Page 26 of Return of the Nine

She watched the shiver ripple over his skin again and noted the darkening of his wings. “Should you be doing that?”

He looked up at her, his leafy green eyes innocent. “Doing what?”

“Touching me. I have heard it is not a common activity up here.”

A snide voice from across the table interrupted them. “It figures that a flitter would be trying to seduce one of the new race.”

Tiera snapped into a cold mode. She looked at the womanwith the tree-bark-like skin. The man next to her spoke in liquid tones, and they laughed together.

Tonos was about to speak but she placed her hand on his.

“It is amazing how rude so-called evolved races can be. Speaking in the language of the Forest while everyone around you understands the language of the Nine or Gaian is exceptionally impolite. Were you raised in a field? Did no one guide you as you grew, or were you gestated on a dung heap?”

The female gasped and darkened in colour. Her male smiled slightly.

“You too, twig-man. You were the one to change language first. Know when someone is ill at ease.”

The woman leaned forward and hissed. “You are only here because your friend is whoring herself with a Wilder.”

That was the last straw. Tiera got to her feet, slammed her hands on the table and leaned forward. “Bring it, bitch.”

Ziggy was worried, but Rothaway tried to keep her calm.

“She will be fine, Signy. No one here will harm her.”

Ziggy placed her hand on the ordering pad and selected her meal. They had added several Gaian selections in the last two days, and she was relieved to see old favourites.

“It isn’t the harm. It is the insults. I am well aware that my addition here is mostly due to your position.”

“It is due to your skill, my heart.”

“Whatever. Many folks here consider us beneath them. I have been reading the news reports, Rothaway.”

He sipped at his beverage with a smile, “It is mainly the women. The fact that you can bond to one of us is shaking up a certain inbred smugness that many of the women have. They were used to having their pick of the men, and if their males can find a perfect match with a Gaian female, they will be a little upset.”

Ziggy grumped. “I still can’t understand while she is way down at the end of the table.”

“You took too long to get ready. They had seated most of the higher ranks and only held the positions for us. She is lucky to be near Tonos, at least he will talk to her.”

She was about to reply when she heard her friend’s strident tone.

“Bring it, bitch.”

Ziggy winced and looked down the table to where Tiera was standing and bristling with rage. The eye contact that she was engaging in meant only one thing, and when the Forest woman bowed her head and her mate followed suit, Ziggy giggled.

Tiera sighed, met Ziggy’s gaze from down the table and winked before she sat down.

Rothaway was cautious, “What was that?”

“I am not the only one with a talent, my dearest.” Ziggy smiled as her meal appeared from within the table.

Suddenly, she was a lot more confident of Tiera’s ability to fit in.

“I beg your pardon? I have never seen Lady Thenotha bow her head to anyone, let alone a tagalong Gaian.”

Ziggy held her utensils and arranged her food to her liking. “Didn’t I mention that Tiera has the ability to make folks see things her way? Must have slipped my mind.”

Rothaway cupped her chin and turned her head. “She has a talent for...”

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