“She does.”She sent a text to Salat, and he replied,“Excellent.Baola is with us this week, and she’s been desperate to get into the city.I would be glad to take Kessie around.”
“Hemma will be coming along as a chaperone.”
“That will be fun.I always wanted to turn some girls loose on a live range.I just got Sorooth’s authorization.”
“Fine, but you are the responsible adult.Remember that.”
A laughing cat emoji filled her screen.
She exhaled.“Okay, his step-daughter is in town tomorrow, and she wants to have fun in the city, and Kessie is welcome to go with them, and Hemma is going to come with to chaperone.”
Sorooth smiled.“Well, is there anything else we can do here?”
Aluhara grinned.“I would never get in the way of a heat, so I suppose we can just finish up, hug, and then try to make arrangements to meet again.”
Keska grinned, took the statue of her, and gave it to Sorooth.“You can’t keep me.You can keep all of us.”
She handed over the group statue, and Aluhara smiled.“I haven’t met half of them.”
“Then, you have many more reunions to look forward to.”
She walked over and hugged Aluhara.“I am learning.Every time I meet someone new, I am learning.Mother Aluhara, it has been delightful to meet you.”
“It has been wonderful meeting you, daughter.It’s nice that at least my hair overwrote Nelith’s genes.”
Keska laughed.“Thank you.You were way too serene.”
Aluhara grinned.“I used to kick ass on a regular basis, now I only have my beloved Hedoreth to pick on.He takes it, but we negotiate afterward.”
“Well, if I could ever get a confirmation that I would be safe at the stronghold, I might try to visit once.I just don’t want to hurt anyone.I will be so tense it won’t be funny.”
Aluhara nodded.“I believe I understand.Youknowwhat happened to Nelith.”
“It was the same time I got pregnant with Kessie.I think our minds linked, and she may have been calm, but the pain burned me.That atonement had a result, and her child is here in the city.At least her hands grew back.”
Aluhara paled.“Oh.”
“And she was the same height then as Kessie is now.Two rutting bastards were willing to attack a woman who looked like a child.”
“Oh, gods.Okay.I will talk to the royal family.And thank you.Your wariness makes much more sense.”
“Yup.”Another soft pulse started running through her.She walked to the door of the private room and spoke to the hostess.A few seconds later, the bill was there, already paid.
Keska sighed.“Who paid for it?”
Klauz came out of the kitchen.“I did.You don’t take advantage of your partnership nearly enough.”
“Fine, but if Salat shows up with three young women tomorrow, put it on my tab.”
Klauz grinned.“Done.”
Sorooth put his arm around her waist.“Ready?”
“Yup.Apparently, the big purple doofus comped the bill.”
Hedoreth frowned.“Why?”
Klauz said with delight, “She’s a partner in the business.Has been since the capitol.She has an instinct for where to put her money.”
