Page 12 of Fionn
"Good evening, I am Paul Redfoot, the manager of the island. Can you understand me alright?"
"Yes, we can understand you," Kelon snapped. "Where are the females?"
Paul frowned at our companion's rudeness. I smiled at him to make up for it. Kelon didn't speak for all of us.
"Only one has arrived so far, the other two are still in transit."
"Two?" Kelon repeated. "There will be only three in total? That is not enough. That is not acceptable."
The manager shifted uncomfortably. "I only know what the agency told me. Maybe you can take it up with them? There must have been a mistake."
There had been no mistake. My arrangement with Pam was only for my clutch-brothers and me. I would not subject any female to Kelon's advances. But he didn't know that. If he did, we'd be out of here immediately, following his plan of kidnapping some random females.
"I will contact her after this meeting," I said as calmly as I could. "Kelon, I will deal with it. Shall we go in? This dry air is making my greenskin itch."
He shot me a sharp look but then nodded. We followed Paul into the building, where it was much cooler. In a large room with glass windows spanning two entire walls, a wooden screen had been placed in the centre. On our side, a table had been set up for a meal. Bowls filled with exotic dishes were waiting for us. I inhaled deeply, trying to identify the ingredients. It was impossible. Nothing smelled familiar.
Strange utensils lay next to our plates. I'd have to look up the names for them later. In Finfolkaheem, meals were eaten on large seashells when in air-rooms, or sucked from bags when in the water. There was so much we'd have to get used to if we stayed here for longer than the one sunpass Kelon intended.
"Have a seat," Paul invited us. "I will bring in the female. Her name is Elise." He paused for a moment, then said quietly, "Please be kind to her."
He hurried away before any of us could respond.
Be kind to her?! How could we not be!
We were beggars on this planet, desperate for a female to treasure and cherish. On Finfolkaheem, females were precious. As the waters had grown warmer and warmer over generations, fewer and fewer of them had been born. They were special. No finman would mistreat a female.
I looked at Kelon.
Maybe I was wrong. Some might.
We heard them approach on the other side of the screen. The loud footsteps of Paul and lighter ones, following closely behind. That had to be her. A Peritan female. One chosen because she might be compatible with one of us. Not with Kelon. With my clutch only.
My heart beat faster. My greenskin tightened. My surroundings faded into existence as all my senses converged on her. The screen did not offer a single glimpse of her. But her scent hit me the instant she sat down.
Salt and wittleweed and nectar of pearls.
I gripped the edges of the table tightly.
I knew that scent. I had dreamed of it all my life, only for it to scatter when I rose from my bed, unreachable, at the edge of memory. But now I remembered.
There was no question in my mind.
She was mine.
6
Elise
The wooden screen was completely solid. I'd hoped for a lattice of sorts that would allow a peek, or a fabric screen that could suggest the outline of the person on the other side. Instead, all I had was polished wood, tall enough that even if I leaned back in my chair and craned my neck, I couldn’t catch so much as a shadow.
I smoothed my hands over the tablecloth, pretending calm, though my heart was thudding like a drum. What was I doing here? Dinner with strangers whose faces I couldn’t see, whose names I didn’t even know yet. It felt halfway between a reality TV stunt and a very strange speed-dating event.
“Good evening,” a male voice said, deeper than I expected, with a strange rhythm to the words. “You must be Elise.”
“Yes,” I replied, relieved my voice didn’t squeak. “And you are…?”
Before he could answer, another voice cut in, sharp and commanding. “I am Kelon. It is an honour for you to dine with us.”
