Page 4 of Lost Companion

“Oh. Well, if you ask. Yes, I did.” She held up her hands. “These are my friends, lefty and righty.”

Ranna smiled and laughed softly. “That is what I thought. You have that tightly wound look that comes with holding yourself together. Why are you shaking?”

“I got cold on the way here. I have issues regulating temperature, and the bond smock doesn’t help.”

“Oh, of course.” She reached out and took off her cloak, wrapping it around Riley with a flourish. The warmth wrapped around her, and she sighed as she shivered.

Ranna smiled. “I will tell the housekeeper we want tea.”

Riley was speechless. Ranna was a Hmrain, but her wings had been shredded. It was like the scars on her face. She was reminding herself about the horror. Riley was sad, but she shivered in the thick cloak. The warmth slowly sank in, and when Ranna returned, a woman with soft yellow fur and wide black eyes came into the room. “So, you are the Terran that Lady Ranna had to have.”

“Pleased to meet you, mistress.” Riley nodded while shaking.

“What is the trouble?”

“Just a little cold.”

“Why?”

Riley smiled. “No fur?” She stuck her arm out and turned it from side to side.

“I see. What sort of tea would you prefer?”

“I have no preferences yet. Everything is new.”

The woman paused and nodded. “That isn’t a bad answer. Why are you here?”

“My world exploded.”

“Why are youhere?”

She looked at Ranna. “My guess is she wants to see herself, so she is setting me up to be her mirror, her echo, until she can live normally again.”

Ranna smiled. “It’s time. Also, if I give her joy, I can consume it, so it is motivating for me.”

The housekeeper blinked and smiled, showing a lot of teeth. “That is a worthy goal. Tea and snacks, it is.”

“Mistress, what is your name?”

“Horib. Ranna’s father hired me.”

“Pleased to meet you, Horib. I am Riley.”

The housekeeper nodded; her neatly braided crest of hair gleamed as she turned and returned to the kitchen.

Ranna smiled. “So, you have grasped my intent.”

“I am good that way.”

Ranna stroked her hair. “I think we will get along fine. I am hoping to have our arrangement seamless when my father visits in two months.”

“Your father?”

“Lord Rath. He trains warriors on the other side of the world. Maybe we could visit them one day.”

“Wherever you want to go, I will go.”

Ranna smiled. “How long do you think you can keep that up?”

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