Chapter Six
Tok carried the hugeelk over his shoulders and dropped it in the center of the village for their friends. They all gathered around to pat him on the back, smiling in appreciation. There were no game as large as elk on the paradise planet. He’d brought it fresh from Junistar.
They invited him and the rest of the party from the cave to a feast in honor of the fallen animal. He promised to send his brother and the healer and accepted portions of the smoked meat, expressing his thanks for the hospitality. They asked questions about why he was staying away. He explained that the girl was only with the star crew temporarily and he didn’t want her to see too much.
They nodded understanding. They’d occasionally had to defend themselves from off-world invaders. Concealment was always their best defense, but they trusted the small crew who always abided by their rules and customs when visiting and brought valuable and generous gifts.
A part of Tok wanted to sit in the village center with them to drink and talk while the fire was prepared, but another part of him had his eye on the trail to the underground cave house. He wanted to get back.
He said his goodbyes, promising to come for a community drink on another night. He grabbed his pack and returned to the cave. Inside, he found the trio sitting in the gathering room. She was wrapped in a linen from the bed, talking animatedly, while Wex and Rollow laughed heartily. The scene should’ve cheered him. He’d worried she might be frantic or melancholy during his absence. It was a relief that she was relaxed and seemed content in the crew’s company. Her position on the bunk-sofa next to his brother with her head leaning close, however, needled him.
When her head turned, her attention fixed fully on him, and she leapt up from the couch to come to him. That pleased him.
“Hello,” she said with a tentative smile. “I’m so glad you’re back. Did you find her?”
He nodded. “She’s well.”
“Oh, good!” she said with a smile so full its intensity rivaled a sun. “Did you speak to her? What about her mood and whatnot? Is she homesick?”
“I didn’t speak to her, but she looks content enough.”
The girl’s brow crinkled. “Didn’t speak to her? You promised to move her. How could you do that without talking to her?”
“She’ll be moved soon,” he said, bending to pull out the Canypscan pastry roll he’d gotten from a Junistar bakery. He tossed it to his brother.
“Many thanks,” Wex said, standing. “Saw our friend, did you?”
The girl frowned as Tok nodded.
“I bagged an elk. They’ll roast it in a feast. I spoke for you and Rollow. Go. Bring us back some meat.”
“Good,” Wex said, clapping Tok’s shoulder as he passed. “I’m glad.”
Tok knew he wasn’t talking about the elk. Rollow passed wordlessly.
“I brought you something as well,” he said, pulling out the enclosed puff pastry filled with the rarest sweet cream. He lifted the lid and raised it from the cooling bed.
She took a step back. “You can’t bribe me with a pastry, no matter how rare and expensive it is.”
“I don’t need to bribe you, handmaiden,” he said, stressing the title.
“You left her there,” she accused. “For him to capture?”
“I did,” he said firmly. It twisted something inside him to say so because he saw her disappointment. She had no right to anger, but she was laying claim to it anyway.
“I conveyed your words. I think it may affect his plans for her.”
“You think?”
“He is quiet by nature and by training. He speaks what needs to be spoken and nothing more.”
She turned away.
“I know it made an impression because he commuted your sentence.”
She remained silent.
“One month, not seven. With time served counted since we took you. So you’re nearly done.”
