Page 18 of Dark's Savior

Xilya shook her head. "Not yet. I should lay low for a bit, as Vilson will wonder where I have been. But I will come down to the lair once it’s safe, to see that everything is in working order. I tested the map myself earlier, but I'd like to see that it is properly transferred into the console system and—Nihl Ryziel, are you listening?"

He wasn't. Not fully. Because as soon as she had begun to speak, a familiar scent hit his nostrils and turned him hard as a rock. His eyes darted to the side by the edge of a pillar, and a low growl rose in his throat.

There, from the darkness of the pillar, the woman from the bridge stood, watching.

Ryziel went still, just like he had when first seeing her on the bridge. Xilya was trying to get his attention, but he couldn't bring himself to look away.

The woman approached cautiously, and it was in Ryziel to feel greatly impressed that she had the courage to face not only him but the vrisha also, who was equally terrifying in her appearance.

Brave or stupid, perhaps. It could also be true that she was just shamefully oblivious to the danger before her. Yet, still she came up to the table and even gave them a curt smile.

"Hello," she said softly, just like she had on the bridge. Her eyes darted to the vrisha then back to him. "We met on the bridge...remember?"

Obviously, he did, but he didn't answer. He took one last drag of his pipe in desperate hope that it would sedate him enough that his Drega wouldn't rise up and he wouldn't have the energy to leap over the table and pull her to him.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Xilya regarding him. Her eyes darted from the woman back to him. When he still said nothing, Xilya let out a soft growl, as if to clear her throat.

"And who are you, girl?" she asked, curious but guarded.

The woman looked at the vrisha female and blinked several times, as if coming out of a trance.

"My name is Aly," she said.

"Aly? Interesting." Xilya paused and looked at Ryziel, who was no more reactive than the cave wall behind them. He remained still and silent, watching the woman with acute intensity.

So, her name was Aly.

Ryziel's brow twitched. It didn't matter what her name was. He should just tell her to leave. To never approach or look at him again. Did she not know who he was? Did she not know to regard him as she did was a serious offense to any nillium? Even one such as himself? Yes, he should call her out now and tell her she had no business interrupting them—that she should learn respect. That her kind did not just approach his kind without proper respect.

"And from where do you hail, Aly?" Xilya asked.

"She's human," Ryziel blurted.

Aly's bright eyes turned back to him with shock. Ryziel had to keep himself from grimacing.

‘Idiot. Why don't you just go on and confess you've also been following her and her kind around while you’re at it?’

"Yes," she said carefully.

"I have never heard of human," Xilya said, ignoring the tension between them. "Which planetary system?"

"Um. Earth. It's not within the Xolis system."

"Ah, a 'refugee,' like me." Xilya looked at her more closely. "Far away, I take it?"

Aly nodded and seemed like she wanted to say more but wasn't sure how. Eventually, she said, "You really haven't heard of us?"

Xilya's tail swayed, and she crossed her hands. "Why would I have heard of you?" she asked.

Aly's face turned a little pink. "Sorry, I didn't mean..."

Xilya snorted and looked at Ryziel. "Another ego-driven species. You two would get along, I'm sure...or make great enemies."

For all her bluntness, he wished Xilya would stop talking. He needed to end this now. He took up his Nuri and drank it down then placed the now empty cup in front of him. He laid his tightly clenched fist on the table and slowly eased it open until his palm was flat. He looked up at Aly and prepared to say what he needed to say but maybe with a little more gentleness because she was new and didn't understand all the ways of Xolis. He would ask her to leave politely and not talk to him or his companion, and that would be that.

"I'm sorry," Aly said for no reason. Her face reddened and he could see a lick of sweat run down her neck. She blinked a few times more and shook her head as if trying not to fall asleep. " I just...I wanted to apologize for the moment on the bridge. I think I might have scared you."

There was a long pause as Ryziel stared at her in disbelief. She thought she might have scaredhim?

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