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“He didn’t seem to like me very much until a day or two before all this happened.”

“He’s never wanted a mate. Seems like he found one anyway. You’re his. I will keep you safe.”

“Thank you,” Au'revele said.

“Will you do me a favor, please?”

“If I can,” she said.

“If his condition changes, let me know. I will be with the Sirena, but I would like to know his status.”

“I will.”

Vor turned to leave.

“Oh! Your dagger!”

“You keep it for now. I’ll feel better knowing you can protect yourself if you need to.”

~~~

Mirilla wandered around the captain’s quarters of the vessel she’d been able to board.

The sound of the hydraulic doors whooshing open had her spinning toward them.

“You have to relax, female. You have no chance of blending in if you do not learn to pretend that you are accustomed to traveling alone,” the captain said, shaking his head.

“I’m trying. I just know that I’m not supposed to be here. And I had to be smuggled onboard, which makes me even more nervous.”

“You’re as safe here as you’re going to be until you return home.”

“I may not be returning home. Depends on what I find.”

“What is it that you’re looking for?” the captain asked.

“My brother.”

“Does he wish to be found? If not, locating missing family can be challenging.”

“Hopefully it won’t be too challenging. My entire future depends on locating him.”

“Then for your sake, I hope you find him.”

“As do I,” Mirilla said.

“Here, I borrowed these for you,” he said, tossing a few garments toward her.

“What’s this?” she asked, holding up the clothes she’d just caught.

“Suitable clothing. It should help to hide the fact that you’re a female. It’s not something you want to advertise on some of the ports you’re planning on searching.”

Mirilla nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate your help.”

“An’ Der is a friend of mine. If you weren’t his granddaughter you wouldn’t even be here.”

“I’m not…” she started, but clamped her mouth shut when she realized if she told the captain that she wasn’t An’ Der’s granddaughter, he might have put her off the vessel. And she needed this vessel to allow her to accompany them for as long as she could.

“You’re not what?” the captain asked.

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