Page 149 of Return of the Nine

“Yes. Is there a reference to this in the Nine languages? You seem confused.” She worked on her meal with good appetite. It had been a while since she had consumed fruit out of season. She had missed the greenhouses of the city. Dried fruit just wasn’t the same.

Apolan chuckled. “Our females are not really trained for self-sufficiency. There are so few that we tend to take great care of them. Dorum was simply surprised that you had survived on your own.”

She swallowed and sipped some water. “I can track my own food, and after a while, I got used to killing for defence and meals. Once I reached that point, not much bothered me.”

Dorum nodded. “Yes, once you have your first kill under your belt, it is like a rock down a hill. Not much will stop you, though you may be redirected.”

Ianka inclined her head. “Now you have it. So, when do we leave?”

He grinned. “As soon as the meal is done. The ship has been checked and is ready for takeoff.”

“Good. I need to find out what she wants. She has become most insistent.” Ianka rubbed her forehead. She knew what Daphne had told her, but she wanted to hear it from Vida.

Dorum was looking at her curiously. “You can sense yoursister?”

Ianka frowned. “Now and then. Right now is one of those moments.”

Daphne smiled. “They have always had their link. Before the Tokkel, they were one of the best tracking teams that had ever been seen, not that folks knew who they were. They did their best work without anyone knowing. Ianka even delivered meat to those who had suffered a death or illness and were unable to work.”

She sat up. “How do you know that?”

“I saw you. I was hiding and you brought it all the way out to my cottage on several occasions before you left. I truly appreciated it.”

“Where were you?”

Daphne chuckled. “I was hiding.”

“Oh.” Ianka blushed. She had forgotten that Daphne had her own set of skills when she chose to use them.

The rest of the meal was completed in silence.

Ianka’s belly was full but not uncomfortable when she placed her cutlery carefully across the edge of her plate.

She felt a touch on her shoulder and the housekeeper pointed toward the corner where her bag was sitting and gleaming with a solid cleaning.

“Thank you for the care you took.” She spoke softly.

She wasn’t sure if the woman spoke Gaian or not, but she blushed a soft grey and smiled shyly.

Daphne grinned as the woman left. “I think she is smitten with you. No other woman could have scattered the guards with a look, like you did.”

“It was my smell, not my face that scattered them.” She sat with her hands in her lap.

“I beg to differ. You looked deadly coming through the gates.” Apolan smiled.

They rose from the table and Ianka took the hint. She grabbed her pack, checked for her knives and followed Pilot Dorum to the tarmac a fair distance from the embassy.

Daphne came with her.

“Thank you, Daphne. That shower was wonderful.”

Daphne laughed. “The mother ship has solar showers, so think fondly of this one.”

“Right. Limited water on the ship.” Ianka braced herself for what was about to be her first space flight.

She gave Daphne a brisk hug and waved to Apolan before following Dorum into the ship.

He carefully took her pack from her and settled it in a storage container, locking it closed. “We don’t want anything coming loose. This is a quick and bumpy trip.”

---