Page 60 of Zalis
He closely monitored her ambulation. Initially, she had struggled to use the cane but now moved smoothly with it.
“Are you certain? I could carry you like a queen and make the crowd part. Or perhaps on my back? You would grip my shoulders, and I would hold your legs thus.” He demonstrated.
That earned a grin. “Offering piggyback rides now? Tempting.”
“You have done a lot of walking,” he said. “There is no shame in resting.”
“We’re almost there.”
His mate was stubborn. The markets of Tholla had been dense and crowded. The noise, unfamiliar smells, and the proximity of so many people put Zalis on edge. He much preferred solitude, but Gemma thrived. She dragged him from stall to stall, always curious and always enthusiastic.
She touched fabrics, marveling at the softness. She asked about the various functions of appliances and household goods. She admired the handcrafts. She exclaimed over the fragrance of a soap, prompting Zalis to purchase several bars. As well as a pair of velvet slippers and a tub of hand cream made from a local plant known for its healing properties.
The aroma of freshly baked bread lured her to the food stall, or sugary sweetness of a confection, or the juicy allure of fruit. She had to try everything. Zalis enjoyed watching her delight as she encountered new foods and flavors. In the short time they had been mated, he had learned that she enjoyed discovering food the way he enjoyed disassembling and rebuilding electronics.
He carried a bouquet of candied flowers, the stems and leaves made of a chewy confection and the flowers clusters of spun sugar. As they walked, Gemma reached up to pluck a flower.
“You are behaving like a thieving moku,” he teased.
“What’s a moku? Is it cute?” She popped a petal into her mouth.
“They are ravenous. Their teeth can chew through metal.”
“Thieving implies sneaky, and I’m not being sneaky.” She reached up again, moving her hand slowly, maintaining eye contact.
He tried to feign an exasperated expression but there was no fooling Gemma.
She grinned as she ate another petal. “I think you like sharing.”
He did, but only with her.
The spaceport was equally crowded but Zalis detected exhaustion. Gemma’s steps were slower. Silence replaced her constant stream of questions.
“We will be on the shuttle soon and return to theJudgment,” he said.
“It’s been a long day, and I didn’t get much sleep.”
He knew that. She tossed and turned all night, her thoughts and worries loud enough for him to hear.
“You will sleep better now that this is done.”
“Probably,” she agreed.
Gemma gasped and her entire body went tense, as if she spotted a large predator.
“It’s him!” She pointed to a figure walking toward them.
A Sangrin male wearing decorative silver chains wrapped around his horns, pushed through the crowd with an air of entitlement, like he expected a path to clear for him. He looked ridiculous.
“How do you know this male?” Zalis asked, though he suspected the answer.
“The ringleader.”
As he thought.
Zalis recognized the male. His was a face made notorious for over promising tech and delivering products that never functioned properly, if they existed at all. He excelled at marketing and managed to avoid serious repercussions. Somehow people kept giving him their credits.
“Are you certain?” Zalis asked.
