Dare Ink Stains

[Enomi Hemoshi]

The whisper of the brush against paper was almost loud in the silent office space where Enomi worked. The young calligrapher worked with a steady hand. The ink spreading every so lightly across the high quality paper, it's thickness and the weave of the fibers helping to prevent further blur. Words for blessing, health, protection, things that people hoped would enter their lives. Finishing the last stroke, she dipped her brush into water to clean out the left over ink, before laying it down on the table to dry. Other papers that had been painted earlier lay drying on other surfaces, all tests of different inks that she was working to develop. Different mixtures to make a bolder stroke on the page, different amounts of water added to the powders to test how the ink would run.

Some that she knew immediately wouldn't work, Enomi gathered the papers tossing them into the bin that would be reused. The paper broken down again and fibers bleached before being used to create a new piece of paper. The rest she left to dry further. She was just about to mix another composition when the sound of the bell above the door dinged lightly. Setting down her work, she moved out of the back office and toward the store front. Her mother might have scolded her for working, but Enomi loved being able to help the patrons find just what they were looking for among the shelves. Plus it was a nice way to stop and pause in her experimentations before she got too frustrated when things didn't work out perfectly.

"Welcome." She greeted a soft smile, giving a light bow at the waist. "If you need help finding what you are looking for please let me know." Enomi moved to wait behind the counter, gathering up some of the new deliveries of paper and bound notebooks to go put them out on the shelves as she thought over the next combination of ingredients she might try. Her family had a recipe that had been passed down through the generations, but she knew that she could make it better. Yet perhaps the missing piece wasn't something that she could produce in the first place.

 

[Nokoribi]

"Thank you." The Deva kept her horns low as she bowed courteously. Her eyes making only a sideways glance at the shop's proprietor while she pretended to sift through notebooks and scrolls. The caligraphy on display amongst the walls was certainly impressive, and she took time to read each and every word.

Impressive, but her hands clenched and shook. Memories flooded, how she would beat her hands bloody on the wooden training posts, in the rain or snow, and with fingers nearly broken her father would placed a quill between them. 'Write,' he would say. 'Even when you are broken, you will be civil,' and so he made her write letters to lords and associates of his house, the vagabond swordsman who knew so many names. She wrote each and every day, and when the blood from her knuckles stained the page he would rip it away and tear it up and she would start again.

Noko's chest heaved, and she grabbed the nearest shelf, her vision blurry, her legs quaking. She drew in deep breaths, she was stronger than this, her father made her stronger than this.

"Miss?" She turned to ask Enomi, her face as white as a ghost. "May I ask of your talents? I have an important request, if you are willing. I have coin," though not very many, but, this was for him.

 

[Enomi Hemoshi]

Notebooks with blank pages, some decorated with various words of blessings on the front, others with stylized drawings of the Raakgui from the Intendent Houses. A variety of options meant to entice someone into buying. Stacks of paper of various qualities and sizes. Quills and brushes from different feathers and hairs. Inks and waxes in dozens of colors, stamps for the wax. Anything that could be needed when writing.

The door chimed again and another figure entered. "Good day Lady Enomi." Spoke the smartly dressed scholar. While not her appropriate title, she didn't rightly care. It helped if people didn't know that she was a Princess Intendent. None of the extra bowing and scrapping. She was sure someone would recognize her eventually, but she would enjoy the anonymity while she could.

"I have your weekly order right here, Lord Gani." Enomi said as she pulled the package from under the counter. "Should I have the same prepared for next week?" She asked placing it on the counter.

"You are a blessing." The old scholar said as he took the package and placed a bag of coins on the table. "Yes, that would be perfect. It helps to keep my research steady by having enough paper."

"House Hemoshi is glad to serve. Have a pleasant afternoon my Lord." She said with a small polite bow as the elder left. It was then she heard a quiet voice called out from among the rows of shelves and Enomi looked up. "Of course. What is it that you are needing help with?" She asked as she walked over to join the Deva, concern crossing her features when she saw the paleness in the other woman's face. "Perhaps you should sit down first. You look nearly ready to faint." The calligrapher attempted to lead the Deva over to a seat by the register.