Page 101 of Planet Zero
“It doesn't matter who did it. They decided to blame you and almost had you beaten and thrown out. I couldn't let it happen.”
Addie nodded with acceptance. “Of course. I know you need me.”
His eyebrows arched. “Is that so?”
“I’m alright with it. I understand.”
“I’m humbled by your spirit of self-sacrifice.” He wasn’t joking. “I’ll do my best not to abuse the privilege.”
Before Addie found words to respond, gravel made but the barest whisper of sound under the soles of his boots as he walked away.
???
Later that day, Addie worked herself in a lather in anticipation of her meeting with Qalae. She had agreed to substitute for Chele, reluctantly. She hadn’t planned to keep substituting for Chele until Ehr and Ihr went supernova.
She marched between low shrubbery and tall boulders, away from the settlement. To avoid a chance encounter with a scout, - or, heavens forbid, marauders, - Addie kept close to the scarce undergrowth of something resembling tumbleweed with penis-shaped cones, the shrub For called Ayay. Ayay cones were fleshy and wobbly, festooned with dewy droplets of seeds that looked extremely appetizing but were very poisonous. Even Fors’ tough digestive systems succumbed to Ayay in a rush of crippling diarrhea.
Knowing what she knew about Fors’ sturdy constitutions, Addie thought that Chele’s broken hip bone took a long time to heal. But Chele wasn’t a young woman, and perhaps her age played a role, slowing the process. Or maybe it was Addie’s impatience with having to sneak out to meet Qalae that made Chele’s recovery seem like a drag.
The queen emerged from behind Addie, silent and looking… uncertain.
“Addie-woman,” she said in her customary haughty tone, but Addie caught a note of relief in her throaty voice. The queen hadn’t been sure Addie would be here. Had been afraid her herb supply would run dry.
Well, the queen had a reason to have thought this way. But the realization that she had somewhat of an upper hand didn’t bring Addie satisfaction.
“Hello, Qalae.” Addie slid her hand into the sack that always hung across her body and pulled out the small pouch.
Without meeting her eyes, Qalae extended her hand, palm-up, and after a small hesitation, Addie dropped the pouch into the outstretched hand.
Transaction completed.
“It was the last time,” Addie said.
Qalae’s head jerked almost imperceptibly as she stared at Addie with her large feral eyes. Huntress’ eyes. Her arms flexed at her sides reminding Addie of the smooth round muscle under the sleeves of her unadorned but finely-weaved tunic. She wasn’t as scary as Hoban, but she could still rip Addie apart with her bare hands if she wanted to. And it looked like she wanted to at this moment.
“I helped because Chele asked me to, and now I’m done,” Addie plowed ahead despite the unease the queen’s eyes filled her with. She would make a formidable foe. But then again, she already was one, so Addie stood nothing to lose. “I won’t take part in your games. Never again.”
Qalae’s gaze never wavered. “You’ve grown bold, strange woman. I’m your queen. I can have you banished. Is it what you want?”
Addie huffed a humorless laugh. “Banished? You almost had me killed this morning!”
“Pfft!” Qalae tilted her head in an oddly graceful weird gesture. “Nothing happened. The cripple handled Chemmusaayl well. He handled it all well.”
“You couldn't have known he’d come. And stop calling him cripple!”
“But that is what he is. I’m the queen. You’re a strange woman. And he’s a cripple. Not using those words will not change who we are.” She sounded forlorn, like being a queen was somehow a handicap akin to a busted knee.
“Then why don’t you accept who you are,” Addie said snidely. “You’re the queen. Chief Net’ok’s mate.”
Qalae frowned, displeasure twisting her fine, vaguely draconian snout into a snarling mask. “What do you know about me, Addie-woman?”
“Very little. And I don’t care to know more.”
“Fine! Chele will do her duty to me. When is she going to get better?”
“I don’t know.” A twinge of guilt pulled at the corner of Addie’s heart.
Qalae squinted at her. “Isshe going to get better?”
