosperity by means as simple as they had had it. Their fortune sat, waiting to enter the roads of trade once more; plenty for the time being, but each expense, Saliko only saw it depleting, depleting.
And it terrified her. Saliko was terrified of losing the small fortune shared between herself and her husband. At night, beside him upon their bed, with the dying flow of the furnace growing cold, she convinced herslef that everyone else saw and believed as much as her that they were a dying flame in power and riches. She believed that, though everyone denied it it being a dying flame, that they secretly planned to hoard as much as they could and eventually swipe out the fortune for themselves.
She feared even Zahaer silently planned to betray her. It's why she had to betray him first, of course. It wasn't that she didn't love him, either; it was nothing like that. She just couldn't trust him and his decisions.
Varyne wasn't an ideal first target to begin with. She met with a challenging gaze, knowing full well how much they relied on her at the current time. Her position was power and there was no one that could replace her; to openly decieve her would be a mistake.
The only she could pick and tear at was sweet, young Saidda. The healer whom had made the journey from Harad to here, leaving behind her mentor and her family, any loves or regrets abandoned. She was timid, and perhaps didn't understand how much they relied on her, for she never rose her voice against the demand; she was agreeable in any matter, with averted eyes and a stuttering 'yes, my lady'. Saliko had once been kind to her, even toying the idea of acting a degree of motherly, before her son had been born.
But deep within, Saliko had come to believe that act of timid nature was just an act. If she pushed enough, the wicked nature within her would burst, and there would be reason to prosecute her! There was one feasible way to insure that this went right, in Saliko's racing mind.
A visit to her serene, warm, homey room of operation was due. She did not mask her disgust of the woman any longer; it was an act, she was not truly afraid of her, beneath those soft features was a monster filled with avarice. That was her sin, a disguised one, with gluttony desiring to break free when she had the upperhand that no one would see until too late. Firstly, she tasked the woman with the care of her child for the evening; second, had herself administered with tea mixture of chamomile so that she could finally find sleep in the night. Thirdly, thirdly came her strike of plan.
The healer made twenty silver a week. Upon questioning, she claimed to send it to her family back home. What utter lies, Saliko believed; there was no doubt within her that there was a chest brimming with golds-worth of silver, perhaps even entire gold pieces from exchange at the bank. It must be cut off—with a hint of glee in her tone, Saliko made judgment to cut her pay in half.
Saidda, as usual per act, was quite agreeable with a duck of her head. Surely seething though, nearly rueful enough to make her strike...But there was no retaliation.
But Zahaer had to stick his nose into the conflict. He not only fixed her pay back up, no, but changed it to twenty-five silver a week! An additional fifteen to be just for purchasing of medicines and supplies! Saliko had nearly fainted upon the spot; Varyne was caught between obeying the Lord or Lady to administer the changes, but at this point, Saliko appeared to sink into submission, falling short of protesting.
So she could not trust her husband with the spending. She could not trust to make her measures official ones—he would see change done by Varyne. She had a final plan, anyhow.
A final trip to Saidda to let her know how it would be done. With a violent tone, Saliko informed her of the changes Zahaer had made; perhaps the healer knew things were about to get worst despite the changes, for she shrunk back and spoke carefully.
Saliko demanded that ten silver of her pay be given to her in secret, starting the next week. For the first time, Saidda seemed to begin to crack, planting the idea that she may refuse with this kind of abuse; there was no hesitation, and the Lady struck her.
With struggling composure, Saidda finally agreed.
