Page 8 of Scales of Time

“Thank you, Theera.”

“Oh, I will be back in a few minutes with your clothing. Madam was precise with what she wanted.”

“Oh, great.”

She waited in the dark, and true to her word, Theera was back in a few minutes with her arms loaded with fabric. Theera smiled. “I never knew that a bodysuit could be made this thin, but the madam managed to find it.”

“Several of them, apparently.” Kris touched the pile. “They are certainly soft enough for my unscaled skin.”

“I will hang them up for you. Illumination.”

The lights came on in the guesthouse, and Kris sighed. “Did you do that on purpose?”

“They are in the front of the house. They won’t come near the night garden unless Madam wants to walk.”

Kris blinked. “She loves an evening walk. I had to do half my work on evening walks.”

“Well, I can help you get into one of the matching outfits, just in case.”

“Something is up.”

Theera shrugged. “It is above my station to tell you, but yes.”

Kris followed her upstairs and said, “Which outfit says I am going to kick your ass, you old, scaley bitch?”

Theera paused. “The dark blue.”

“Then that is what I shall wear.”

She dressed in the nearly transparent deep blue bodysuit with a studding of gems down the arms and legs. She slid the tabard on and belted the works. The two layers of fabric rendered the light weave opaque.

Theera blinked. “Miss Kris, you look lovely.”

“Thanks. For a scaleless alien.” She smiled.

“Well, yes.”

There was a brusque knock from the main door. Kris walked down the stairs while Theera busied herself with the wardrobe.

She opened the door and saw Yorness standing next to a Hmrain with midnight blue scales, eyes that showed stars on a black background, and wings neatly folded at his back.

Kris bent one knee, folded her hands together, and bowed. “Overseer. Madam.”

The overseer snorted. “Education station. Dregs.”

Kris felt a wave of angry heat wash over her. She didn’t speak.

“Grandfather, you are being rude to my guest. She is an enhanced being from her world and extremely powerful.”

“Why would a powerful being give a bondservant’s greeting?” Essan snorted.

Kris remained bent over. “Because it was the only one I was taught for Hmrain. I didn’t realize that the designers had crafted callous idiots.”

Yorness hissed in shock and then quieted.

“Stand straight, creature.” He growled it.

She stood straight and looked up into his surprised expression. Essan looked at her, and his eyes dipped down to take in the shape of her before his gaze locked with hers.

---