He barked a laugh.“You think?”
“It’s a wild guess.”The sea of green faces, some with tusks and some without, all were looking at her in fascinated horror.“It’s the eyes, right?”
He laughed.“Perhaps.I think they are stunning.Quicksilver with no interruptions.”
“Oh, they expanded a bit then.I must have been irritated.How did you come to work for the chief?”
“Ah, I am the speaker for our clan.I do all the negotiations.”
“But you are a housekeeper?”
He laughed.“I am a cook by hobby, and Abel-ur doesn’t make a lot of mess.He cleans up after himself.”
“I thought all speakers were bossy and demanding favours for access to the clan.”
“We can be.Access to clans is highly guarded.It is on us to determine who genuinely will benefit our clan, aligns with our interests and focuses.”
“Yeah, but sometimes, you get sex in return, so it isn’t all bad.”
He laughed.“I am not pure blooded, so there is an additional issue.They need me, but I repulse them, so it makes for an interesting dynamic.Not one to brag about but interesting.”
“Aw, I bet they ache for days.”
He snorted.“Yes, and not always in a good way.I slip, and I lose focus, and I can’t afford to.”
“Your normal height is around ten feet, right?”
“Nine six.How did you know?”
“Something about the way you move.You are careful, as if you are bigger.”
He paused and then asked, “I don’t suppose you would ever be willing to go out for an evening while you were in town?”
She stopped in place and stared at him.“Like, a date?”
“Exactly like a date.”
“I hate to sound trite, but I have nothing to wear.”
“I believe I would like you wearing nothing.”
She smiled.“Flirting?You must have a thing for quicksilver.”
“More the way you handled today.You were precise, brutal, and direct.It was lovely to see.You can also ignore crying and begging.That I have difficulty doing.”
“It takes practice.”
“Well, if I have you begging, you can coach me through ignoring you.”
“So, the age thing isn’t a problem?”
“You are made of magic.Magic doesn’t age.It gives.Where were you found?”
“Oh, the asshats found an old wave site, and they held the ritual there.When the smoke cleared, there were two little girls huddled together and crying.A very nice lady with black hair and strange eyes came to us and told us she would bring us somewhere safe.So, we ended up with Matthias, and the mayor’s mansion had two toddlers in it.He swiftly found us a foster placement nearby, but we spent time with Uncle Matthias every week.”
“But you have never had a clan take you in?”
“Nope.I always thought it was my foul mouth, but I think it could be the eyes.”
