He feeds me another piece. “I was like you when I first arrived. Confused and scared. I waited for days for someone to come and rescue me. Eventually I realized that I was on my own. Everyone was too busy fighting. When I left my ship, I found this place.”
“Did the little lights lead you?”
He hesitates. “Yes. They are mostly friendly.”
Mostly.What was their connection to the city?
“And then what happened?”
“I slowly changed. I no longer fall.” He holds up his hand. “Some days I’m not sure I recognize myself.”
“And that will happen to me?”
“Eventually.” He gives me a fangless smile. “If someone came now, I wouldn’t be able to leave. I’m part of this world.”
I’m not sure if he’s being serious or if he just believes that because he’s been here too long by himself. How will he cope off this planet? Maybe it’s the world that’s kept him alive this long and if he leaves, he’ll die. “Tell me more about this place.”
“Like what? You’ve seen the city.”
“Where do you keep the fresh meat? Do you gather the vegetables for every meal?” If I have to be here, I need to know how to live. I have to make it a home.
“There is a cold store. The vegetables are grown down the mountain where it’s warmer. You are inquisitive.” He feeds me another piece of meat.
I chew, taking a moment to savor the morsel.
“I want to know about the world beyond. Tell me how the war ended.”
That doesn’t seem like a great idea, given his reaction earlier. “Um…”
“I will keep my composure this time.” He smiles and feeds me a crispy vegetable.
“When the prince’s ship was destroyed, the alliance fell apart. That’s all I know.” I’d done a little reading about the system on my way over.
His expression tightens, and his claws flex, reminding they are black and hooked like wicked little knives. “My ship wasn’t destroyed. It crashed here.” He raises his voice. “And if I’d been allowed to leave my people wouldn’t be dead!”
His words echo and settle.
I’m eating with the last Selouan Prince.
