Page 99 of Alien Burn

Sheira greeted her with a warmth that required no elaborate answer. There was no measuring glance at her dress, no search behind her name for a more useful one.

“Are you comfortable? Did the residence staff get you taken care of?”

The maternal question felt so foreign to her, she almost wasn’t sure how to respond.

“Yes. Thank you.”

“She found the good bench,” Tivek said.

“I see that.”

Sheira's eyes moved briefly to Dhomhes. His expression became much too innocent.

“We should go,” she told Tivek. “The transport is waiting.”

He gathered the sling, then bent to scuff out the rest of his drawing.

“What is that?” his mother asked.

“A lesson.”

“Should I be worried about the wall?”

“I never touched the wall.”

Dhomhes's mouth twitched.

Tivek pointed at him. “You needn't look like that.”

Sereya had to bite back another laugh.

Then they were going, mother and son with the attendant behind them, Tivek already demonstrating something with his hands. Sheira caught one of those hands before it struck a branch.

Sereya watched them until the path turned.

“He's lovely,” she said.

“He's insufferable.”

“You're very proud of him.”

Dhomhes followed her gaze. “Yes.”

She liked him for giving her that answer too.

They sat again, with more bench available and no additional space between them.

For a while they watched the water where she could now see it slipping beneath a low stone arch. The artificial shade overhead cut the hard light into soft, shifting patches. Beyond it the sky remained bright. She was beginning to understand how much of an evening on this side of the planet had to be made by hand.

“I've stolen part of your afternoon,” she said.

“I came when you asked.”

“I know. That's what I like about it.”

He turned toward her.

Her face warmed. She had meant the words to be lighter than they sounded.