Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 459(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 306(@300wpm)
Something tells me that it’s less about her liking the cold and more like her mate not liking it, judging from the protective look she gives him. Just like Kki, he probably struggles with the weather. But I’m fine with it. “We’d love the company.”
“Well, maybe I’ll come, too,” Colleen blurts out. “What could it hurt?”
Noj’me gasps in happiness and flings her arms around her friend. “Wonderful!”
Liz gets to her feet, putting her hands up to indicate silence. “It’s a good crew, and we should establish a way for you guys to send a signal back to us if there’s a problem. Maybe leave a note in the fruit cave or something. How long will you need to get ready to return?”
Rem’eb looks to me, leaving it in my hands.
“I was hoping we could bring furs and some salted red meat.” I get to my feet to address the group, keeping my tone firm. It feels strange to be in charge of the return party, but Rem’eb keeps a supportive hand on my boot and makes no move to get to his feet, which tells me I have his support. “And we’re probably going to have to split the produce from the fruit cave with the people below. There should be plenty for all, but we can mark off who gets what so no one cleans the place out again. We think of it as ours, and they think of it as theirs, even if they weren’t touching the fruit until recently.”
“We’ll send you guys with a welcome package, for sure,” Liz says, and for once she’s not full of jokes or silly comments. Her expression is as serious as mine. “And let them know that they’re welcome to come and spend time with us whenever they like. We don’t bite.”
“I bite,” Chalath says.
“Shut up, tater,” Liz replies sweetly, her smile remaining on her lips. “No one asked you.”
Chapter
Thirty-Five
TIA
It takes two days to pack everything we want to bring. In that time, Natalie comes by my hut and asks to see the loom. She sketches it out on a hide with some charcoal and then thanks me. “I’m going to make my own,” she says.
“Have you ever woven before?” I ask. I’m torn between bringing the loom with us so I can give the half-finished project back…but I’m also rather covetous of the loom itself. Part of me wants to keep it even though I know I shouldn’t.
Natalie just blinks and won’t look me in the eye. She touches the loom instead. “No.”
“Do you know how to make yarn? To spin wool?”
“No.”
Erm. “Want me to show you?”
“If you have time, sure.” She picks up the charcoal again. “I’m going to take notes.”
Liz comes by while I’m instructing Natalie. She carries a woven basket in front of her and eyes me as Natalie gathers up her “notes” and then scurries out of my hut before Liz can even greet her.
Liz doesn’t seem bothered, though. She gestures at the basket. “I wanted to drop this off. Hannah made you a smorgasbord of our dried herbs and what they’re good for. Maybe if that weird sickness rises up again, something in here will help.” She sets it down on the floor of my messy hut, which looks as if it has been pulled apart at the seams as we get ready. “And you know if you send for Veronica, her and Ashtar will be there as quickly as possible.”
“I know. I appreciate it.” I pick up one of the herb bundles from the basket, and it has a narrow leather band holding it together, with “Sea Grass—Headaches” stitched onto it. Another one has “Liidi—Burns” stitched in red. Smart. “This is great. His people have some metal-working and weaving abilities. I’m hopeful we can establish trade and fill in some of the gaps we have in our knowledge.”
“If we can, cool. If not, it’s fine, too.” She studies my face, her hands on her hips. “You’re good with this, right? This was your idea to go with him?”
I stop admiring the herbs and glance up at her. “What? Yes.”
“Just checking. And if they pull any funny business, come back and we’ll have, like, Ashtar melt the tunnel to their caves into sludge so they can’t come back. Or something. We’ll figure it out.”
That’s surprisingly defensive. I give her a smile, confident. “It’s going to be fine. Rem’eb thinks his people are hungry for change and I think our arrival will be just what they need.”
“I hope so.” She pauses again. “I feel like I need to make an Anakin and sand people joke here, but it had better not come to that.”
“Sand people?” I ask, puzzled. “Anakin?”
She just shakes her head at me. “I’m so sad for you that you don’t know what I’m talking about.”