Page 102 of Planet Zero
“Yes! Yes.” Qalae kept looking. “Well. I don’t know.”
“You should know. You’re a healer.”
Addie put up a hand. “I’m not one.”
“Lies. You know. Chele’s in bad shape, then.” She cocked her head the other way as an idea occurred. “Do you know what’s in this powder?”
“No!”
“More lies! Tell me.”
“Ask Chele.”
“I can’t!”
“Why not? She’s at home all the time.”
“I can’t visit the sick. Chele isn’t my family.”
Addie gestured helplessly. “What if she needs your help? What if she’s dying?”
“Is she?”
“I don’t know!”
“Well, you take care of her. I can’t. The Rule of the Fallen forbids it.”
“Stupid rule!” Addie blurted out, her resolve to act cool breaking apart. Agitation and unease churned inside her in a potent and unpleasant mix. “Leave me alone, Qalae. I just… I just want to get on with my life. I don’t want to get involved.”
“Oh, now she doesn’t! Remember how you wanted so much not to be alone? Well, you aren’t. BecauseIlet you stay. You’re now one of us. That’s what being part of a tribe means.”
“What, trouble?”
“Involvement.”
Qalae was right on that one, but Addie felt little remorse. Nothing good would come out of thisinvolvement, and it was time to untangle herself from the hot mess of Qalae’s life.
“See you later, Qalae.”
“I’ll tell the High Counselor you’re a healer,” Qalae threw at her.
“Big deal! He already thinks I am.”
“I’ll tell him Chele’s one, too.”
Addie laughed. Suddenly, the unpleasant agitation eased and she felt like she’d won a contest. “No, you won’t. You’re stuck, Qalae.”
“You… you maggot-eating little lizard!”
“Snake.”
They stared at each other for a heartbeat before Addie turned and left while the queen silently fumed.
Chapter 31
Addie was almost at the settlement when she heard someone calling her name. Stopping, she turned in the direction of the voice and waited until Melmie caught up with her.
“Hey, there. What have you been up to?” Addie smiled at the girl’s slightly disheveled appearance. Melmie was breathing hard from running.
