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She nodded. “Would you care to join us for a meal? You can meet our neighbours and the friends who are staying in our guesthouse.”
He pulled out his tablet and nodded seriously. “Please.”
She made the introductions, including merely introducing Ondine as working in security and not mentioning planetary security.
He blinked. “You do realize that every person here has security clearance so high that my tablet died when you introduced Ondine.”
“Well, you know that they are legally secure and safe to be around the children. There were no legal issues when you put the names in, right?”
“None, but what are they all doing here?”
Lida smiled. “I am friends with Ondine and Amadine. Ondine is friends with Geero and Heraina, and Heraina has three mates, Alejandro, Misker, and Syrn. They have children. Now, we have some burgers, ribs, and a lot of salads left over. Are you hungry?”
His stomach growled. “I wouldn’t mind doing interviews.”
She laughed. “Call it what you like, but have a seat. I will get myself a new chair.”
A chair made of liquid metal formed up out of the ground and settled into the comfortable shape that the other chairs had. “Thank you, Ondine.”
She settled, and Ondine said, “Right, so... dessert?”
* * * *
“Dessert. I will go make coffee.” Yalida stood and went into the farmhouse that they had renovated. Heks got up and came with her.
Inside, Heks blurted, “What is he doing here?”
“Surprise visit?” Lida answered. “I don’t know. I think he wants Nurath to go to early enrolment.”
“Does she want to go?” Heks asked.
“She wants a little more time with family. It’s been a rough year.”
“You have no idea how much I love that you are family.”
Yalida chuckled. “We fell into it. All those years kept from making bonds, from feeling connected; it was easy to cling together. We have been looking for a family name but can’t decide. All discussions end up being team names.”
“So? Form a team and enter into charity functions. Bloodbind is a good team name.” Heks chuckled. “Or Lidafolk.”
“That is just egotism.” Yalida got two thermal carafes, put them on the tray with cups and accompaniments, and Heks grabbed the giant bowl of multicoloured gelatin. They made their way outside and returned to the gathering.
Heks looked around. “So, kids... Do you like Bloodbind or Lidafolk as a last name? Or Klavians?”
Clavia raised her hand. “I vote Lidafolk.”
The teens all agreed. “Lidafolk.”
Yalida sighed and covered her face as the visitors also cast their votes. The bemused social worker agreed. “Lidafolk. I guess I will have to arrange the change in paperwork.”
The raucous cheers of the kids rang out, and Yalida put her head in her hand. This was going to bite her in the ass.
* * * *
Ondine smiled as Yalida’s family voted to carry her name. She brushed a tear away as well. Ondine had experienced hard labour, but Yalida had suffered a torture that no active should have had to. She had been the poster girl for Uraddan actives alongside her husband. She had tubes driven through her wrists to stop her from using her activation, chains threaded through the tubes, and a husband who was tall, handsome, and a brutal bastard. He hadn’t been seen since the breakout, and Ondine was sticking to that story.
Geero asked, “Ondine, do you have a family name?”
“No. It isn’t necessary to have a unified. I mean, I might try and think of a one for the whole family in a little bit, but it is the first thing they took, so it is the last thing to return. I use Heckler when necessary because it is Amadine’s author name. We have tried on a few other things, but they always sound like Amadine’s character names for her young adult series. Lots of things like Frostheart, Inksoul, Silverborn.”
