“Good,” Lorse snapped. He looked over to where two attendants were standing at the back with Gis next to them. “Fetch me somenipka!”
Myrum glanced over at Amina. She flashed him a triumphant smile then ducked her head back down. He allowed himself a moment of pride. He’d done it! He’d managed to plant false information that might cause the Ossiso to refuse Talin help.
The next question was how to extract themselves.
Lorse basically kicked Myrum off the shuttle and remained behind. Gis and Amina were quick to follow him, the shuttle hatch snapping shut the moment they were clear.
Gis spoke up. “We should walk over to the entertainment area. It might take a while for Lorse to figure out how to tell Jishorn what he learned without making it sound insulting.”
Myrum and Amina walked side by side with Gis. Small creatures skittered among the brush surrounding them. Most of the planet was covered in bushes. Some of them were as tall as Myrum, but there weren’t any trees yet.
“Your leadership seems good at taking offense," Amina said.
“Clears are supposed to be above reproach,” Gis said. “They are supposed to be the most wise, noble, and intelligent of all Ossisos. It makes them sensitive to criticism.”
They walked a recently cut path until they got to a temporary platform set up with a smaller version of the dining table up on the outpost.
“They set this up early this morning,” Gis explained. “There’re some drinks here.”
He sat on the edge of the platform and opened a crate. He handed canisters to each of them. Myrum accepted his but didn’t drink. Amina cracked hers open and sipped.
“Oh yes, more intle tea!” she said. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of this stuff.”
Gis gave her a pleased look. “Hisha will be happy to hear that. She fretted a great deal after she was forced to serve you that slop.”
“Slop?” Myrum asked.
“It was nothing,” she said. “Having Lorse in our room was way worse. We need to figure out how to keep him out of there and how to get away.”
“Yes,” Gis said. He cast them both a worried look. “I’m not sure how we’re going to achieve that. I’ve been talking to the staff, and they can get Amina free, but Myrum will be much harder.”
“I’m not leaving without Myrum,” Amina said. There was no anger in her tone or expression, only absolute determination. “That’s not up for debate.”
“I commend your loyalty, but that makes everything more difficult,” Gis said with a little sigh. Myrum ignored the Ossiso and grabbed Amina up and held her tight in his arms.
“I don’t deserve you,” he whispered.
“True,” she said with a chuckle. “But that’s okay.”
“You should put her down,” Gis said. “We won’t know they’re approaching until they come around that bend of tall bushes. I wouldn’t want Lorse to see you being affectionate to Amina. He’s petty.”
Myrum reluctantly put Amina down. She didn’t look happy about it either but shrugged and leaned a hip against the platform.
“Lorse wasn’t kidding; there are a lot of bugs here,” she said, waving a hand at one of the bugs flying lazily around her body in random patterns.
“I have a device that drives them away,” Gis said. “But I’d rather not activate it until Lorse gets here. It can cause the smaller animals pain.”
Amina made a face. “Yeah, don’t worry about it. I can handle a few bugs. It’s not as bad as the port on Shorshut. The place has swarms so thick they make the air around you turn black.” She gave an exaggerated shudder. “You have to wear a mask or you can’t breathe.”
“That sounds…” Myrum’s words trailed off.
“Myrum?” Amina took a step closer, but Myrum let out a startled rattle, making her jump a little.
“Ruby!” he exclaimed as the little lizard emerged from the inside of Amina’s robe and scurried up to perch on top of her head. She flicked out her tongue so rapidly he couldn’t follow it,only watching as little black dots disappeared from the air into her mouth.
Amina let out a huff, rolling her eyes up as if she could see the lizard perched on her head. “Have you been hiding in my robe this entire time? You naughty lizard!”
“I’m sure she didn’t understand what she was doing,” Myrum said.
