Page 17 of Moon Tamed

“Pie is candy. Vegetables aren’t candy.”

As nobody had gone for the roast, I pulled the pan closer. “Winter stag?” I guessed, as few other meats roasted to such a dark color without charring being involved. While I loved charred bits, no one else in the family appreciated the crunchy texture and pungent flavor.

“You can thank Allasandro; he went on a hunt earlier this week and brought down a stag. He also caught two live does.”

“They were taken to a reserve with their fawns. We also caught a young stag from a different herd,” Calden’s father said. “The hide from the one we killed is being tanned, and we’re using the bones and antlers. It was a good hunt.”

Since when was Allasandro Stephans bringing my parents part of his kills? A smart woman didn’t question having a share of good meat, and I gave myself a hearty portion before sliding the pan to Calden. “Thank you, Mr. Stephans.”

“Call me Allasandro when we aren’t at work, Coraline. I’m only stuffy in the office.” He grinned. “You’re usually here on Saturdays?”

“Normally. Mom hates having to get out of her pajamas on Sunday, so we try to stay home. Sometimes I hunt for rabbits over the weekend, but that depends on the time of year.”

One day, I might understand why our planet followed Earth standards. Korsania Minor had thirty-two hour days, and we worked for eight of them. Our year lasted five hundred and ten days. In the hundreds of years since colonization, we hadn’t broken away from many of Earth’s strange traditions, although we celebrated most of their holidays several times a year.

“Winter hunting?” Calden asked.

I nodded. “I don’t have anyone to hunt with. Peter can’t handle killing the rabbits. Mom wants to cook them immediately. Dad wants to adopt them rather than eat them.”

“That would complicate matters,” he conceded. “I can take you on a hunt, as I have no scruples about dispatching rabbits. I catch up to the limit for my freezer.”

Was there anything better than a sensible man? “I apply for the licenses yearly. I’ll get one next year; I’ve been out of luck three times in a row. I got a deep freezer preparing for my bounty.”

I wouldn’t tell him how long I’d saved to get my freezer.

“I have a license this year. I hit a dry spell, too.” Calden glared at his father.

“Just because I pulled your license once for bad behavior doesn’t mean I’m the reason for your bad luck.”

“See if I share any of my rabbits with you.”

“I get a yearly license, boy. I don’t need your rabbits.”

I recognized an old argument when I heard one. “Thank you for dinner, Mom.”

“Of course, baby. Are you going to sleep here before heading home?”

“That’s my plan. I need to get some new books, and I prefer the night stores.”

“Your father can take you.”

Nice. Dad had one of the Earth-styled SUVs, which made my library hauls all the better. “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate your contribution to my blooming career as a hermit.”

“You need to learn to drive or fly one of these days,” Dad muttered.

“Driving is for people with more disposable income than I have. Piloting is way too expensive. I don’t need a hover car. Or a plane. I definitely don’t need to portal jump or adventure into space. I’m a land-bound creature with an enjoyment of reading books. The transit system takes me where I need to go.”

“Or we do,” Dad muttered, passing the greens along. “At least you should enjoy the camping trip.”

“About that. Why was I sold off, anyway?”

“It seemed like a good idea at the time,” my parents chorused.

Of course. I should have known.

THREE

That way leads to darkness.

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