“So,” Noxlyn said, “you will assist me?”
Camden glanced at me, and I gave him an encouraging smile. I truly wanted this to work. For some reason, I had this overwhelming urge to put the two of them together. Both of them seemed so lonely, and a friendship between them would help them both, and for some reason I cared. Normally, I wasn’t invested in people who I wasn’t close with, but I was changing, I supposed, since becoming close to Seth, Urgg, and Edith.
Camden bobbed his head, and Noxlyn blinked. Clearly he hadn’t been studying humans too hard, if he didn’t know what that movement meant. In his defense, nodding did take some getting used to. To my eyes it looked like Camden was conceding to my or Noxlyn’s dominance, but rather he was agreeing.
“He’s saying yes,” I told Noxlyn.
“Excellent. Explain your movement just now in great detail, and does it change meaning with smaller or bigger movements or whom you are making that movement to?” Noxlyn had his screen out and his eyes locked on Camden.
Camden blinked, but he began to talk, not thrown off by Noxlyn’s abruptness or the in-depth questions.
I fought a smile. This was going to work out well. I was sure of it.
I stood quietly once Camden began asking his own questions about soul types. He had to be aware of soul types in general, as he’d been tested when he arrived. He was a creative soul. Thankfully, Noxlyn was more than equipped to inform him about warrior, spiritual, seeker, and creator souls. Also, I was starving, but I didn’t want to bother either of them, as both had seemed completely engrossed.
As I snuck away from the pair, I shook my head in amusement. Noxlyn had some odd ideas about humanity, something about humans being root vegetables, spicy ones at that, and Camden had more than enjoyed correcting him. At one point, Camden had been bent over, laughing hysterically. He hadn’t been able to even get a single word out. I’d almost feared he’d asphyxiate, but he’d rallied and collected himself after a few moments.
I started to head toward Mistress Kel’yeena’s shop when I paused at the shrine filled with cats. Most were sleeping in various places as a cat priestess took care of all of their needs. Some were playing, batting at the robotic fish in the pond. And one was being thoroughly groomed by a drakcol.
I wanted one so badly, but not yet. Soon. In a few cycles, I’d have saved up enough to purchase one, as well as the seniority to be able to travel with the cat as required. I smiled at a gray cat batting a ball. The little god was so cute. I looked at the ground as thoughts of Cincin flashed through my mind. While I’d have to spend more time with Monqilcolnen than I wanted, I would get to spend almost every day with a cat.
That fact might make dealing with the commander worth it.
Changing directions, I got a meal that could travel and headed back up the lift. I paused beside a terminal on deck two. I logged into my system, which was attached to Kalvoxrencol’s, though I didn’t have access to his primary system—that was far too personal—and asked, “Edith?”
“Yes, Lieutenant Wyn?”
I smiled at the human head that appeared on the monitor. She was blue in color like a traditional NAID was, but instead of the plain silhouette, she was an older human with a tower of curls piled on her head, her skin so wrinkly it was hard to find a smooth part, and her thin lips were almost always curled into a smile.
“Have you tapped into the systems on theAdmiral Ven?”
“You know I’m not supposed to,” she commented, her eyes flicking back and forth, refusing to meet my gaze.
What she was supposed to do and what she actually did were two very different things. Edith had wanted to be uploaded to theAdmiral Venonce again because she disliked the idea of being separated from Seth and his kit for almost two years, so I highly doubted she’d remain passive for the entire journey.
“Edith,” I said, drawing out her name.
“Yes. I have. I need to watch Bob and Seth at all times. And I was bored here. All alone.”
A squeak escaped my lips, but I clamped my mouth closed. I glanced around the corridor, but thankfully, we were alone. If Captain Talvax found out and also became awareI knewEdith was breaking the rules, I would get in trouble.
“No one will know unless you or Seth tell someone,” she remarked, grinning.
Of course Seth knew, and of course he hadn’t told anyone. They were always co-conspirators.
I took a deep breath. “Is Commander Monqilcolnen in his office?”
“No, he’s on duty in Command right now. Why? You don’t intend to harm him, do you? Edith Smith says, ‘Violence is never the answer unless you are defending your life or the life of another.’ Assassinating him because he keeps telling a story you don’t like doesn’t count, I don’t believe. I would have to ask Seth to be certain. Perhaps violence in lieu of embarrassment is acceptable.”
My mouth dropped open. “Of course I don’t intend him harm, Edith. I might not care for the commander, but I wouldn’t hurt him.”I might vomit on him, I thought,but I would never hurt him.
“Then why?”
“I want to see Cincin, his cat.”
She grinned. “Cincin is in his office.”
I gave her a quick smile before saying goodbye and rushing down the corridor. Looking around again to confirm no one was around, I pressed my hand to the panel. Right when I was about to ask Edith for assistance, the door slid open. I paused, tail thrashing. Monqilcolnen had to have added me to his security, which I hadn’t expected. However, I wasn’t about to reject this gift.
