“Oh,” I murmured. A little overwhelmed, I realized I didn’t know how to handle all these niceties, all these gifts being thrown my way. Her expression dropped a little and I said quickly, clutching the rock, “They are wonderful. Thank you. It’s just…I, um, had the same clothes for years. I didn’t expect all this.” I gestured over the garments she’d created for me.
She frowned. “You cannot expect to wear the same clothes every day,lirilla. These will be sufficient until I can finish your shawl and then begin on another set.”
Blinking, I protested, not wanting her to waste time on something unnecessary. “These will be more than enough for me. Truly.”
“It keeps me busy,” she said, her tone a little defensive. “I enjoy the work.”
Sucking in a small breath, I bit the inside of my cheek, fearing that once again, I was insulting another Dakkari.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I’m terrible at this.”
“Terrible at what,lirilla?”
I thoughtlirillawas a pretty word too and I told her, “I don’t know your customs. I don’t know what to say so I don’t hurt anyone’s feelings. What I meant was that I’m used to not having many things. I wouldn’t want you to waste your time making garments for me when you could spend that time for others in your horde.”
Understanding dawned on her face, though it was subtle. There was a calmness about her, a steadiness and a patience that I envied.
She reached out to touch my clothed forearm and I stared at her hand.
“For one,lirilla,” she said, stepping closer when she cast a look at the growing crowd, “always accept gifts given by the Dakkari.”
A terrible thought occurred to me. “Did I insult your father yesterday morning by not taking the bread?”
Her soft chuckle made me feel better. “He is an old male who does and feels what he pleases. He has earned that right with his age. He likes to laugh and he said you made him laugh. That is all you need to know.”
Thinking of the dagger the demon king had given me last night, the dagger that I had tucked into the deep pockets of my pants, alongside the leftovers I’d wrapped again that morning, I asked, “Do you give something to someone who’s given you a gift?”
“Only if you wish to,” she assured me, “but reciprocation is not expected.”
There were a thousand questions bubbling up in my head but I decided to hold my tongue. She was being kind enough to explain these things to me and I didn’t want to take advantage of it.
Instead, I said, “Thank you.” I opened my mouth, about to introduce myself, before I realized that I wasn’t supposed to give out my name.
“Lysi?” she asked, tilting her head to the side.
Sheepishly, I said, “I was told not to give my name out, but among humans, it is polite to introduce yourself to someone new.”
Wasn’t it? I frowned, realizing I hadn’t spoken my name in a long time. At least until yesterday. Before then, when was the last time I’d told someone my name?
I couldn’t remember.
“Lirilla,” she informed me.
“What?”
“It is what females call one another when they have become acquainted, but are not yet friends.”
Not yet friends.
Hope and longing burst in my chest so suddenly that it surprised me.
“And there is a possibility to become friends?”
Her eyes darted between mine. “Lysi,” she said softly. “If you wish.”
I nodded, wondering if I should hide my excitement or not. Except for Blue, I’d never truly had a friend. Jana had perhaps been the closest to it, but the label seemed strange attached to her.
“I wish that,” I told her softly, giving her a small smile. She didn’t look to be much older than I was, though she had a young son. I wondered if that meant she had a mate. “Lirilla.”
