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Aruan motions at the basket of exotic fruit in Vitai’s arms.“Where are you going with that?”

Vitai smiles sheepishly.“I was just bringing our guests a snack.”

“It’ll have to wait,” Aruan says.“We need to talk to Mother.”

“She’s in private council with Father.”Vitai shifts the weight of the basket.“They asked not to be disturbed.”

Aruan exhales through his nose.“How long is it going to take?”

Vitai glances at me.“Who knows?”

“What about the humans?”Aruan scrutinizes Vitai.“Are their injuries sufficiently treated?Is there anything important I should know?”

While Vitai gives Aruan a rundown of the humans’ physical conditions, Tarix pulls me aside.

“I’m so relieved that you’re safe, Elsie.When the queen told us where she’d found you, we expected the worst.”

“Thanks,” I say half-heartedly because whatever happened to me, I brought onto myself.I don’t deserve his concern.

Lowering his head, he asks in a voice that doesn’t carry to Aruan and Vitai, “What was it like to be a prisoner of the Phaelix?”

I scrunch up my nose.“Like being a prisoner of anyone.It was awful.”

“Did they say anything that could throw some light on their secret slave trading?”

“Like I already told Aruan, I didn’t learn anything useful.At least their market has been destroyed.”I don’t feel pity as I add, “Along with the traders and buyers.”

“Yes,” he says in a far-off manner, frowning.

“Is everything all right?You look upset.”

He appears to gather himself.“Of course.I’m just not keen on facing the queen with no new information to give her.I love her like my own mother, but she can be harsh if you don’t deliver.”

“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” I say, trying to sound confident when I’m not so sure myself.

He plasters a smile on his face.“I’m sure we will.”His mood seems to improve a bit.“I overheard Suno asking you at the mating ceremony to tell him about Earth.”

“I never got the chance.”

“Maybe you’ll indulge me?We can have wine and cake.I believe on Earth you call it ‘having tea.’”

“I thought the subject was forbidden.”

He winks.“I won’t tell if you don’t.”

“Why are you and Suno so interested in Earth?”

“I can’t speak for Suno, but I’m interested in everything.There’s too much we keep hidden on Zerra, and no good ever comes of ignorance.”

Does he disagree with the rules, which, in effect, could mean he’s likely not a believer in the scrolls?Before I can question him about that, Aruan walks up to us.

“Speaking to my mother will have to wait.”He drapes a possessive arm around my shoulders and says pointedly to Tarix, “Elsie has to rest.”Addressing me, he continues, “I’ll take you back to my quarters before I have to attend to some urgent matters.”

“Which reminds me,” Tarix says with an uncomfortable laugh.“I have business to take care of for the queen.”

He leaves with a hurried farewell, speed-walking down the hallway.

I tilt my face to Aruan.“That was rude.You literally chased him away.”