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Jayla decided not to mention that she was trying to learn the same skill.
Rovyn’s hand rested briefly on Aussen’s head. “And is this your little girl? She’s so pretty.”
“That’s Aussen, and she’s not mine. I’m taking care of her until her mother arrives.”
Kammi had dropped to a crouch and smiled at Aussen. “And how do you like it in the city so far?”
Aussen listened carefully and answered slowly. “I like it. I like the food.”
Kammi’s head tilted to one side. “Islander, right?” Kammi said, following up the question with a spate of liquid words. Aussen’s face lit up and the two of them launched into an animated conversation.
“I didn’t know you spoke Zessin,” Cody said in an accusing voice. “You’ll have to give me lessons.” Kammi waved a casual hand in his direction without looking away from Aussen.
“This is good,” Jayla said. “Maybe now we can learn if there’s anything important that Aussen hasn’t been able to tell us. The cook speaks a little islander, but not enough to really hold a conversation.”
“So, Jayla, how doyoulike the city?” Tokah asked.
“I’m still getting used to it. Still finding new places to explore.”
“Where are you from?” Rovyn asked. She let her gaze wander deliberately from Jayla’s blonde hair to her borrowed sweater to her worn leather leggings. Her expression implied that she had never seen anyone so exotic.
“Oraki,” Jayla said. “By way of Marata and Chibain. I’ve traveled a bit.”
“That must have been exciting,” Rovyn said.
“More exciting than I would have wanted, sometimes.”
“Oh, now I want to hear the stories,” Tokah said.
Cody turned a look on Jayla. “Oh, don’t you dare,” he said. “Don’t you sit down and tell mysisterall the stories of your life when you’ll hardly tell me a thing.”
She made her voice as sweet as she could. “But your sister seems so much more interested than you do.”
His expression was so incredulous that even Rovyn had to laugh. “You’re as irritating as the rest of them,” he said.
Kammi jumped up, smiling broadly. “Enough arguing. What Aussen wants more than anything is lemon cakes. I’ve got time to go now if everybody else does.”
“It’s raining,” Rovyn said. “I’m not setting foot outside again.”
“It’s almost stopped,” said Tokah. “I’ll go.”
Cody looked at Jayla and she nodded. She was more than ready to leave, and happy to have Kammi and Tokah join them. Even happier that Rovyn would stay behind. “Sure,” she said. “Sounds good.”
The bad weather had kept most people indoors, so the five of them were able to find a table big enough to hold them all at the pastry shop that Aussen liked. Cody offered to treat, and Kammi and Tokah took the opportunity to order the most expensive items on the menu. This answered a question Jayla had had at the back of her mind about whether or not Cody was in a financially sound situation. He’d never seemed to worry about money—but then, Cody didn’t seem to worry about anything. She had no idea how much a good courier could earn, but it was clearly enough to afford the occasional pricey outing.
The conversation was so light-hearted and the company was so affable that Jayla found herself relaxing more than she had in weeks. Months. Kammi had taken a spot next to Aussen and made a point of quickly translating any bits of conversation that were especially funny—or appropriate for a child’s ears. The three couriers traded stories about some of the worst clients they’d had or most peculiar deliveries they’d made, and Kammi in particular could be hilariously graphic.
“And then he said, ‘I don’t have any money for a tip, but if you want part of the shipment, I’ll give you one—’”
Tokah whooped. “Did youtakeit?”
“Sure I took it! I was curious, you know? Though I have to say I didn’t think it was quite as—” Kammi glanced at Aussen and carefully chose a word. “Effective as a human hand. Or—other body part.”
Now Cody and Tokah were doubled over and even Jayla was laughing helplessly. Kammi continued, “Then maybe six months later, I had another shipment. Same guy. And herememberedme! And he said, ‘Oh, did you get a chance to use it? What did you think?’ Like he wanted a product review that maybe he could share with his other customers—”
“I’m dying,” Tokah gasped.
“And I said, well, it wasn’t bad, but I’d had other experiences that were better, and he offered toshow me how it worked.‘If you’ve got time, you could come back to the other room—’”
