“You call those boots? My darling, those are atravesty.But no matter. This is your first time, after all. And not a bad effort at that. Although your hair . . .” She stopped moving and talking. I found her intense silence even more worrisome than her constant chatter. “Something must be done.”
“I like it how it is,” I said. “Is that orange juice?” I hoped shifting the subject would keep her out of my hair—literally.
“Yes, yes. Orange juice and a light lunch. Hurry, but don’t rush. We’ll meet with Oscar Gray in”—she tapped her finger twice in the air in front of her and a half-dozen time readouts flickered there—“seven minutes. Can I help you with that, my sweet?”
I had been trying to unfold the napkin out of the shape of what I could only assume was a Gordian knot, and wasn’t having much luck.
“No, I can?—”
“Shh. Nonsense,” Elwa’s tone took on a much softer edge. “Eat, Matilda. I am here to help.” She took the napkin gently from me, pulled it easily apart, and placed it in my lap.
All right. If she was here to help, I’d ask some questions. “Do you know what the training is? Abraham mentioned I’d be trained for the gathering.” I took a drink of the orange juice, savoring the rich sweetness. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had it fresh.
“Every year, the galvanized gather. What they do is a matter the galvanized do not share.” She poured hot tea and honey. “First, you will see Oscar; then you will leave with Abraham Seventh to the training compound. When you return here, I will have everything you need prepared for you to represent House Gray at the gathering.
“I must say I am so pleased you have chosen House Gray to represent. You will be quite the talk, darling. Anexhilaratingwonder.”
I assumed that byrepresentingshe meantfighting for.
Great. I could wrestle a feral beast to the ground, but hand-to-hand with another galvanized wasn’t going to be easy. My only advantage was that I could make them hurt.
Of course, they could make me hurt too.
“Are there any things you could tell me about the gathering, since this will be my first time?”
“Don’t worry. I will collect all the information you need. When you return you will have time to study. So. Now. Enjoy lunch. I will be back soon.” She exited the room and shut the door behind her.
I helped myself to the squash soup, salad, croissants, and cheeses, the flavors both familiar and exotic. I wondered if I could get some of the spices used in the meal for the farm. Grandma would love them.
“Tilly?” Neds voice said through the door.
“It’s open,” I called out.
He stepped in, wearing, I noted with just a tinge of jealousy, his own clothes.
“Help yourself.” I waved at the table. “There’s too much for me anyway.”
“I ate,” Right Ned said, but he came over and Left Ned popped a square of cheese in his mouth.
“So, what happened?”
I sighed and leaned back in my chair. “I signed House Gray.”
“Tilly . . .”
“I didn’t want to, but it was that or be auctioned off. All the Houses were watching.”
“All of them?”
“I guess not all. I didn’t see House Orange or House Gold. The rest, though.”
“Nothing good comes out of drawing the attention of the Houses,” Right Ned said.
“Only worse comes of signing with one,” Left Ned said. “Stupid choice, Tilly.”
“It was the only option I had that outlined anything in my favor.”
“What’s in the contract? What did House Gray promise you?” Right Ned asked.
