Instead, I nodded. “Hello, Maive,” I said in a voice that sounded far too rasping to be normal. “I found this little one at my house. Perhaps you can tellmewhat happened.”
It wasn’t exactly a fair thing to say, since I already knew what had happened. And I thought again about that metal bird Aila had followed. That was definitely something to investigate, but not now.
Aila pulled her head away from her mother’s shoulder and looked up defiantly. “Gilrox helped me,” she said, tilting her chin up. “I was chasing a bird and Gilrox gave me a snack.”
That was…avastlyabbreviated version, but she hit the key points.
Aila’s mother raised her brows. “You followed abirdall the way out here?”
Aila’s mouth dipped down at the edges. “At first,” she said. “And then I got lost, and I found sort of a trail and I followed it, and Gilrox was there.” Her gaze moved immediately to mylittle furry companion on my shoulder. “And Silli. He really likes snacks and scratches.”
Aila made a show of “introducing” Silli to her mother, Maive, and Pasek. Maive appeared charmed, and asked a few questions about him, being mostly—wisely—interested in whether or not he bit people. I couldn’t really say, and explained that they were the sum total of people he’d met aside from me. Luckily, he showed no interest in biting them. So far.
After Silli was done being a spectacle, Aila’s mother stood up and looked at me. There were tears in her eyes, but they did not fall. “I am sorry my daughter disturbed you, but thank you for minding her.”
“She’s no trouble,” I murmured.
“I’m relieved she found her way to your home.” She rubbed her forehead and shook her head. “Stars. I was so worried. After what happened to Tregen.”
“Any parent would be,” I said roughly. “I gave her a snack and water, cleaned her up a bit, and we were heading back to the village. No harm done. She just had a little adventure, is all.”
“Well, thank you. I’m Salie, by the way. Maive is my mother.”
I nodded. Pasek, who had been quiet, crossed his arms and smiled broadly. “I had a feeling she’d found her way to your place,” he said. “Also knew there was no safer place for her to end up.”
I could have reminded him that a mercenary’s private home was perhaps the most unsafe place anyone could end up, and it was only because I was in such a remote location—and was, in fact, retired—that the entire perimeter of my home wasn’t rigged with automatic weapons that shot on sight. Instead, I gave him a tight smile and muttered something about just being glad she was safe.
“Well.” Maive looked down at her feet, where her fine, soft shoes were covered in mud. She pushed a stray lock of hair backup into its elaborate style. “I suppose we’d best start our walk back.”
She looked tired. Worn out from the emotional stress of worrying about this child and taking on some of her own daughter’s anxiety about finding Aila. I shook my head. “We are very close to my home. Why don’t we go back and I will bring us all to the village in my shuttle? It will only take a moment, and…” I gestured vaguely toward her. “It would be a shame to further dirty your outfit.” Sweetfleck, I sounded awkward.
Maive considered me for a moment. “I think that would be acceptable. That is, if you’re sure?”
“It’s a small shuttle,” I said. “But you’ll all fit. Unless you think your people would be frightened?”
Pasek let out a bark of laughter. “Well, it would certainly be a grand entrance to the festival.”
That was why she was dressed up.Of course. I knew this, but for some reason, I hadn’t thought it would involve finery or fancy dress. I certainly didn’t have any, other than the new clothing I had purchased from the Durbok. I would have to make do.
“What do you think, Salie?” Maive asked. “Are you willing?”
Salie smiled. “If it gets us home quicker, I’m all for it.”
Aila caught my gaze with steely eyes. “You said Silli could come.”
I shrugged. “Then he can come.” Even this small, I could tell this youngling was not one to trifle with or go back on promises to.
“Well, then it’s settled.” Pasek gestured back toward my house. “I’ve been curious to see what a spaceship turned into a house looks like, anyway.”
We returned to my home, where I sternly told B2 to stand down and disappear for a little while. I brought them inside and gave them a short, self-conscious tour. I really didn’t see what the excitement was about, but they seemed fascinated by therooms and asked questions about what it had been like living in a flying house.
“It isn’t done,” I said at one point. “But it’s more house-like than ship-like. Progress, I suppose.”
Pasek put his hands on his hips and gazed around as if he actually knew what he was looking at. I found that amusing. “And she can still fly?”
“Well, I haven’t removed the thrusters, so technically, yes.” I rubbed a hand over my chin and thought about that. “Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do with them. They might just stay on.”
On the way through, I picked up the simple box I had left on the counter in my sitting room. My gift for Maive, which I was suddenly nervous to give her. The jewels she wore winked and glittered. Perhaps she liked that sort of thing and would find my gift lacking. Perhaps some simple bauble was all she wanted. But what was done, was done. If she disliked it, I would try to find something else the next time the Durbok came to trade.
