Page 12 of I Dated a Retired Hero

The Erradian that she was dancing with moved carefully. He asked, “You are a friend of the bride?”

“Yes. I helped her out when she first surfaced. I was brought in as a sort of therapy while they asked me to make a suit to help her injuries.” She shrugged. “You are a friend of the groom?”

“Yes. I am his uncle.”

“Ah, well, then you have met him.” She chuckled.

“Are you married? The Aksallan women don’t wear bands.”

“Oh. No. Never found a partner to take the risk.”

He looked like he wanted to continue flirting but was stuck. When the song ended, he nodded over her hand, and they parted ways.

She walked to the edge of the cleared dance area full of locals and the happy couple. She opened her com and had the custom suit in Erradian style that would let Nelith do what she needed to do in style.

Litha stood aside and waited for Dmitri to finish on the dance floor. It took longer than twenty minutes, but he and Nelith looked so happy she didn’t want to interrupt.

When they finally parted after the sixth song, he kissed Nelith’s cheek and walked over to Litha.

“I have an escort for you and the necessary coordinates. Are you ready to travel now?”

“Yes.”

“If you run across any of our people who are not enthusiastic about your presence, please only kill what is necessary.”

She smiled. “Very well.”

Her com chirped as the location was sent. She smiled at Dmitri. “Thanks. Do you want to be alerted when it’s done?”

“Certainly. What will be necessary after the radiation is absorbed?”

“Manure and clean soil. The land will be dust because I will fight fire with fire, so to speak. Maybe add some clean or moldy straw all chopped up and plow it in. You can probably get it bioactive in a year if you have the right actives.”

He smiled. “Thank you for doing this. We have been scrambling to figure it out, but the amount of radiation required is extreme.”

“And then Nelith mentioned me.”

“Correct. I have checked with our team, and your recorded stats match what we need.”

“Will be glad to be useful.” She checked her com. “Right. I can be there in ninety minutes if I get changed and leave now.”

Dmitri blinked. “You aren’t going to stay for the rest of the celebration?”

“No. I am not in a celebrating mood, though I wish you joy, and I have sent a gift that will make Nelith look like an Erradian defender.” She mused, “I think my next meal will be radioactive contaminants.”

He frowned. “Please stay. Nelith is so happy you are here.”

“Waiting for other’s happiness is what has led to this mood. I am heading out, but congratulations. The Blade is quite a catch.”

“She is. If you must leave, thank you for the effort you are about to engage in.”

“No problem. This is my gift to you, by the way.”

He smiled. “Thank you. We are having a reception in Aksalla in a week. Will you come to that?”

“Doubtful, but I might not be so pathetically lonely by then and have moved on to personal isolation by choice.”

He blinked. “You don’t have a partner?”

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