She shook her head. “I couldn’t find it. Then I couldn’t findhomeeither.” She said this with brisk annoyance, which reminded me again of her grandmother.
“I don’t think it was a bird,” I told her.
Her eyes went wide. “What was it?”
“I don’t know for sure.” I leaned in conspiratorially, giving Silli a scratch under his chin. “Sounds like a piece of machinery.”Fleck, it could be that some device from my own ship had gotten activated and flown away. I’d have to take an inventory when I returned home. “Things like that get left on planets and keep running for years. Nothing to worry about.” I gave her a look. “Still. If you see it again, don’t follow it. Let an adult know so I can investigate, instead. That’s a better plan.”
She looked skeptical. “Why can’tIinvestigate?”
“Because,” I said slowly. “I’m bigger and I move faster than you.”
She weighed this with visible seriousness. “I don’t think you’re faster than me, Gilrox.”
I gave her a smile that showed my once-sharp canine teeth. “We’ll have to test that one of these days, then.”
“I’ll win,” she said as if she felt sorry for my inevitable loss.
“Maybe,” I replied. “But promise me you won’t follow any strange birds from now on.”
Aila rolled her eyes. “All right, Gilrox.”
“Good. Now go have fun.” I stood up and ruffled her hair. “And don’t feed Silli any more spiced things. If he throws up in my shuttle, I’m finding you to help me clean it.”
She laughed, clearly unbothered by my empty threat, and returned to the children. I straightened and stood still for a moment, looking west.
Silver. Red-blinking eyes. Sideways movement, then fast, then motionless. No sound. Disappeared into the trees.
That sounded an awful lot like a reconnaissance drone.
It could even be the Durbok’s. It wouldn’t shock me to learn that the Runam’s sole merchant trader kept drones running to keep track of his territory. And really, itcouldbe mine, althoughI didn’t recall owning any equipment that looked the way she described it. I rubbed my chin. Maybe it was what I’d told her it was. Derelict equipment on backwater planets wasn’t unheard of, running down its last power cycles.
I didn’t know, but I’d be smart to investigate. Send out some drones of my own. B2 could expand its territory a bit. It would keep it out of my hair.
I shook off the feeling of concern. No reason to alarm anyone. I set it to the back of my mind and returned to the fire. I got a piece of insidepindlokmeat, and yes, it made my eyes roll back. By the time the festival wound down, I had eaten entirely too much, had talked more than I thought myself capable of, and was very eager to lie down and go to sleep.
People drifted off until the music stopped mid-phrase and nobody started it again. Torches burned low. The barrel was empty. I caught a glimpse of Tregen near the edge of the gathering, sitting up in a chair someone had brought out for him, wrapped in a blanket, watching the last of the dancing. The young man had come close to missing this, but he looked well. I’d seen him dancing earlier. He’d healed, but it took time to fully recover from an injury such as his.
I found Maive to say good night and she insisted on walking me to the shuttle. I’d retrieved Silli after Aila and the other children had been sent to bed. My small, furry friend had instantly fallen asleep draped across my shoulders. His breathing was a small, warm pressure against my neck.
We stood outside as the hatch slid open. Maive looked up at me. In the darkness, her eyes were deep and unreadable.
“This was more pleasant than I thought it would be,” I offered.
“I’m glad,” she said dryly. “I hope your expectations weren’ttoolow.”
“I didn’t have any,” I said. “I came because you invited me.”
“And you stayed because you enjoyed yourself?”
“That’s right.” I hesitated. It seemed like there was something else she wanted to say. If she apologized for kissing me, I’d…I didn’t even want to think about that. Perhaps it would be best if I just got out of there before things got uncomfortable. Or,moreuncomfortable. “Thank you for the evening,” I said, then leaped aboard and didn’t let myself look back.
I closed the hatch and made sure she’d backed away before lifting off into the dark. Below, I could see everything: Valrim Village, small and warm, the last embers still glowing, the lights scattered on the water, decorations set out with joy. I held the low altitude longer than I needed to.
Something had changed tonight. I couldn’t name exactly when, but there was no putting it back to the way it was.
I turned south and went home, and I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to.
Chapter
