Abel-ur asked, “What are you sending her?”
“An offer of assistance.”
Tam-or pulled out his phone and sent her one of the same.He paused.“She says she isn’t going far and to keep an eye on Cora because she’s pregnant.”
Cora gasped.“That little squealer.”
Abel-ur turned to her with shock on his face.“When?”
“The attachment came last night.Never felt it.”
Tam-or smiled.“Oh, yes, she did.”
Cora smiled.“She would.When we were little, she was always the stronger one, and when we were teens, I said I wanted a family.She said she would wait until I got started, so she waited.So, do you know any gentlemen who could handle a wife?She deserves security.”
Tam-or frowned.“Why marriage?”
Cora smiled.“We are old and set in our ways.If Abel-ur doesn’t want to hang around, Never and I can create a commune and live with the child.She would never wander off to have her own family if she were stuck chasing mine.”
Abel-ur smiled.“I am working on the proper ritual to propose to a wild goddess.”
She beamed.“I can give you a hint if you like.”
“Give me a day to find it.”
She laughed and then sobered.“I wish I could warn her that Never was coming.I don’t know if she has ever seen her geared up.It’s intimidating.”
Tam-or frowned.“Do you know where she went?”
“Wherever her target is.I have no idea what Aida would consider to be a good place to hide.”
* * * *
Elida smiled at themale who had gotten her pregnant.“So, how are you enjoying being surrounded by women?”
Wymol laughed.“It is interesting.They have been very welcoming.”
Kori smiled.“Well, you seem besotted with Mom, so why wouldn’t we be?”
Wymol looked around the neighbourhood.“Who is staying in the house down the drive?”
Elida frowned.“What?”
“She’s a friend of Miika’s.We met her in Corudet.”
Elida said, “Who, precisely, did we meet in Corudet?”
Kori cleared her throat.“Aida?”
Elida blinked slowly.“She’s here?How long has she been here?”
Kori frowned.“She was here the night of the wedding.When I came home, she was here with her easel and a duffel bag.I set her up in one of the empty houses.”
“When were you going to tell me?”
“When your face parted from Wymol’s for a few minutes.”
Elida blushed.“Ah.Well, fair point.We should go over and talk to her.She isn’t the type to seek shelter.”
