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“Excellent,” the droid cried. “We have an optimum tool selection here at the store. We also have a magnificent array of rare seedlings to get you started. But of course, if you prefer, I can bring you directly to the landscape design center and our professionals can see to every detail with your creative eye at the helm.”
“We’ll start with tools,” Emilia said, wondering how many customers tapped out before they even began, and asked to go meet with the designers and crew. “And then we’ll look at seeds.”
“As you say,” the droid replied and whizzed off toward the center of the store and Emilia followed, with Mimi clinging to her hand and Dyrk bringing up the rear.
The store was crowded, and the rich tapestry of Ulfgard’s diverse population was on full display. Conversation was happening in Standard Language with the droids, but couples and families spoke in their own tongues as they marched up and down the aisles.
At intervals, the day’s specials were announced over a speaker comm by a bright-sounding young woman.
“It’s loud,” Mimi murmured, tugging on Emilia’s hand.
“Are you okay?” Emilia asked her, stopping and bending down a little.
Mimi nodded, but her bright blue eyes were wide, and her usual sparkle was gone.
Emilia figured it was a little scary here for a child who was used to having the run of a mostly empty estate. She obviously needed to get Mimi out and about more often. But for now, she didn’t like the little girl feeling afraid.
“Do you want me to carry you?” Emilia offered.
“Really?” Mimi asked.
“Of course,” Emilia said. “You’ll feel better looking at everything from up on my back.”
Mimi giggled and Emilia crouched down.
She braced herself, but Mimi’s weight was nothing on her back.
Mimi laughed her head off right in Emilia’s ear, but she didn’t mind. She was just glad the little one felt better.
“Seriously?” Dyrk asked, rolling his eyes. But he was smiling.
“Here are the tools,” the droid announced, gesturing to an array of shiny new gardening implements. “When you’re ready to look at seeds and seedlings, they’re right outside.”
Sure enough, at the end of the aisle there was a glass door leading to a greenhouse.
“Thank you,” Emilia said.
The droid sailed off to approach another customer.
“You know that’s a droid, right?” Dyrk said. “You don’t have to thank it.”
“It’s important to practice good manners,” Emilia told him gently. “Manners are not just for the benefit of others. They say a lot about you as well.”
He made a non-committal noise, but didn’t argue.
“Now, the first thing we’ll need is a good trowel,” Emilia said. “One for each of us, because gardening means a lot of digging.”
Dyrk got right to work helping her look at options. They chose some tools, and then they decided to grab some gloves.
Mimi slipped off Emilia’s back as soon as she laid eyes on the pretty gardening gloves and aprons.
When they had picked out everything they needed from inside, Emilia led them out into the greenhouse to look at seeds.
“Why are we looking at these?” Dyrk asked. “Aren’t we trying to grow a bunch of azulaflowers so mine can be pollinated?”
“We definitely want more azulaflowers,” she told him. “But we don’t just have to plant azulaflowers, or flowers at all. We can grow vegetables, too.”
“Why would we grow vegetables?” Dyrk asked. “Ayrann buys them at the market every week.”
