Page 41 of Golden Darkness

The woman walked toward her, and when Mrkana focused on her, Janessa did the short bow.

There was a chuckle, and a hand lifted her chin so that she was looking into the eyes of a Hmrain about seven inches taller than her.

“Aren’t you a surprise.” Mrkana chuckled. “Still a little thin, though. Kethen, don’t you feed her?”

Kethen chuckled, “As often as I can, but her recovery has been long and awkward.”

Janessa blushed and looked around. “Oh, hello.”

There was a man whose skin was dark purple and a version of Mrkana’s marks on his chest and belly. His clothing was a simple long vest and loose trousers. He was holding a little, soft, red baby in his arms.

He inclined his head formally. “Hello, consort of Kethen.”

“Greetings consort of Mrkana. Your child looks very strong.”

He smiled in a pleased way. “She is. Would you like to hold her?”

Mrkana tensed.

Janessa paused. “I don’t think it is appropriate for me to—oh, here she comes.”

The infant was in her arms, and she fussed immediately. Janessa moved her into a more comfortable grip and gently cupped her fuzzy head while her other arm supported the body. The fussing stopped, and a fist went into her mouth. There was a lot of slurping.

Janessa smiled at the little one, who was only slightly larger than she should be at four months.

She glanced at Mrkana, and the Hmrain was smiling.Whew.

“She likes you. She does not even like her caregivers. It is just me and Lothanic who can calm her.” Mrkana looked to Kethen. “She isn’t breeding yet. Can we borrow her for a few months?”

Kethen sighed and wrapped an arm around Janessa. “No. Absolutely not. She has not yet seen my worlds or properly shared my life.”

Lothanic was still staring at her with a sort of wonder. He frowned. “You are very small. What species are you?”

“Uh, Terran-human?” She smiled. “We are new.”

He cocked his head. “Are they all as small as you?”

She quirked her lips and absently rocked the baby. “The average height of females is smaller than I. A normal female would be the same height difference as you and I are.”

He blinked. “That is extreme.”

She chuckled. “That is life on a world that is now dead. Even the males of my species only come up to my nose, on average. There are some taller, some shorter.”

The little one in her arms snuffled and stretched.

Janessa crooned, “Oh, you are a very big girl, aren’t you?”

The baby let out a happy trill and kicked her feet.

Kethen chuckled, and the baby looked up at him with wide eyes, and her pursed mouth blew a little bubble.

Janessa held her up. “This is your uncle, Elder Kethen. You have many aunts and uncles, but he is old. Old and creaky. And he hangs out in dark places. Very creepy.”

Mrkana snorted and laughed.

Kethen leaned in close to her ear. “You know that you are going to have to return to the ship with me, alone in our room.”

She chuckled. “Maybe I will take up the babysitter position.”

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