“The parents have decided we are settled and trustworthy around children.”
Liam was offended. “Does that mean that those aboard theCaltidid not trust us?”
Ondry put his food down and studied Liam, his expression more concerned. “We were open in our desire to return to Prarownt one day. I believe parents kept a certain distance because we were not settled.”
That made no sense. Liam knew full well that Rownt children were devoted to their parents, and didn’t care about the rest of the world. That egocentrism only vanished as they grew up and desired status. “Why would they care if we were around their children?”
“It would be awkward if we admired another’s child.”
Liam raised his eyebrows and waited for any explanation that made sense. In return, he earned a hearty huff.
After a pause long enough to imply that Liam was missing the obvious, Ondry said, “If we compliment the town’s children, it will be taken as a sign that we are ready to care for a child of our own. However, we did not intend to stay on theCalti. No mother wishes to entrust her eggling to untested parents who might leave at any time. If the parents kept their children away, then we could not compliment them, and so the lack of a youngling on our door can be dismissed as the mothers respecting our lack of interest.”
“Wait.” Liam’s brain had been rewired. “Are you telling me that we see children now because the town is encouraging us to raise a child?”
“They no longer object if we wish to raise a child.”
Liam considered the smallest eggling clinging to the female several tables over. The child grabbed a piece of meat and chewed at it. Considering how tough Rownt meat was, Ondry felt sorry for the little one. Then the mother took a piece of partially chewed meat out of her mouth and traded.
“Do you wish to raise a child?” Ondry asked. He stole a slice of Liam’s bulfa’s fruit. Two seconds after he bit into it, his features twisted with disgust.
“I hadn’t even thought about it.”
Ondry flared his nostrils.
Liam was more aware of the gazes on him than he had been in centuries. Resting his hand on his chin, he said in a voice loud enough that the Rownt around them could hear if they chose to pay attention, “That is a particularly attractive eggling.”
Ondry’s face tightened in pleasure. “He is.”
The Greatest Profit
Liam came out of thebathing room, unsurprised to see Ondry had already left. Holva had new pottery that should be finished today, and Ondry had never stopped worrying about Liam’s need for sleep. Liam remembered how humans would talk about how relationships grew stale if partners didn’t work at it, but being with Ondry never took effort. Ondry always put Liam’s needs first and Liam always felt the same about Ondry’s needs.
Of course that was easy when Ondry’s main need was to show up some tuk-ranked trader from another city who thought Ondry’s relatively smaller size meant that he could be taken advantage of. After centuries of living with Ondry, Liam had discovered his own mean streak.
He’d never felt that way about anyone on the ship, but in some ways life was kinder on a ship. Space demanded that individuals work together to a far greater extent. Now that they were back on Prarownt, Liam enjoyed inflicting a little humiliation on those who underestimated him and Ondry. He pulled his clothes on and used his computer to pull up trading information and personal messages.
