[Gitana Chumomisto]

"Here, let me see your talvia, Tana. Did you make it yourself?"

Gitana held out the length of green wool. It was elaborated embroidered throughout with brilliant yellow. They were not a color combination she would have chosen for herself, but her baba had insisted. These were the colors she would use and the scarf would stand out--beautiful! You do not want the gaje to think it too plain for one of our own, avrah? her baba had asked her. "My baba Beatrizia made it for me. I'm not so skilled at weaving to make such a piece."

"So then do you know how to fake it, Tana? I see some parts here have come lose from the stands that keep them hidden. How have you managed not to catch yourself?" The woman turned the talvia about in her hands, looking over the tinkling metal bits. Indeed, some of them had come a little loose.

"I've just been careful," Tana responded with a slight gesture of her hand...as if to indicate it was nothing at all.

Simza's expression was amused as she handed the talvia back to her. "I heard you are not so good at being careful. Nonetheless, there is less damage to it than I expected. But let me teach you to first mend the talvia. It is pointless to get started if it is already in a position to be wielded, avrah?" She gestured to Gitana to follow her, led her over to a felled log and there they sat, the woman removing a sewing kit from a pouch hanging at her side. It was small, but large enough for a spool of thread and a needle. Gitana had learned that Simza was a silversmith and wondered if she had made it herself. "Here you are. Thread the needle now and show me how you would fix these back into place."