Gweneth offered a polite smile of greeting.“I am very pleased to meet you.Did you make your gowns?”
“We plucked them from your mind,” Patrice said.
“Patrice!”Niran said.
“They’re beautiful,” Gweneth said, starting to rebuild the mental brick wall.“They’re Earth designs.”She needed to keep that wall intact all the time.She’d grown sloppy with her mental defenses since Ry lost the ability to read her mind.
A silent Sable stood beside her, and Gweneth decided to work on her plan.
“Sable and I wish to purchase something new to wear this evening.Is that possible?Do you have suitable garments?”
Patrice rounded the counter and glided toward them.“I think I have the perfect gowns for you both.Come with me, and we’ll get started.Mama will organize refreshments for the men.”
She led them into a separate room with small cubicles for privacy and a large reflective wall.Not a mirror but something similar.Patrice slid another door open to reveal an entire wall of completed gowns.
“Normally, we use wish fulfillment to dress ourselves or satisfy our needs,” she explained.“We’re capable of doing that as long as we have enough sensual energy to feed us.Making apparel for others has been a challenge since we needed to find a way for the individual garments to retain their physical presence even if their owner no longer requires them.My mother developed a way of spinning the thread from the fibrous worm and combining it with a secret Incorporeal technology.The fibrous worm thread makes the garments permanently visible.Don’t ask me the particulars because they’re top secret, but that is the basic explanation.”
“What you’re trying to say is that we won’t find ourselves naked during an important function,” Sable said in a dry tone.“I am relieved.”
Gweneth nodded.“I’m with Sable.Strangers shouldn’t get to see my assets.”Not unless they’re Ellard, she added silently.
Patrice grinned, and Gweneth realized she’d forgotten to screen again.Must remember.
“Now, which colors would you like to try?”Patrice asked.
Sable glanced at the profusion of colors, and that tiny crease appeared again on her forehead.
Red, Gweneth thought.“I would like to try one of your gowns in that gorgeous blue-green color.I think it will make my eyes pop.”
“Pardon?”Sable gaped at Gweneth.“Nothing should pop!I suffer enough trouble with a Stores arm.”
“Sorry.Earth-speak,” Gweneth said.“I meant that the color would match and highlight my eyes.It will attract attention.”
Sable shuddered.“I don’t want to do that.”
“I’ll choose several styles and bring them in for you,” Patrice said.
“I can’t wear these gowns,” Sable said.“People will look at me.”
“Do you want to find a mate and maybe have your own dwelling?Have children?”Gweneth asked.
“I can’t have any of that.”
“Why not?”
“I’m flawed.I’m a half dragon.I can’t fly, and I have an artificial arm.None of the males take a second look at me.”
“Rubbish,” Gweneth said.“The male dragons on Narenda must be blind.I have an idea.If Ransom agrees to participate in the festival on Viros, you should attend.Come and stay with me at the castle.King Lynx won’t mind.You can meet my friends and the males our age.At the very least, you’ll have a holiday and make friends.”
“I hadn’t thought of leaving Narenda.”
Gweneth strove for patience and tact when she ached to rescind her impulsive offer.She did not need the competition of a beautiful woman.Sable possessed the raw materials to eclipse her—if she took more care with her appearance and started raising her gaze instead of studying the ground so much.“Think about it now.Ah, here’s Patrice.”
Patrice handed three gowns of various shades of blue-green over to Gweneth.“Will you be all right on your own?I thought I’d help Sable.I can call Mama if you want help.”
“I’ll be fine.”Gweneth eyed one gown with doubt.“Are you sure these are the right size?They look roomy.”
“Don’t worry.Put on that one.It’s my favorite.”Patrice nodded.“You’ll see.”
