And Khalzin seemed like a good person. A little grumpy, Janae claimed.
Maybe it was a Kantenan thing, because Stron could certainly have the grumpiness too.
Sereya slid into the seat on her other side. Not Janae's side. The other one.
Adryel looked at her. "You lost?"
Janae peaked around Adryel’s shoulder.
Sereya's mouth curved slightly, her gaze darting between Adryel and Janae. "Roemary's idea, actually."
"Roemary told you to sit with me. With us." Adryel kept her voice flat. Well that was absolutely terrible. "And you did it.”
“Are you backing up her next big scene?” Janae asked.
Sereya sighed. “It’s not like that.”
“Then please, tell us what it’s like.”
She nodded. "She thinks Dhomhes is interested in her." Sereya said it quietly, looking straight ahead. "She wanted to prove it. Told me to sit elsewhere so he'd come to her instead of—" She stopped.
"Instead of you," Adryel finished.
Sereya didn't answer, which was its own answer.
Adryel studied her for a moment. Sereya had that polished, composed look she always wore, but something underneath it was different. Tired, maybe. Or just done.
Oh. There was a lot more to this than she was spilling.
"And you went along with it,” Janae said.
"I always go along with it," Sereya said. Then, quieter: "Be careful." She leaned close when she said it. "I don't know what she's planning. But she's planning something."
Adryel held her gaze for a moment. Regardless of the circumstances before, and her frustration with Roemary and Sereya, her gut told her this was different.
Sereya was different. "Thanks for the tip."
Sereya looked away, like she hadn't said anything at all. Her perfect mask back on her face, like nothing in the world could touch her.
The transport rocked and the gears started shifting.
They were getting ready to leave.
Guards and some remaining staff were boarding, and the humanoids were all grabbing last moment seats.
Adryel was still processing Sereya’s warning when Janae suddenly straightened. "I have to go," she said, already half out of her seat. "Khalzin—" She didn't finish the sentence, just squeezed Adryel's hand once and moved quickly toward the ramp before it sealed.
Janae jumped out, and ran straight to Khalzin who stood at the foot of the ramp, watching it start to close.
She saw Khalzin put his hand on Janae just before the ramp closed.
It sealed with a wash of air being sprayed on her and everyone else in the back of the transport.
Adryel cringed, because the air smelled awful.
“They need to clean their filters,” Adryel muttered.
Sereya caught her gaze out of the corner of her eye, and a tiny bit of a smile spread over her otherwise perfect features.
