“Why is it important?”
“Because the average Uraddan is being written off as minimally active and a burden to the Aksallan system.We can’t all be Jeneev.”
Hemma cocked her head.“Can you make me a mask?I don’t want to run into trouble in the neighbourhood or when going for groceries.”
Keska smiled.“I can make you a mask.Will you go all out?”
“I will.I will ask Bixadra to come with me, and she can be the light show.”
“Nice.I will give you both a bonus.”
Hemma snorted.“You don’t need to, but I do need a bodyguard for Bixadra and me so we can get home safely.Ekbert is not appropriate for it.”
Keska nodded.“Right.I might be out of town, so I will ask around.”
Sorooth raised two fingers.“I believe that I can find two to four men who are suitable for bodyguard duty.This is the Uraddan celebration?”
Hemma smiled.“Yes, Keska wants me singing in front of fifteen hundred Uraddans and the Aksallans who show up to watch.Pervs.”
“Well, I did make a really nice set of evocative images for the dreams of freedom float.”
“How nice for you.”Hemma twisted her lips wryly.She opened her com and tapped a message out.“If Bexadra says yes, we are going to need about fifteen hours of practice.”
Keska looked around.“Here?”
“No.We need somewhere where there aren’t others.”
“The big house.I will ask Nigel if he minds the noise and the ladies if they will let you rock out for a few days.”
Hemma nodded.“Good.I don’t want to upset Nigel.”
Kessie said, “He let me ride him around the yard.”
“You are his favourite size and smart enough to carry on a conversation.”
Kessie blinked.“He did talk a lot.”
Keska laughed.“He was in a lab with Avagail.That would get me talking.Her silence is terrifying.”
Kessie giggled.
Keska smiled.“Well, we have had tea and cookies.Do you want a tour of the house?”
Hemma smiled, collected the dishes, and put the tea on a tray.Kessie stared as she put one of the trays on her head and picked up the tray, walking back inside.
Keska got up and walked inside.“Hemma, can you do the tour?”
“Sure.Just let me set the dishes down and get them in the washer.”
Hemma tidied up and wiped the counter, putting the trays away.
She rinsed and dried her hands and walked outside with Keska at her side.
“All right, we are here to see what the yard has to offer.Walk with me, and we will see.”
Kessie ran up and took her hand.“Do we have a pool?”
“You have a pool.”Hemma walked her down the steps that elevated the deck and around a bank of hedges.“You have a very big pool.”
