Page 59 of Unfinished

“Maybe sometime in the future. For now, I’m happy right where I am,” she replied with a smile.

She was more determined than ever to try the friedjalathiroots now. She was wondering if they’d be able to find Veesha’s favorites too when she noticed two women watching them and making some of the hand signs towards them. Unlike the people bringing offerings to her and H’viss, these women were frowning and hissing.

She glanced at Faseeth. “What does that sign mean? Why are they looking at us like that?”

Faseeth hissed out a mirthless laugh. “That’s the sign I just made for thejalathiroots. I already told you that your mate’s people don’t value those like me and Veesha. They’re trying to ward off the bad luck we bring,” he said bitterly.

Sienna didn’t get angry often. It was one of the reasons Edgar had told her she was so frigid, because he claimed she didn’t have any passion, but at that moment, a fury burned in her chest hotter than any she’d ever felt before.

“She’s a child,” Sienna said, gripping Veesha’s hand more tightly. Veesha was looking down at her sandaled feet, but she didn’t look upset. She looked like she was used to the way those women were looking at her.

Sienna didn’t stop to think. She held Veesha’s hand out towards Faseeth. “Here. Keep her safe. I’ll be right back.”

She marched over to the two women, thankful for her practical shoes. It beat trudging across a field in heels while she had a point to prove. She stopped right in front of the women, and their expressions transformed as they murmured “Lady” and their eyes shone with adoration.

Sienna lifted her hand and gave them a very human gesture, one that she never used back home, but she felt that the situation warranted it.

“Have you blessed us, lady?” the woman on the right asked.

Sienna grinned, but it wasn’t a nice smile. “Nope. I cursed you right back. You should be ashamed of yourselves. Did you know that Veesha is your high priest’s daughter? And even if she weren’t, she’s an innocent little girl, and Faseeth is a guest at the temple. When you make those gestures at them, you’re insulting everyone at Evathi, me included.”

The womens’ feathers flattened tight against their heads, and they slipped away quickly instead of responding. The crowd swallowed them up, and Sienna stood in front of more strangers, and it all felt a little anticlimactic. She wasn’t sure her little tirade had made any difference but to draw attention to herself.

A low chuckle behind her shoulder had her turning back to look. Faseeth grinned at her, showing his fangs. “Well done, Lady Sienna. Veesha has a warrior to protect her.” The sparkle dimmed in his eyes, and he grew serious. “I hope you stay. For her sake, I hope you remain at Evathi. R’kash may not deserve you, but she does.” He looked down at Veesha’s dark feathered head. “She needs someone as strong as you to stand beside her, to teach her.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said, reaching for Veesha’s hand.

“I’m glad to hear it.” R’kash’s familiar voice had her shoulders dropping and her body melting against him as he stepped close and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Thank you, Sienna,” he said quietly into her ear. “Faseeth is right. You bless us with your presence here. Veesha and I need you.”

Her eyes closed as she let her head rest against his chest, pressing her cheek to his warm scales. “I need you, too,” she told him.

“Picture?”

Faseeth’s mocking voice drew her out of the moment, and he was smirking at them when she looked up.

Sienna drew Veesha in front of them and smiled. “Why not?”

24

Friedjalathiroots were amazing,Faseeth’s aspersions on them notwithstanding, and the rest of the afternoon had passed in a blur of activity and excitement. R’kash had made sure both she and Veesha picked at least one ear of the ceremonial maize, and now they were standing near the large fire circle built by Jesthi and his group as he prepared to light the harvest fire.

They’d used bricks to line the edges and dug out the center, filling the space with large patties of what she’d learned werev’kelthdung. Apparently, their herds left lots of the stuff behind and it made great fuel for the fire.

Jesthi was getting the crowd riled up as he lifted up a piece of dried corn husk and his fire-starter. The people hissed and whooped when the first flame appeared, and then Jesthi bent down to set it among the kindling. There were enough of them surrounding the circle that there was no need to worry about the wind putting it out. Their bodies shielded the small flame as it spread.

In the center of the circle was a tall pole. The golden rope with the doll offerings had been cut into multiple long strings that had been fastened at the top and pulled down to the edges of the circle. It reminded her of a maypole, especially with the drummers drawing closer in preparation for the first dance.

R’kash was still right beside her and Veesha. He bent his head to speak into his small communication device and looked up to catch her watching.

“Just asking Ivekth and Neevish to bring themaesta,” he told her, moving closer so she’d be able to hear him.

“What’s that?”

“The ceremonial liquor we make from the Lady’s maize harvest,” he told her.

Sienna laughed. Alien moonshine—her new almost-husband was in charge of making alien moonshine.

His rattle shook low in faux-warning at her response. “You’ll like it, lady. Just wait.”

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