Page 66 of Orc's Forbidden Claim

I stare, taking way too long to figure out what she’s talking about and then trying to comprehend it once the words do make sense.

“What?”

She’s laughing so hard now that tears fill her eyes, and she is struggling to breathe. I giggle out of an empathetic response but not from any understanding of what’s so funny.

“You… on the ship… did you ever… make… anything?”

I blink feeling absolutely vapid. Then it hits me.

On the ship we were so pampered that none of us ever touched a kitchen utensil. Here, I am making tea, which really should be a simple project that pretty much anyone with half a brain should be able to do, but neither one of us have a clue.

We know more now than we did on the ship. Life on Tajss forces you to adapt, fast, if you want to survive, but neither of us are, by any means, experts. I laugh too, but this is too important to be taken over in idleness.

I dig around until I find a cloth and use it to remove the jar. It still burns my fingers but not too bad. The pain fades quickly while the two of us stare at the jar.

“Should we pour it in a glass?” Wren asks.

“You see one lying around?”

“What about the fungus thing, we should take the remains out. He might choke on it.”

“Good idea.”

That leads to more fumbling and idiocy as we use makeshift utensils to accomplish our simple goal. At last, we have the tea. Which leaves us both standing in silence looking from the jar to Sek’su who lies unconscious on the table.

“You lift his head,” I say.

Wren nods and goes over. She slips an arm under his neck and shoulders then lifts him up as far as she can. I bring the jar over and tip it up to his lips. Liquid dribbles down his chin making a mess but more goes into his mouth than spills, so I take the win and keep at it.

Once the cup is drained, Wren lays him back down. We’re on opposite sides of his still form, waiting. I don’t know why I thought it might work immediately. Probably a silly hope because nothing really happens. Wren looks up, worry on her face. I shrug.

“Time,” I say. “Needs to work. He’s a big guy. Got to work its way through.”

She nods, chewing on her lip. She rubs his arm and resigns herself to waiting. I’m torn between being here for my friend and going to see about my love. Before I can make a decision on what to do, Wren looks up.

“Go,” she says.

“You sure?” I ask.

She smiles brightly.

“Saylor, you’re my best friend. I appreciate you. I love you. Now go. Your man needs you. There is nothing you can do here.”

Tears press from behind my eyes. I go around the table and give her a tight embrace. She returns it, then I run out the door.

46

SAYLOR

Sek’su spits his drink, spraying liquid across the table with most of it hitting Khiara. Khiara leaps from his seat, stumbling back as he wipes at his chest.

“Gah!” Khiara exclaims.

Wren and I look at each other across the table, both of us struggling to not laugh, both knowing it will only exacerbate them. But we fail. I can’t hold it in, though I try, and then I snort. Wren’s eyes widen as her smile spreads from one ear to the other, then she too is laughing, pointing at me.

“Oh, Say,” she laughs. “It’s been too long since I heard you do that.”

Khiara growls while Sek’su continues sputtering.

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