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“Welcome. My name is Lorotte. How can I help you?” Her voice was like silk.
“Lord Ryker sent us. We need to dress for Nailu and he assured us that you would help. This is his mate, Kya,” Arra said formally, and I wondered if she ever loosened up. Maybe that’s why she liked to drink.
“Kya. It is an honor to meet you. Lord Ryker is truly blessed by the Gods to have received a mate. And a beautiful one at that.” Lorotte bowed her head.
“Thank you. And this is my sister, Malina.” I gestured to Malina who was skipping back over to us.
“Hi!” she chimed.
“A pleasure,” Lorotte said. “Now, the Nailu celebration is only two days away so I will need to get your measurements and get started on your pieces. Take a look around and let me know if you see something and I can work on the customization to your liking.”
I looked around the room. “Do we not just…pick one?”
“Only if you feel strongly about it. But if Lord Ryker said I would take care of you, then I certainly will. I’ve known him since he was young. His mother and I were friends. I would do anything for him.”
Were.
I gave a grateful nod, and we began to look around at the selection. A moment later, a hand grazed my arm.
“As the mate to Lord Ryker, I was wondering if you would like to wear the traditional dress of Oryn. Although you certainly don’t have to,” she offered with a grin.
“No, I would love that. I believe that traditions are important to uphold.” I smiled back.
“Wonderful! Let me grab some materials from the back.” Lorotte briskly left the room.
Malina came to stand next to me. “You could make some modifications, you know.”
“Such as?” I asked.
She gave me a sad smile.
I shook my head. “No. This is Oryn. And besides, I never earned that honor,” I said softly. It wouldn’t have felt right.
“Kya, you were deemed Worthy byKleio.I think if anyone has earned that honor, it’s you.”
I didn’t say anything, and Malina’s lips thinned before she went back to peruse the rows of clothes.
Lorotte came back a few minutes later with several swaths of fabric. Her features were hard in concentration as she held each one up to me.
“Oh now this one is perfect. Yes. I think this will do very nicely,” she said, nodding.
Malina and Arra approached, each with a dress draped over their arms. Malina’s was a beautiful burgundy color and Arra’s was a deep rich blue that made her red hair stand out. I had to hand it to them, for not liking this sort of thing, they sure knew how to pick out what accentuated their features.
“Well, that will most definitely compliment the eyes.” Arra said looking at the material Lorotte was holding. And I could have sworn there was the slightest hint of a smile on her face. At least it wasn’t her usual scowl.
“Indeed. I love it. You’ll look like a walking jewel,” Malina said, clapping her hands.
“Lord Ryker does like his gems. And you will be his most precious treasure,” Lorotte said.
I laughed. “Okay, I’ll take it.”
“Good.” She tossed aside the swaths and spun me around. “I’ll get all of your measurements and have these delivered to the palace by tomorrow night.”
After we left Lorotte’s shop, we explored the city for a bit before Malina and I went back to the palace. Arra had gone her own way back to her home. I was beginning to like Arra, water under the bridge and all that. She still scowled the entire time, but I think she had enjoyed herself as well.
Just as we were approaching the steps of the palace, Odarum appeared beside us. I was getting used to him showing up at unexpected times.“I need to speak with you.”
“I’ll meet with you later, Mal,” I said.
