She looked up at the doorway. “Oh, hello, Commander. You’re back early.”
“No.”
She looked at a timer tucked under her cushion. “Dead realms, I’ve read all day. I thought Melsint would come up. She usually does with tea or a quick scramble.”
“The kitten’s gone to her family for a few days. Had to rush. Unexpected celebration for the brother.”
“Oh, that’s exciting. What happened?”
“He earned a school sponsorship.”
“Well done him. Those are hard to come by.”
“Not if your brother-in-law is friends with the Chief of Education Oversight.”
“Ev? He arranged it for the boy?”
He nodded.
“Does she know?”
“No.”
She smiled.
He turned to go.
“Rocurt?”
“Yes?”
“Evston was invited to a masked party.” She ran a hand through the wisps of her hair.
“Last of the Two Suns?” he said.
“Yes. I take it’s a certain sort of party?”
He nodded.
“He hasn’t mentioned it, but I saw it on his com. He’d marked it for later review. Does he normally go?”
“He does. He’s been chosen as an overseer of pet owners, so he’s required to attend at least every other year.”
“The invitation was cryptic, but looked intriguing. Have you been?”
“A long time back. Not to my taste.”
“Do you think he intends to take me with him if he goes?”
“I’m sure he’s considering it.”
She relaxed back into the seat. “I thought he might want to go alone so he’d be free to do things.”
“Alone or not, he’ll be free to do whatever he wants. He’s an owner. Not a pet.”
She flushed. “So, it’s all men and the girls they own?”
“It’s owners, male and female, and some pets that they own, male and female. There are also some invited guests, friends of members, prospective owners.”
