Page 74 of Soros
Star looked at Nerix and then at me. There was an expression of panic in her eyes. Thinking it was her fear of being alone, I hurried to comfort her.
“Soros and I won’t leave Scilm with theGreat Defendereither. We’re waiting for our permission to be together before we can return to Earth. You’ll just stay with us.”
“Am I to understand that you don’t know where you’ll be staying yet?” Limak asked Star.
She gave an affirmative sound. “I’m not sure.”
With a charming smile Limak angled his head. “Have you ever been to Nox? It’s a beautiful place with a friendly population. I live there and I could easily introduce you to some new friends.”
Nerix pointed out, “Star already has friends.”
“Yes. But it sounds like most of you are leaving her soon.”
There was a long glance between Nerix and Star and I noticed that she looked incredibly sad. I didn’t blame her because she had already lost everyone in her family and Nerix and I were the two people Star had bonded to the most.
We listened as Limak went over some practical details and arranged to meet Star again later that evening. Nerix and Lios insisted on accompanying her and I wondered what would happen when they were gone. Limak was definitely clever and focused on wealth. He had already said that he found Star attractive, and she was starving for friends and attention. It would be easy for him to charm her as she was longing for someone to give her the same feeling of safety that her sheltered life had offered.
For me, as an independent woman, I couldn’t stand the thought of someone running her life. I wanted for Star to become more independent and make her own decisions. She needed to learn how to stand on her own feet and take control of her future and fortune.
“Tania.” Lios brought me out of my ruminations when he leaned closer and looked into my eyes.
“Yes?”
“Soros told me what happened with the cultural committee. I’m sorry.”
“We’re not giving up that easy.”
“Good. Soros asked for my help to find an Ugon Master on Scilm who could meet with you. The selection is slim as my people don’t like tourist places that much. But I found one who is leading a retreat in the northern part of Uttyuu. He is sympathetic to your situation and fascinated that you are part human.”
“Will he meet with me?” I asked with eagerness.
“Yes. But it has to be tomorrow morning. He wants to meet both of you.”
Soros and I squeezed hands under the table and exchanged a quick glance. “Tell him that we’ll be more than happy to meet with him,” Soros said.
Lios gave a nod to signal that he would. “Did you tell her about the transportation to Earth?”
His question to Soros made me ask, “What are you talking about?”
“We have been worried about how to get you back to Earth,” Lios said. “TheGreat Defenderand our team are needed in the Blitton Belt so we’re leaving sooner than I had hoped. It can take forever before a research ship passes Scilm, but I’ve looked into it and there’s one passing through Fedaros in a quarter of a tallume.”
“How long is a tallume again?” I asked because their system of calculating time still tripped me up.
Soros, who was always sharp when it came to looking up things, answered, “One tallume is equal to twenty days on Earth.”
“So five days.”
“We have two nights on Scilm before we must leave. If nothing else comes up, we can take you back to Fedaros on our way to the Blitton Belt.”
“Okay, thank you,” I said. Getting from one planet to another wasn’t easy or cheap.
Lios looked from me to Soros and back with deep sympathy in his dark green eyes. “If it doesn’t work out with the Ugon Master, you’ll have to enjoy these last two nights together. Saying goodbye probably won’t be easy.”
He had only just said the words when I felt my eyes tear up. “I don’t want to think about that.”
“I understand.” Lios pulled back and then he narrowed his eyes slightly. It was a micro expression, but I caught it and turned my head to see what had him annoyed. Focusing on others was easier than dealing with the fear in my chest. Seeing Limak sitting in a deep conversation with Cacala, I figured that Lios was protective of his staff.
“Don’t worry. She probably doesn’t have enough wealth to interest him,” I said to calm Lios. “It’s Star that we have to protect.”
