The image of Kalai strutting into the clinic like she owned the place almost made Cassie laugh, but the amusement quickly dissipated as Aglao opened the curtain wide around her bed. Ailairi held a fan of feathers in his hands tied off with a ribbon of twine.
“Couldn’t bring Kalai in herself, so these are the next best thing. Some of her feathers I’ve been collecting.” He placed the fan of feathers on the end of the bed. “You take care of yourself, you hear? And if that blue fellow is bothering you, I’ll take care of him.”
Cassie nodded. She wished she had the words to defend Örim, but there was nothing for her to say. She appreciatedAilairi’s gesture all the same. He left shortly after with a quick whistle. The younglings came next. Grora brought her deck of cards, and Cassie sat patiently while the urtazi spawn chattered happily about the new set of generals she’d purchased for Galactic Conquerors. Grumm waited for his sister, pretending he wasn’t excited by the conversation about Galactic Conquerors.
“Can we play together when I come back?” Grora asked as her eggmother shuffled her out with an apologetic thrum.
The question made Cassie smile as she waved farewell. She reached for the feathers, holding them close. She missed the sunshine and the pichari but also recognized it would be a long time before she was well enough to visit them again. Mostly, though, she missed Örim. She missed their reading lessons and conversations. She missed having someone who could understand her when she talked.
After her visitors cleared from the room, Eleri and S’samph came to her bedside. S’samph held a bouquet of flowers and glanced down at the floor awkwardly. He handed them to her.
“Eleri said this is the appropriate gift for someone who is healing. Also, I should not ask you any questions that require open answers.”
Cassie hid her laughter as she accepted the flowers from S’samph. Eleri sighed. “How are you feeling today, Cassie? Sorry, I wasn’t around this morning. I had some things to take care of.” She was wearing a pale green dress with delicate shoes to match. Cassie realized she’d never seen Eleri without her medical uniform.
I’m tired.Cassie said, leaning back against the pillows. The heavy dose of pain medication was making her progressively woozier.When can I see Örim?
Eleri winced. She didn’t know many of Cassie’s hand signs, but Cassie was certain she recognized Örim’s name. “Let’s talkabout it later, ok? I have a surprise for you, something I hope will cheer you up.”
A frown pulled her lips downward at the dismissal of her question. She was used to being told no, but she couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t let her see him. Cassie accepted the datapad Eleri handed her, noting the presence of extensive wiring.
“Try not to move it too much. K’kaen helped me get it hooked up.”
A call patched through. Cassie watched as the incoming holo came into focus. Rhea smiled back at her.
What the fuck happened to you?Rhea was still smiling, but her eyes were wide behind her curtain of blue bangs.
Rhea. Cassie suppressed her quickly rising tears.
Nice to see you too. Even though you look like death.
Cassie managed a painful laugh.Someone tried to disable my voicelock.
Holy shit. Better you than me. I’ve been making my host family crazy repeating the same three things over and over again.
You shouldn’t do that, you know.
I’m literally here because I was one year short of legal adulthood. It’s not like Swift or Piper. They’re thrilled to have families.
I know.Cassie swallowed hard, remembering Swift’s enthusiasm.What are you going to do after you turn twenty?
Get the fuck out of here, that’s for sure. Of course, my hosts live in the middle of nowhere. I want to go to the capital in Kora Kora. Get a job. Kiss people. Whatever. I just want to try things.
That sounds really nice.
No, it doesn’t. You’d hate it. I know you. You’re happy in the quiet.
Cassie laughed again through her tears.I’ll come visit you. When you’re kissing people or working. Just tell me where you are. I’ll come find you.
Good. You find someone to kiss too, ok? I’m outta time. These fucking things eat so many credits. Let’s talk soon.
Ok.
The holo vanished from the datapad. Cassie slumped back against the thin pillows of the bed in the clinic. Her fingers rubbed the soft texture of Kalai’s feathers as she stared back at her reflection in the dark datapad.
CHAPTER 19
Örim
