She’smine.
And I am completely and utterlyhers.
EPILOGUE
CELESTE
Two months later
I’m slowly learningRazul’s language. Not the grammar of it, just the words that matter. My name, of course.
Alsotreat, walk,anddinner.
My days are perfectly predictable, and the steady rhythm puts me deeply at ease. If change is necessary—such as when Razul expanded the bathing pool—he introduces it gradually and deliberately. He never pushes. I get as long as I need to adjust.
True to his word, he taught the caimites that I’m not food. I wear a soft leather collar and a cowbell around my neck—selected from Sylvus’s collection, apparently. Since the caimites first heard the sound of the cowbell along with Razul’s movements, they associate it with him.
Even when I’m by myself, they now treat me with the same respect and curiosity.
They’re incredibly intelligent creatures, and I think we have far more in common than I’d initially realized. If there’s anydeviation in Razul’s routine, both the caimites and I quickly alert him with our complaints.
Most importantly, we’re all happy and pampered under Razul’s care. As he learned what to feed me, I steadily gained weight. I’ve settled out on the plump side, even for a hucow. It feels right.
I spend most of my days in my shady grove of little palm trees, and juvenile caimites often come to visit me, fishing in the river or crawling onto my belly to bask in the sun.
The caimite that visited me in the kitchen is a runt, so he far prefers spending time with me to roughhousing with his siblings. I offer him little pieces of fruit, which he pretends to eat to please me, then spits out behind plants upon realizing they aren’t bits of fish.
I named him Gez because I always want to sayGesundheitwhen he sneezes.
At first, Razul shooed him out of the house. But after seeing how well we get along, Razul let Gez stick around.
Gez especially earned his keep when he fought off a flock of greedy giant flies that were trying to steal my fruit while Razul was off doing chores. Gez snapped and lunged at them for almost an hour until Razul returned.
After that, anytime Razul needed to leave me by myself, he would summon Gez by tapping on the ground. The little caimite would appear, and Razul would always treat him to an extra juicy fish when he got back. So, Gez became my companion and my guard dog.
Today, he snorts and thumps his tail at me as I sort through my rock collection—which is now quite diverse—looking for the perfect gift for Andromeda.
I offer Gez a sparkly blue stone. He tilts his head to examine it with a bulging eye, then gently takes it into his mouth. He works his jaw and tongue, and though it looks like he’s tryingto eat it, I’ve learned that this is how caimites examine objects. Their tongues are more dexterous and sensitive than their forelegs, which are adapted for digging.
“I’ll be back soon, Gez. Razul’s taking me into the city to visit Andromeda.”
Gez gently sets the rock, now covered in slime, down on the ground, tilting his head the other way. His tail vibrates, answering—or asking a question of his own.
I’m usually outside under my palms this time of day, basking with him or staring at the fish in the river. So, he knows something’s different.
I lay my palms flat against the ground and drum back and forth quickly. It’s a gesture of comfort. I’ve learned a lot from watching how Razul interacts with the caimites, especially the many ways he taps his feet to communicate with them.
Gez sneezes in amusement, as if I’ve said something silly, but seems to relax.
I lean over, and he lets me rub his snout.
Satisfied that nothing’s amiss, Gez picks up the rock I gave him. He sneezes goodbye, I return the gesture, then he dives back down into the sand.
Soon after, Razul fetches me, scooping me up into his sling and taking to the wing. We soar through the desert sky. and I lean my head out the whole way, not even the tiniest bit afraid. I trust Razul completely.
The humid airaround Sherexis is heavy and oppressive. Now I better understand why Razul was so grumpy when I first met him. My discomfort will ease when the spray he uses on mynasal passages wears off, but his will continue for however long we’re in Sherexis.
Except we steer around the massive city. We head to an area of more temperate forests, and the myriad forest colors give way to moody crimson and grey. The humidity eases.
