We step into the audiovisual section, and I scan the shelves with Everest, looking for a specific set that was done by certified Deaf teachers. When I find one, I hold it up.
“Yes! Found it.” I wave the DVD cover around, showing off a man with a bald head and glasses.
“There are like ten more here, too,” Everest says.
“Yeah, this is Dr. Ross. He does a lot of vocabulary within the context of sentences. It’s kind of like an ASL grammar and lexicon immersive lesson.”
“He is bald,” Rathyn interjects.
“So what?” Everest says, pulling the rest of the DVDs off the shelf and cradling them in his arms.
“To be bald in Erethar is to be likened to the orbs of Crytalin. They break and fracture easily. They are weak.”
Everest sighs loudly, sets the DVDs down on a shelf, and then scrunches up his nose. “Excuse us for a moment.” He pullsRathyn into the men’s bathroom, and when the door closes, I look at Cielo. He’s peering down at me, and I let out a small laugh.
“They’re really funny.”
“Funnneeee,” he says and signs at the same time.
“Yeah, your speech is getting a lot better, you know. I love hearing your voice.” His ears flutter, and I squeeze all the DVDs into his tote. “I think we have enough. What do you think?”
He looks down at the bag in his hand and then back at me. “Yessss.”
Just then, Rathyn and Everest appear, and Everest plasters a smile on his face. “Sorry. Had to remind Rathyn that he needs to try to behave out in public.”
Rathyn opens his mouth to say something, but quickly closes it.
“We were just going to check out,” I reply.
“Wonderful. I’ll go with you. But can I grab one of these real quick?” He reaches down and plucks a DVD from the top of the pile and taps it against his palm.
“Let me just get my library card,” I murmur, pulling out my wallet and grabbing the card. As I do, pain flares through my hand, and I let out a small gasp at the sensation. Cielo and Rathyn are busy talking in Eretharian, so they don’t notice the way I flex my hand and bite my bottom lip.
But Everest does.
“You okay?” he asks softly.
“Yeah,” I say, peering up at his concerned face. “Just have some pain in my hands sometimes.”
That’s an understatement, but he accepts my lie and nods.
“You know, there is this herb that they have on Erethar. I’ve taken it, and it’s amazing. Better than anything we have here on Earth. It’s called zitha. There should probably be some left over with the supply we sent with Cielo.”
My eyes widen. “You think it’ll help?”
Everest snorts. “Trust me, it’s the best painkiller I have ever tried. It can be…a lot the first time you use it. I mean, nothing scary, but their stuff is potent. It’s small and purple, and you can dissolve one or two of the leaves in a mug of hot water. The taste is kind of nasty, but it’ll work almost immediately.”
“I’ll take anything,” I say, trying to temper my tone so I don’t give anything away.
“It’ll help,” he says. “Remind me to give you instructions on how else to take it.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, then scan my card. Cielo turns toward me, a trill in his throat as I start to scan all the items.
In this moment, he looks happy, and I find I like that a little too much.
While Everest is reluctant to say goodbye to Cielo, Rathyn whispers something in his ear that convinces him to leave, and I think Cielo overhears because he darkens with a blush and his ears flick back and forth for a second.
Part of me wants to ask him when we’re alone. Another part of me thinks they should be allowed this privacy.
