Page 97 of Diamond

"Is that enough of a pass code?" asks the voice on the other side, snark clear in their voice. "Or should I do a dance over here before you agree not to shoot us."

"How do you know we have guns?" Nasrin asks her.

"Drasuk can smell them. May we come in?"

We both look at each other. I wipe a hand across the back of another and Nasrin emulates me, while also nodding her head.

"Yes, I'll just…" I trail off when my carefully constructed defenses are disassembled in mere moments by small human hands, a blue tail, and lots of claws.

The shock of pink hair pulls my notice first, then the hulking blue form with thick skin beside her, then my gaze flits back to the woman and the manticorid traits she has, including a long, dancing blue tail with a venomous manticorid tip. It helps settle me even further to see signs that she has been around Thivoll.

The woman points a thumb at the large blue creature. "Like I said, that's Drasuk. He can't understand us, so I don't suggest making any sudden moves in my direction. He's hopelessly smitten with me and all that."

The large grin on her face afterward lets me know she's trying to be funny, but the steel in her eyes and just how deadly he looks lets me know the threat is real.

A glance over at Nasrin lets me know that she's staring in awe at the blue creature, mouth hanging open. Kira notices too.

"Doesn't he look like such a cute big dragon-dino dummy? He grows on you, though. What do I call you two?"

Nasrin shakes her head, blinking rapidly. "Uh. Sorry. I'm Nasrin, this is Kuret. He met Ree a while back."

Kira moves her odd, swirling eyes back in my direction. "Ah, you must be one of her foot soldiers she's always tying herself up in knots about. Clearly at leastyouaren't someone she sent to their death. We just need to find that bird-man so she stops droning on about it."

I'm not really sure what she means, but decide it isn't worth asking. "Where is Ree? And Thivoll?"

"Let's get this nice stockade you built back in working order," Kira says, "find someplace more comfortable and we can catch up."

As soon as Kira moves the first log back in place, Drasuk takes over the task, tail working simultaneously with hands so the job is complete in a fraction of the time it took me. It's humbling, but I'm more excited about the possibility of having such a clearly able companion to help me protect the cloister.

It's been exhausting and there is this ever-present nagging reminder that one male is never enough. With Thivoll, Drasuk, and I, we should be able to at least get enough rest.

Nasrin beckons them back to the cave and Kira starts speaking again. "Have you checked all of the possible entrances?"

I'm taken aback for a moment, thinking at first that maybe Drasuk prompted the question, but he is scanning our environment, clearly not aware of the conversation. It's a guard's question. Not a female's line of thinking.

I shake myself out of my shock. "Partly. There are caves, but none of them seem to lead out, at least not quickly. There is still a threat, and we should be wary."

She nods, eyes scanning the environment. "What about the stream? Is that a point of entry?"

This time I know for certain it is her own question, and from her confidence and intensity, it's based on experience. "It comes from underground and returns underground. Are you a-" I stutter over my words for a moment. "A guardian?"

She glances back at me. "Why do you sound surprised?" She looks over Nasrin. "Why does he sound surprised?"

Nasrin snorts. "In his culture, females are in a cloister. I don't think a single one of them fight."

"What the fornication? Ugh," Kira says, disgust clear in her tone. "Another language that doesn't know how to curse."

She turns back to me. "I guard the feces out of things, Kuret. Yes, I am a guardian. Amarine."

"He isn't amisogynist, Kira," Nasrin says. "I thought so at first, but it's just a cultural thing and he's learning."

Apparently, being whatever that is would be a bad thing and Nasrin's right. I am learning. I mean, it's not like I didn't trust her when she said males and females could integrate, it just hasn't made sense, at least not until this moment.

The pink female with all those scales, spikes, and claws, is clearly a very capable protector. Then I feel even more stupid. Nasrin has been protecting herself too. But it's so different from what I know. Our females live in fear inside their walls. We protect them… but maybe the fear that locks them in there would lessen if they also protected themselves?

Yet again, my world shifts, this time even further lowering the burden of panic and anxiety. It isn't all on me. I mean, it's my sworn duty, but now I understand what Nasrin means about how roles can blur.

I realize I haven't been keeping up with the conversation when Kira lets out an explosive curse.

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