After drinking half the water, she poured most of the soup from her bowl back into the tureen and pretended to sip from the bowl again.
Tonight's dinner would be some of the snacks she’d packed in Myrum’s stuff.
Myrum and Lorse were talking about the outpost and all the ways Lorse had decorated it. He talked at length on the reasons he’d chosen each item. Myrum did a good job of appearing interested, even asking an occasional question.
She didn’t think he was going to be able to turn the conversation to Lorse’s father when he managed it with one simple question.
“Do any of your family ever visit you?”
“Most of them live on Apicore; that’s our homeworld,” Lorse explained. “Two of my siblings and one parent have made the long journey, but none of them stayed long.”
“I don’t even know the names of your family,” Myrum said.
“Well, my parents are Jishorn and Sashon,” he said. “I have seven siblings.”
As he named them, Amina marveled at having such a large family. Then Lorse hit them with, “But, of course, my family isn’t that big. What about you?” he asked.
Myrum named his parents and sister but then turned the conversation back to Lorse’s family.
“You said one of your parents came to visit, was that your father or your mother?” Myrum asked.
“Right now both my parents are female, so they’re both my mothers,” Lorse explained between bites.
Amina’s head shot up from where she was pretending to sip her soup. Thankfully Myrum sounded a rumble of confusion loud enough to cover her. “What do you mean your parents are both mothers now?” Myrum asked.
Lorse chuckled. “I see you don’t know about that aspect of Ossiso biology. I’m not surprised; we don't tend to talk about it. Let me explain. We are all born female. At some point before we reach full adulthood we transition to male, and that first time is called oursisum. After that we switch randomly throughout our lives; those are calledsisort. Our scientists think they’re more likely to happen if we’re surrounded by the same sex, and that’s why I have all female attendants at the outpost. My lastsisortwas more painful than normal. I don’t want to go through it again. So far it’s worked, and I’ve remained male for years.”
“Does that mean your staff is more likely to enter intosisort?” Myrum asked.
Lorse made a dismissive sound. “They are all shaded souls. They don’t feel pain like a clear soul does. It doesn’t bother themas much. It does mean I have to send for souls more often and am chronically understaffed.” He let out a long-suffering sigh. “I miss the era before the war when it was easy to find staff. I look forward to when the war is finally over.”
This was the opening they needed. Amina held her breath, but before Myrum could continue the conversation about the war, Lorse leaned in close. He lifted a hand and ran it down the back of Myrum’s head.
“Unless you’d rather I was female,” Lorse purred. “I’m willing to go through anothersisortfor you.”
Amina almost dropped her bowl. Lorse wasn’t just obsessed with Myrum, he was in love with him.
Chapter 21
Myrum
Before now, Myrum wouldn’t have thought he’d be grateful for a talkative person. He’d worked with individuals who liked to converse about anything and everything and had always found them mildly annoying.
Lorse’s ability to talk without taking a break was covering for Myrum’s floundering brain.
After offering to become female for Myrum, Lorse didn’t wait for an answer. He talked about how he could hire all male staff and that would guarantee asisortto female.
Myrum only half listened while Lorse listed the staff he could hire and that he could invite some of his currently male cousins to visit.
Even though he should be steering the conversation back to Lorse’s parent, Jishorn, something about Lorse’s touch had stirred vague memories.
“Did you feed me?”
He didn’t expect that question to come out of his mouth until he heard the words. Lorse paused and made a yes sound.
“You were so weak that I rested your back against my front and slowly dripped broth into your mouth. I was so excited when you were able to drink directly from the bowl.”
As he spoke, Lorse placed a hand on Myrum’s wrist. He gave a slight squeeze then drew back. Using both hands, he offered a plate of food.
