"About?"
"My friend who was in a different group. I wondered how she was going to wear her hair." And if her friend's wild hair would signal her bold personality as well, or would she dress demurely as many others had.
As she looked over the males, she wasn’t sure which one Adryel would appeal to if any of them. However, all of them had strong personalities too. They might enjoy her boldness.
"Is that a status symbol with your people?" he asked.
"The hair?" She blinked. "Why would you think that?"
"Many of the females had their hair in fancy coifs. Your hair is bound at your neck. Is it customary or ceremonial to keep it bound?"
"Adornment. Whether we wear it down or up or restrained or free, it is a way to be more appealing.”
He nodded. "I look forward to seeing your hair free. I like the coloring of it."
She chuckled. "As you like." The wind picked up, and she shivered. Her outfit was supposed to keep her warm, but the chilly wind ripped through it, or so it felt like.
"Are you chilled?" he asked.
"I'll manage."
"We can go inside if you choose."
"I want to see what happens to my friends," she said.
"We can observe from a more controlled environment." He gestured behind him, and she could see a building that overlooked the landing pad.
Stron seemed to hear most of the conversation. "Who is your friend? Was she in your group?"
She shook her head. "Adryel has bright hair. You cannot miss her." She glanced back at the ship, and sure enough, a new group was coming down the ramp.
In the middle of them was Adryel, her red hair flying in the wind.
It made Janae smile.
Stron glanced at the group. "It is my cue, I think.”
He started to walk across the landing platform.
Janae watched and rubbed her arms. She was excited for her friend, and she hoped that Stron would at least glance at her.
"Are you sure you are comfortable?" Khalzin asked. He started to remove his overcoat.
"I will be fine," she said. "I just want to see--"
The words hung in the air as an explosion rocked the platform.
The last thing Janae knew was that she was flying through the air.
5
The explosion rocked the platform.
Khalzin slid to one side, away from where the females had emerged from their ship. The repulsors that kept the pad level cranked and screeched before they blew, first one, then another.
Everything started to fall to the side.
And sound stopped.
