Page 18 of I Dated a Retired Hero

She blinked. “There was an agreement?”

“Yes. There are treaties in the work between Aksalla and Erradia, and you are one of them.”

“I am on loan? Like a vehicle rental?” That struck her as funny, so she giggled.

He smiled. “Nice sound. Well, the local village has set up an empty house for you to rest in. We don’t want you facing whatever is in that canister if you are sleepy.”

“Fine. Lead the way.”

“Can you fly me? It is that way.” He gestured to the west.

She laughed. “Why didn’t you transport us there?”

“I wanted to talk to you first.”

“Oh. Okay. Here we go.” She lifted off and grabbed him from the back, easing him into the air and flying at a speed that wouldn’t suffocate him.

When they arrived at the village, a crowd had gathered. She set Petrov down carefully and landed beside him.

He chuckled. “That was very smooth.”

“Thank you. I have done it a time or two.”

He offered her his arm, and she placed her hand on his wrist. They walked forward, and she was introduced to Havil, the headman of the village, and Veru, his wife. She looked at Litha and touched her cheek. “Such a pretty little girl.”

Litha laughed. The woman was in her late twenties. “Thank you for the compliment, but I am just short, not young. I am entering my late thirties.”

The woman snatched her hand back. “What?”

“Yes. You are lovely, though.”

“I thought you were barely an adult.”

“No, I have been working for the capitol and Aksalla for two decades and a bit after I finished my secondary education.”

Veru blinked. “Well, then, ma’am. We have a place for you to rest until you are able to assist again.”

“Great. They pulled me out of a solid sleep to come here.”

The woman took her hand and pulled her along. Litha’s mind was spinning. She had been touched more in the last hour than she had in the last year. It was nice. She hadn’t been dangerous to others in casual settings for twenty years, but those who read her early files hadn’t let her forget the early days... and that she had killed her parents. She had watched the radiation exposure and its effects, and her parents never blamed her.

She smiled and just enjoyed human contact. She had forgotten how touchy the ladies were. She hadn’t been casually touched since she was thirteen.

“This way. It is a new building, so you won’t have issues with any previous articles left behind.”

“Anywhere to just rest for a while. I have a place way out of town where I rejuvenate myself. It is helpful for my mental outlook.”

“Oh. Good. There is some food and a bed and water and a bathroom. Is that enough?”

“That is fine.”

They were walking to a low circular building that looked adorable to Litha. When they were inside, the room was sparse, and everything was visible except for a small cupboard-styled protrusion that had to be the restroom.

“This will be fine. Thank you, Veru.”

“No problem. It is exciting to get that region back. Thank you for helping us.” She paused. “Why did you?”

“Because a friend’s husband asked. No one asks anymore. Everyone just assumes I do other things, like work.”

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