“Some of them.Yes.Not the ones Evali makes, but then, she and I have always had different tastes.”
Ekron blinked.“You know my mother?”
“Well, I was more familiar with your father, but that was a long time ago.Before you were born.”
His whisper was hoarse.“How old are you?”
“Older than I look.Not as old as Aluhara.”She looked at Klauz.“About his sisters’ age.”
Ithal was going limp against her.She said softly, “Right.I am going to call a car and get Ithal to sleep.Sorry, Vaken.No sleepover tonight.”
Vaken was leaning against his mother.“It’s okay.We can do something tomorrow?”
“Sure.We can go to one of the playparks.”
He grinned.
Alody wiggled to her feet, and Salat said, “We will take you home.”
She paused, looked at everyone gathered, and then nodded.“Please.Everyone, it was nice catching up with you.Klauz, congratulations on not being a weird food-obsessed weirdo.Yes, I used weird twice, and you know why.I still can’t face pretzels.”
He laughed, and his grin didn’t fade as she followed Salat and Khytten after they had kissed Salmet.She carried Ithal to the elevator, and they headed down to the war machine again.She gave Salat her address, and he smiled as she buckled Ithal into one of the harnesses.
Salat drove to the suburb that she called home, just fifteen minutes from downtown.The house was nice, normal, and fully paid off.Her house was on a triple lot, but that was also standard for the neighbourhood.There were a lot of nearby actives, and they needed space.
Salat watched her ease Ithal into her arms again.“I can carry him.”
She smiled.“I can manage him.I carried your heavy ass, and I can carry him.”
Khytten asked, “You really babysat him?”
“I really did.He was about the same age as Ithal is now.”
“What was he like?”
“Fast.Really fast.”She chuckled.“Torenne kept wearing my shoes.”
Khytten covered her mouth and giggled.“My feet are too small, or she would try it with me.”
“Good night to both of you.I am on mom time, and this is a little late for me.I have to take two kids to a playpark tomorrow.I need my strength.”
Khytten walked with her.“Did you really make those lace-up dresses for Drin?”
“Yup.”
“Can you make something for me?”
“I can, and I have some ideas, but Morwithel is my boss, and you would have to go through the shop.”
“You have money.”
“I saved money.I did sketchy shit for money.I earned money.”She smiled.“I am sure I will see you soon.Salmet has always been the dinner-party type, and Riko keeps trying to poke into my brain.He never likes what he finds.Now I can actually knock him on his ass.”
“You got stronger?”
“No, I am no longer registered in the capitol.”She looked at Khytten.“How long have you and Salat been married?”
“Um, we aren’t.I am registered with the capitol and have a criminal history here.”
