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“It’s not funny,” she grumbled at him.

“It is a little funny,” Asl said.

“And why is it funny?”

“Because neither your shraler nor your chain can help you this time. You actually need us. So that you can go to the bathroom. That is funny.”

“Yeah, yeah, just remember that at some point, I’ll be walking around with my chain again,” she said, smothering her smile.

“That’s more than the height of my thigh! This is ridiculous. I shouldn’t need help getting out of bed.”

“You are little, Sirena,” Kail reminded her.

“And you are not usually this round,” Asl added.

“True,” she agreed, shuffling off to the cleansing chamber. “But I still shouldn’t be dangling off the side of the bed.”

“It is made for a much larger person,” Rel assured her.

“Obviously. Where is Quin?”

“He is no longer in the palace,” Zahn said.

She stopped in her tracks and looked back at them. “I’m sorry, what?”

“He had business to attend to this morning. He should return soon.”

“And he couldn’t tell me he was leaving?” she asked.

“You were resting,” Kail said.

Vivian finally disappeared into the cleansing room and the door closed behind her. They waited quietly near the bed they’d helped her get out of while she was tending to her needs.

A couple of minutes later she emerged from the cleansing room, already in full blown conversation. “You know what? A step stool isn’t a bad idea. They used to have steps for the beds in the middle ages to get in and out of bed easily because the beds were so over-sized. That’s not a bad idea. Even when I am able to jump down I still won’t want to jump in the middle of the night.”

“We will see to it, Sirena,” Zahn said.

“That’d be great,” she said absent-mindedly as she wandered around the bedroom opening doors as she looked for clothes of any type. “Ah hah!” she called out, having finally found them. “Can you guys wait outside while I get dressed. I’ll need atleast one of you to help me get downstairs. There’s no reason for everyone to babysit me while I get ready, though.”

“We will all wait,” Zahn said, and they each bowed to her briefly as they left her bedroom, closing it securely behind them.

“Some of you guys go away! I don’t need everyone here,” she called out as she chose a long-sleeved, soft, loose fitting maxi-dress with a pair of matching slippers. Both in a dark green. She quickly changed out of Quin’s shirt and into the long dress before going back to the bathroom and brushing her teeth, then brushing and braiding her hair back out of her face. When she was done, she opened her bedroom door and looked questioningly at all four males still waiting for her.

“Why are you all still here. Isn’t someone off today?”

“No, we are all on duty for the time being. When you are in chambers we will not be as on alert. While you move about, you will have all four of us,” Zahn explained.

“Am I in danger?” she asked, looking questioningly at him.

“No, Sirena. But this is a new protocol. New location. New challenges.”

“Alright. Whatever you think, though I’m pretty sure it’s overkill.”

“No one will be killed while we are on duty!” Kail insisted.

Vivian turned and looked at Kail, then started giggling. He was still thrown by her Earth slang from time to time. “I’m sure you’re right,” she said, not interested in explaining the expression.

“Downstairs and breakfast?” Rel asked.

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