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The lady turned to her and said, “My name is Ranna. You can call me Ranna or Lady Ranna. I live on an estate in the countryside and wish to begin being more social. I have been in self-imposed exile for two hundred years. You are my means to return to being a useful member of society.”

“I am the pet for display so that no one looks at you.”

Ranna chuckled. “I knew you would understand. Are you willing to do it?”

“Of course. I live to be useful. What happens when you don’t need me anymore?”

“I either release your bond or buy you a house next to mine.”

“That sounds more than fair.”

“Good. I listened to my instincts about you, and when Amorro mentioned to me that there was a very sprightly Terran who was almost Hmrain-companion level but wanted a life that didn’t involve being under a male, I knew that you were the one for me.”

“He squealed.”

“He wanted to offer me the Terran with the most benefit to either of us.”

“That sounds sensible.”

“I think so. I will have clothing made for you, and you will dress to match me when we are walking in town. What I wear isn’t common on this world, so having someone with me will help my return to society.”

“I will hold your hand and skip or throw rose petals at your feet if you need me to.”

Ranna laughed. “Thank you.”

The sky showed a sunset happening, and three rising moons were taking over the vault above them.

“This is lovely.”

“Is it?”

“We haven’t had a sky to look at for a few years. This is... beautiful.”

Ranna tilted her veiled head skyward. “I suppose it is.”

Riley was shivering after the two-hour ride, but the sky, the clean air, and the promise of a beautiful landscape kept her going. New world. New chance to have a life.

The manor was huge, and Ranna walked ahead of her. Riley shivered but kept her teeth from chattering by holding her jaw slightly open. Ranna walked to a cozy sitting room and gestured for Riley to sit. “You will now see what only my trusted staff has seen.”

Riley sat, and Ranna lifted the veil and pushed her cloak back. Riley knew that style of marking. “You survived.”

Ranna blinked. “I did. They offered me a chance to repair them, but I wanted to wear them. I wanted to remember.”

Riley asked, “How long ago was that?”

“One hundred eighty years.”

“I see. It is your right to wear the marks. They took mine as soon as I got to the station.”

Ranna blinked. “You?”

Riley shrugged. “What others do to you reflects on them, not you.”

“What did you do?”

“My friends hunted them down and killed them.” Riley smiled. It was a cute conceit. She had done it herself.

Ranna blinked. “You didn’t do it yourself?”