I tried not to show what felt suspiciously like panic show on my face."Right.So then whyamI under lock and key?"
"It's a keypad, not a key," Zirric said breezily, waving one dark hand.Some of my patience with his flippancy was fading.I needed answers and hemightgive them to me in a roundabout way, but he might just as easily lead me down the garden path.
It wasn't like I was spoiled for choice of conversational partners, though, so I faked a laugh and waited for him to continue.
"Alright, let me see if I might explain this.You've declared for Araxis and you've been claimed, but you, Sashen of Creche Thiel, are still a hot commodity.Virra are important to abaya: there aren't a lot of them – a lot ofyou, I guess – and everyone near your orbit is going to want a moment of your time, a scrap of your attention, a bitof affection, especially since you're outside of your creche and you're new."He shifted his weight, crossing his ankles and stretching languorously."It was kind of like that when I first arrived, even inside the creche – except the opposite, I guess.Everyone was scared of me and worried I'd, I don't know,corruptthem with my presence."
It still wasn't making much sense to me.And if it was that obvious that I was virra, I didn't know why it hadn't come up in the years before I'd met Araxis.It wasn't like we didn't have abaya come through the den now and again."Is that because you're skoshas?"I asked, hoping to keep Zirric talking.He was certainly a talker, and I suspected that flattery was the way to keep him going.I knew the type well."I've got to be honest, you read virra to me."
His smile sharpened, his fur rippling with pleasure."That's what what Lauvis says as well.But I've got a bit of xandai in the mix – this is what they tell me anyway.Brin have very sensitive noses but I can't smell the difference between an inavil oranirenek to save my life.Since I'm not purely virra or xandai, I'm skoshas, which makes a lot of people get nervous.Especially when I was new."
"Like I am," I supplied, leading him back to the point.
"Yes, you understand!"he cried, sounding pleased."So part of what we're doing here is keeping you safe and secure, away from any prying eyes or, hm, wandering hands?We know abaya are very hung up on sex.They'reweirdabout it, even if weird can be fun.It would be a problem for our creches if you were, um, compromised while you're here."
I blinked.All at once, I was reminded uncomfortably of the long conversations we'd had in morality classes on Seraphim about what happened if we gave in to sin.We would be flowers with our petals plucked off, gum that had been chewed and spit out and passed to the next person."So Nilli is…"
"She's supervising," Zirric supplied."She's a well-respected entinn in Creche Athal: she wouldn't doorpermit anything improper, no matter what.She is a bulwark.And she's not even usually on our creche ship; she tends to stay at one of the manor homes back in Illadran.When we first heard from Creche Thiel about the humanvirra they were courting, Lauvis reached out to her and arranged for her to join us.Really, you should be flattered.I know it's uncomfortable to be stuck here waiting for your sinnenthi, but it's for the best.You're part of abayan society now, so it's a good time to start learning their ways.Iknowthey don't always make sense, but you'll get there.I promise.And you can always talk to me."
I forced a smile to my face."Thanks," I said distantly, mind reeling.Araxis had intended for me to be here with Creche Athal; they had arranged a guardian to keep an eye on me for propriety's sake, and had gotten her from far away – deep in abayan territory.It was a huge favour, and one that had to have been in motion for… awhile.Araxis must have reached out before we arrived on Thenat-6.Had he hoped then that I'd declare for him?Hehadasked me when I'd gone to see him after waking up from Grigor's beating.But I hadn't understood then – I barely understood now – and he hadn't explained.Had he hoped for this the week beforewe’d arrived in the cluster?Had this been what he’d meant to talk to me about when I’d told him that I didn’t do,couldn’tdo, relationships?And ifthat was the case, why hadn't he justtalkedto me about itthe minute we realized we were both headed into the Tournament?
Realizing I'd gone weirdly silent, I added, "I really appreciate that you were willing to come and speak with me, Zirric.And I know you must have had to burn hard through the Maelstrom to get here in time.That makes for a rough journey, so I'm grateful to… everyone."
Zirric waved a hand."It was nothing.We left ages ago.I wouldn't have come if we had to burn through the Maelstrom – yuck.But weweresupposed to be visiting another creche on Essilon-4 a couple months back, so I was a bit sad to miss time on their beaches."He sighed breezily, brown eyes going wistful as he stared into middle distance."I was so looking forward to the beaches… but creche business comes first.You'll learn."
"A couple months back?"I repeated, feeling the first curl of nausea begin to unfurl deep in my stomach.Something was rattling around in the back of my mind like pieces on a game-board, and I knew instinctively that when they were cast, I wouldn't like the shape they fell in.
Your friend in the filing office must have been fickle, Adelaithe had said.We made the claim six times.It only just went through before you vanished from Yellow Fin.
Information is expensive, Vivith intoned.You know how much she charges.
When we heard from Creche Thiel about the human virra they were courting, Zirric said.Months ago.
Alet Trident told me you needed a ride to the Thenat cluster, Araxis had said to me, standing by the docks.
My business with the den is nearly concluded, when I spoke to him for the first time.
Oblivious, Zirric continued on, his chatter filling the air like a plume of smoke that made it harder and harder for me to breathe."Lauvis promised me that we could go swimming on Thenat-1, but those oceans are filthy.You know, I had been thinking of adding a pool to the atrium.Do humans like to swim?"
I couldn't keep this up.This conversation needed to be over."Hey, this is a weird request," I started.
Zirric leaned forward, interested."Ooh, ask away!"
"Did you maybe have an old wristband somewhere I could use?Just to borrow.I'm sure Araxis would pay for it if it's expensive, or, you know, I'll give it back before I leave.And do you think I could maybe connect to the datasphere?I have some friends back on Yellow Fin who haven't heard from me since I left and maybe that would help the time pass a bit more… easily."
Which is how I ended up with a functioning wristband, a data feed through some deep space relays, and a video meeting with Alet Trident, who had a hell of a lot of explaining to do.
Chapter 29 –TheStaticBetween Stars
"What the fuck did you do?"I hissed at Alet Trident's face, which was hovering above my forearm while her eyestalks swivelled every which way.The spectral outline of her handsoccasionally flashed in the projectionwhile she flicked through her constellation of floating screens, only giving me a sliver of her attention.
"You changed your contract," she said, voice thin.
"Yeah, I changed it," I snapped, before wincing.I was trying to keep my voice down since Nilli was just in the other room bustling about making food.She'd been asking about food from my childhood and, after a passing mention of cake, had decided to make an abayan equivalent to help 'soothe my nerves.'"You didn't even tell me aboutresiduals."
"You did not think to ask, Sashen Solar.You should read contracts carefully before signing."One eye twisted on its stalk to look at me,her skin flushing an angry, mottled purple.
"If you'd been a bit more transparent, I wouldn't have felt betrayed.Soyoushould consider treating your employees –ex-employees – well enough to earn some loyalty."
