501 - A Tangled Nest

"First Woman of the Mahid?"  Inensa looked up from her book.  It was one of the youngest of the surviving Mahid girls, Jorasa.  "Is it permitted to speak to you?"
"Certainly."  She reminded herself that the stoicism was no longer the norm, deliberately twitched a tiny smile and nodded at the chair opposite.  She sat in the library, in one of the quiet rooms, the skylight shining indirect light