Page 257 of Sky’s Edge

The piece was made of cream limestone and consisted of some blobs with some spheres inserted into carved-out holes. It resembled a female torso, if she was listing to the side, had one detachable breast and partially melting.

It was a piece by Donetta Rothweld.

It was sublime.

And, according to me, it was worth every mark of the sixteen thousand, five hundred of them that it cost (just to say, this was not just my opinion, because I knew since they bought it, Rothwelds had increased in value).

“Don’t say it, mate,” Dad muttered to Manny. “I don’t get it either.”

Mom laughed gaily before saying to Zyra, “Males.” She then clapped and announced, “Cocktails.”

Day drinking.

Excellent.

Once Dad got us sorted with drinks, and we were sitting in one of their seating areas, Mom enthused, “You looked so beautiful last night, Catla.”

“She very much did,” Zyra agreed.

“You both looked beautiful too,” I replied.

“Cat did the Edge proud,” Manny proclaimed.

Oh gods, was I going to blush?

No farging way.

With effort, I beat back the heat in my cheeks while Zyra turned to Mom. “Everyone is saying she’s best dressed from last night,” she bragged about me to my own mother. “Outside of Laura, that is.”

“She’s also taking hits that she wore a Night’s Fallian designer and not an Edgian one,” Dad groused. “Like she hadn’t had a gown sorted for this weeks ago, seeing as it was her best mate’s party.”

Oh crap.

It seemed my parents were also doing that whole social tape thing, checking up on what beings were saying about me.

“You two need to avoid that nonsense,” I stated.

Dad ignored me and turned to Tanyn. “The article on Friday was excellent, but why aren’t you doing more of that?”

Before Tanyn could say anything, I butted in. “The castle has more important things to do than try to spin beings’ minds to like me. And…” I went on quickly, because Dad seemed to be about to say something, “we can’t saturate the media with me. First, I don’t want that attention while I’m settling in. Second, because it would seem weird and possibly like we’re doing what we would be doing, trying to spin beings’ minds to like me. And last, this is early on for Tanyn and me, but for his citizens, it’s brand new. Give it some time.”

I mean…

Yeesh!

Mom leaned Zyra’s way and whispered, “She’s always been very savvy.”

Tanyn smiled into his cocktail.

I turned to my mother. “Chill, Mom. Zyr already likes me.”

Mom looked offended. “I didn’t say she didn’t!”

“Just to confirm, we do,” Zyra announced, then she said to Mom, “And I’m sure she told you we’re refurbishing the citadel. Has she shown you what we’ve done?”

“No,” Mom replied.

Zyra got out her Palm and now it was Mom ooing and aahing over our selections for Sigil.