Page 13 of Scales of Time

“I bribed the crew, dear. It is my move, as you say.”

The box was handed to Essan, and he set it on his knees and opened the latches. He swung the doors open, and light illuminated the statuette inside.

Kris hissed. “You had the box illuminated?”

“The engineer was bored. He had fun with it and said it deserved the best packaging.” Yorness was amused.

Essan looked into the box and tilted his head. “You posed for this?”

“No! There was an artisan with drones in the area, and he decided that I matched his aesthetic.”

Essan looked from the statuette to her and back again. “This was you?”

“Yeah, you can tell by the lack of scales and spikes.”

He smiled. “You use ribbons of fire.”

“Uh, I can.”

“He captured it perfectly.”

Yorness smiled. “He wanted to mass produce them as a new dancing goddess, but Kris melted them. All but this one.”

“He withdrew the statuette?” Essan chuckled. “I wouldn’t have. It is stunning. Grace, threat, and ecstasy all in one small figure.”

Kris grimaced. “You are missing the two litres of alcohol that was in that dance. It wasn’t visible but very important.”

Yorness hissed in amusement.

Essan nodded and closed the box. “It will go into my private collection. Thank you, Yorness.”

Kris looked at the box, and heat filled her palm. Essan looked at her. “Do not even think about it.”

She blinked and let the flame in her palm dissipate. “Fine. Overlord.”

He snorted. “How did you know?”

“That you were an elder? Your eyes flared every time we mentioned Aten. So, I am guessing there is an elder there.”

“Our prototype. He was sent out to see if we would be welcomed. Due to his beauty, we were.” He smiled. “After that came Kethen, myself, and a few others.”

“Kethen has his marks carved into him.”

Essan held the case carefully. “I have mine as well, but I have gold rubbed into them for festivals and the arrival of other Hmrain.”

“That’s what his harem is for,” Yorness spoke softly.

Kris chuckled, and heads turned toward her. “Sorry. My chuckle is rough. My laugh is worse.”

Essan arched his brows. “You find the idea of my harem funny?”

“No. It is common enough in your kind. Group energy is better than no energy.”

He frowned. “Just so. I also have power from my family. That is a passive draw of energy.”

“Interesting. I hadn’t considered that. The Hmrain I have met don’t have extensive families.”

“I have two hundred descendants. They alternate having males and females so the populations don’t cross.” He smiled. “Yorness has only females. Her cousin Avengy has only males. Strict records are kept.”

---