“She is.And she is nervous as hell.”
“Why?”
“Trisk is focused on her.”
“The band?”
“The guy and the band are the same thing.”
Salat started chuckling.“Okay, I can see how that would be unsettling.”
Hemma nodded and worked on her tea.“This is so strange.I had forgotten all about her, and now, memories are rushing back.”
Salat got a ping and looked up.“Incoming agents.”
Hemma took a deep breath and blinked.“Why is this an international team?”
Salat said, “Because the highway and lake are shared territory off a main tributary.”
Hemma watched the team members slowly lower themselves to the ground, and she thought of Keska’s bug zapper.She turned to Salat.“If you want to narrow down who can land on your yard, ask Keska once she and Sorooth have recovered.She calls it a bug zapper, and it sticks them to a magnetic dome.”
Salat grinned.“That sounds like something I would be interested in.Does it stop matter-walking?”
“Nope.But it really pisses Torun off.”Hemma smiled.
“Then it is worthy.”Salat snickered.“Come on.Have you met any of them yet?”
“One or two were with their escorts in Uradda.We saw them then.”
“Right.Well, from the right to the left it’s Orsko, Lemor, Avekad, Shiras, and Hykor.”
“Great.Is there going to be a test?”She looked at him as they walked toward the people landing.She sipped at her tea with her pinky up.
Salat snorted.“Uraddans are funny.”
“Yes, well, some of us have seen our own entrails as children.It sets a new bar for humour when you get taken to the edge of death before you get your permanent teeth.”
Salat suddenly looked furious.Hemma leaned away.“Yikes.I pushed the button that makes the teeth come out.”
He paused and snorted.“Usually that’s lower, but yeah.Hey, all the littles are in motion.”
Hemma blinked as five children crawled to her.“Dang.Too much talking.”
Salat asked, “What?”
“My family has some siren in the mix.From the days when the leaders of Uradda weren’t paranoid dicks.”
Khytten heard it and grinned.“Salat, grab two.Hemma, if you can grab the one chewing on your ankle, the nannies are taking their break.”
Khytten got one larger and one smaller toddler, Salat grabbed one of each, and that left Hemma with one of the triplets.The bitey one.
The agents were looking at her, and there was something unsettling in their eyes.“Seriously?Okay, I get why Zera opened up that company.”
There was a snort from one of the nannies.Khytten grinned.“Yeah, now that the guys know they can be matched with women, they won’t tear down the centre, they are very interested in experimenting.The ladies as well.”
The agents chuckled.One of the men with scales said, “Miss, we have some questions about why the Uraddans would risk so much to get you into custody.”
Baola came by, took the bitey baby, and walked back to where she was playing with Kessie.
