Page 42 of Challenged

“Theycumere-”Liv again, her voice hardening. “-theytaykearrkids.”

“Ahnweernotgunnaletthathappen.” Sally, who is normally so softly spoken, but says these words with as much authority as her sister carries.

They are sitting in one of the rooms full of themachinesthat Lorna sometimes uses, looking for information on what Mercenia was doing here. They do not use themachines, just sit in the chairs, gathered in a cluster. Sally clutches Marsal to her side, the little one beaming her gummy smile at everyone else in the room, oblivious to the tension. My Angie stares at her, and I do not think it is because Marsal is adorable.

I clear my throat before I step into the room, four pairs of eyes immediately locking on me. Marsal follows a moment later, and she burbles at me, her little arms outstretched towards me. I know it is because she wishes to grab at my clothes and my hair, not show me any particular affection, but I indulge my own heartspace and take her from Sally for a brief cuddle.

“Are you being a good youngling, little Marsal? You are causing your mother no trouble?”

She makes a cooing sound and I nod, expression serious, as if she had just told me all the secrets of Lina’s forests.

“That is very interesting to hear. I shall take it under advisement.”

I draw her close to my face so she can paw at me with her little hands. She cannot yet laugh, but there is definite enjoyment on her face as she explores my features, grabbing my nose and twisting sharply.

“Oh, Marsal,” Sally says, claiming her back. “Must you always aim straight for the nostrils?”

“They are just such a convenient size and shape for tiny youngling fingers,” I say, touching a hand to Sally’s shoulder. “I have beaten Jaskry back, but hopefully he is not far behind me.”

She smiles, and there is relief in it. While she is not short of help here, all the support the rest of us can offer is not the same as having her mate by her side.

“Sally, would you please let my Angie know that I have brought her some clothing that Rachel found for her.”

My Angie’s eyes narrow at the sound of her name, and I unhook the bag from my shoulder, holding it out to her. Sally says something using human words, and my Angie opens up the bag, examining the contents. The three pairs of boots are at the top, and she frowns a little.

“Noshoosisesere,”Liv says. “Pikthewunthafitsyoobest.”

My Angie nods, pulling off her large Mercenia boots and holding each of the three pairs of boots I have brought her against her feet in turn. She selects one pair, slipping her feet inside them and walking round in a circle a few times as she tests the fit.

“Mushbetter,” she says, then glances over at me. “Howdyusaythankyoo?”

“Thank you,” Liv says, my Angie repeating the words once to Liv, then again to me.

“Thank you.”

Her pronunciation is clumsy, but her words are earnest. I press my hand to my heartspace.

“We’ve been discussing Mercenia’s business here,” Sally says to me, turning my attention away from the rest of the room with her hand. Behind me, I can hear my Angie and Liv talking in low voices, their back and forth rapid. “Your Angie has much learning. She questions things we would not have thought to.”

I feel a buzz of pride in my chest. Already my linasha is finding ways to be useful to the tribe. It took many of her sistersmuch longer to settle into their new lives, and I would not have thought ill of my Angie for taking her time to adjust. But I should have known that fire in her spirit would not allow her to do nothing for long.

“She was looking for ways to contact Mercenia, though,” Sally says, her voice soft, as if to ease a blow to my heartspace. But her words do not strike at any tender part of me, because they do not surprise me. I think of what she said to me in the dreamspace - querying if I would follow her in dreams across the stars.

“I do not think she has accepted yet that her old life has gone.”

“She’s not denying the truth of her situation anymore,” Sally says.

“I know. But it is one thing to accept a truth, another to accept a reality. Truth is just a thing someone tells you. Living it every day is a different thing altogether.”

Sally tilts her head to the side as she considers this. “Yes, I do think that is where her headspace is right now. Accepting truth, but not reality.”

“You have told her you do not wish for Mercenia to return?”

I glance in my Angie’s direction. She speaks with Liv still, Brooks speaking up every so often. And though emotion continues to shape their voices, anger remains absent.

“We have, and we’ve explained why, also.” Sally grimaces. “I do not know if it has made her see things as we do. She is more concerned about how our younglings should not be possible. I do not think her thoughts have extended beyond that to the idea of Mercenia taking them away.”

“Well,” I say, tickling under Marsal’s chin. “It is quite clear that they are possible.”

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