Aofe grinned. “A giant fox with six eyes who can’t figure out what order they’re supposed to blink in.” At that, a small smile crept up the visible side of Kat’s face. “She’s very friendly, a little clingy, but she won’t bother you if you’re uncomfortable. You can come sit with me if you’d like, or walk around.”
Kat rocked on her heels for a breath before slowly shuffling across the stone to Aofe’s table. She kept a sizable distance from all the plants, like one brush against a leaf might hurt them. Or her.
“Your sister is Kalypso?” Aofe asked as Kat pulled out the chair to her right. “Have you seen her much?”
Whatever small ease she’d gotten out of Kat before was gone the moment she mentioned Kalypso. “Not much. Not since… not since we came here.”
And since Aofe was a master of many things, including reading people, she knew to drop that subject immediately. “You’ve been working the post? Brioni says you’re the one doing the embroideries on our clothing.”
Even now, Aofe could see the little designs Kat had stitched into her long sleeves.
The woman ducked her head, her curtain of hair slipping over her nose. “Sorry. I won’t do any more?—”
“I love them.” Kat blinked, a dip in her brow like this surprised her. “I know I’ve been a bit pickyabout getting warmer clothing, but that sweater you put the flowers on? They’re beautiful, and the detail is incredible. I mean, you don’t have to do them if you’re busy or don’t want to, but I think they’re cute. And you’re really talented. How did you know what to do?”
A soft pink rose to Kat’s cheeks. “Bri said you worked at the apothecary. And that your hair was blue. I didn’t realize which shade, but I just thought of flowers and…”
She trailed off, darting a hesitant glance at Attie who let out a gentle sigh. The move shifted her hair just enough for Aofe to catch a glimpse of a scar to the right of her lips, but then Kat was tugging her hair back in place, none the wiser.
“Sounded like someone came with you,” Aofe offered into the silence.
Kat nodded quickly. “Azrion gets his paint here.”
“Kiz has the best pigments,” Aofe said with a smile before tugging on a lock of her blue hair. “The dye holds so much better than what we had in the human world.”
“It’s really pretty.” Kat’s blush darkened, but her shoulders were softening again. “Your hair is lovely. I wish I had the confidence to do something like that.”
“Believe me, the maintenance is not worth it,” Aofe teased. “I would do anything for your length, but the moment my hair gets past my shoulders, it’s just a puffball. Like this girl.” She wiggled her fingers in Attie’s fur.
That seemed to get Kat to relax even more, the tension in her body seeping away.
“Anyway, sorry. I’ve been talking to plants all morning.You don’t have to linger if you want to explore the greenhouse. The sunshine is really nice after being in the dark constantly.”
“The daymoon is really weird,” Kat whispered, then gave Aofe a soft smile. “I don’t mind sitting. I, uh, don’t know how long Azrion will be.”
Aofe refrained from inquiring about what sort of relationship Kat had with this demon, lest she scare the woman off so soon, but she did have an idea with the timing of Kat’s arrival.
“If he’s with Kiz? You might be here a while. Not to corner you, and you can say no, but I could really use your help. How would you mind a little work while we wait?”
As she expected, Kat curled away. “Myhelp?”
Aofe tapped her left hand on the papers spread out in front of her. “I’ve been working on this compendium for us. Plants that we can and can’t eat, things we shouldn’t touch, some of the creatures we could come across and whether they’re friendly or not. A few recipes for some home remedies.”
Kat shook her head. “I don’t think I’m going to be very useful. I don’t know anything more?—”
“I need you to draw,” Aofe blurted.
The woman blinked, mouth parted on the words she never got to say.
Aofe blew out a breath. “Sorry, I just… I’m trying to be better about this, but it’s really hard to admit when I can’t do something…” Slowly, Aofe lifted her right handbetween them. The tremor running through her fingers was so bad, even her wrist was shaking. “I’m not great at drawing to begin with, but my sketches are completely indecipherable.”
Kat was silent as Aofe curled her fingers back into Attie’s fur.
“I’m sorry,” Aofe whispered again, heaving a sigh and staring at the mess in front of her. “I’m not trying to guilt you into doing this for me. I just thought, since you obviously have incredible talent and attention to detail, that you would have some drawing skills that I do not.”
There was a tension that followed her exhalation, one Aofe didn’t want to witness, until there was a quiet response.
“I can draw.”
