No matter what she says, I won’t react, she thought.She can sneer at me, insinuate that I have no brain, that I know nothing, that I—She leaned forward. Coming toward her wasn’t an animal but a child.
On Pithan, children were so precious that they were never without an adult nearby. But no one was near this one.
It was a boy, about three years old. He had on trousers with a long, embroidered robe that reached to his knees. His black hair was pulled back into a braid. He was so cute that Bree thought her heart might melt.
When the child got closer, he looked up and saw her. He was so startled that he froze in place.
In the next second, several things happened at once. A little animal that Bree had never seen before ran out of a flower bed, and behind it came a big, burly creature, like a bear with dog legs. The boy started laughing.
The sound so enchanted Bree that it took her a moment to see what was happening. The big animal had bumped into a stone statue of a woman pouring water out of a pitcher. It had been dislodged and was now rocking back and forth.
The little boy was standing still and watching the animals roll about together. He was in the direct path of the falling statue!
Bree jumped up, leaped the few feet to the statue, and caught it just before it landed on the child.
When a man shouted in warning, the child looked back, then ran to him and was picked up. He was a tall, handsome young man, his body thick with muscle. He and the child looked very much alike.
“Thank you.” The man’s voice was full of emotion.
Bree was holding the statue like it was an infant.
He put the boy down. “Here, let me help you with that.” He went to Bree, slid his arms under the statue, and took it from her. But it was too heavy for him to hold. When he dropped it, the head broke off and rolled away. He looked at Bree in shock.
“Sorry,” she murmured. “I tried to save it.”
He was blinking at her in astonishment. “I couldn’t hold that thing. It was too heavy. For me, anyway.”
Bree could feel her face turning red. “My father...” she mumbled. “I’m like him.”
The little boy was clutching the man’s leg. “Tell this lady thank you for saving your life.”
The child looked shy, but then he put his arms out for Bree to pick him up.
“I usually warn people that he’s heavy, but you...” He didn’t finish.
As Bree held the boy, he snuggled his face into her neck.
“He likes you,” the man said. “I’m Tam, Zeon’s son, and this is my son Pilkellan, Piks for short. Are you the princess?”
“I’m Bree, and I’m one of them.” She loved feeling the child in her arms. “The important princess isn’t here right now.”
“You look important to me,” he said. “Have you seen the garden? It’s the pride of my father.” He held out his arms, Piks went to him, and Tam set him down. “Go home to Mamá and stay away from those two creatures.”
The child nodded but from the look in his eyes, he didn’t plan to obey. They watched him walk away.
“My wife is carrying our second child and Piks drives her crazy. We never know where he is.” Tam looked at Bree. “Again, thank you for this.” He gestured to the fallen statue. “I don’t want to think what would have happened if you hadn’t been here and if you weren’t... uh, like your father.”
“Could you not mention this to anyone? My father and I work hard to keep it secret that I’m like him. Of course he’s much stronger than I am, but still...”
Tam’s eyes sparkled. “I know about hiding talents. Before I married my wife, I had no idea that she’s very smart. I thoughtIwould be the leader and I would wisely make all the decisions.”
Bree gave a one-sided smile. “That’s different from a wife who can pick up the man and toss him across the room.”
“But that would be one exciting wedding night!”
They both laughed and she was pleased that he didn’t make her feel like a freak. He indicated the garden and they began walking.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” he said, “but why are you here?”
