Page 17 of Regal Rising

Regis sighed. “Do you cook?”

“I can manage family-style meals.”

Ira perked up. “Fried stuff?”

“Yeah, I can do that.”

Regis sighed again. “We will make a meal plan and do the shopping while you recover. Pandora makes clothes, so expect to be a mannequin frequently.”

Pandora called from the kitchen. “She will wait until you are recovering, but I can get you some sweats and caftans tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” She finished the food and acknowledged the feeling that she was only getting a portion of what she was consuming.

Ira slid around the table and sat next to her. “Mom has to organize something, so I can sit, and you can help me figure out what kind of bot I want to build.”

“Can I?”

Ira looked at Pandora, and more sweets arrived on the table. She grinned. “Pandora is a source of unlimited snacks.”

Pandora grinned. “She thinks of me as a dispenser. So, we have ten of our number assembled. Now we just need to get the last two.”

Ela stuffed a profiterole into her mouth and mumbled, “They are in the gardens under the arch. They aren’t sure that they are doing the right thing. My hearing is really sensitive.”

Regis grinned and got to her feet. “Nice. Okay, I will go talk to them.”

Ira smiled. “So, Mom has what she needs. This is good. Maybe now I can meet my dad.”

“You haven’t met him?”

“No. My mom says that I got started for destiny so that nothing bad could happen again like the last time. This time, I would be safe before they would confront the Elite. So, I am nice and safe now. Now is the time. I am planning on asking him if he rides horses. I like horses.”

Ela laughed softly. “I like them, too.”

“Did you live around here?”

“I lived across the continent. The area I was in was filled with farms and ranches.”

“So, lots of horses.”

“Lots.”

“Can you show me how to ride one?”

“Probably, but when the dark Elite are out, I think some of them rode horses every day. They would be better as mentors.”

Ira shrugged. “I dunno. You are a pretty good teacher.”

Ela chuckled, and then a beta walked in, radiating competence. She looked at Ela and blinked. “I think I have found my patient.”

Ira nodded. “Ela is really skinny, and she’s bleeding power. She needs help.”

“You are Wren?”

“I am. You are obviously Ela. Did you want to go outside for this?”

Ela nodded. “Just a moment. I will let Rex know we are leaving Ira to her homework.”

Rex walked in. “No need. I am back.”

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