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“Oh. I am truly sorry. I forgot how vulnerable you are,” Axilla exclaimed, releasing her.

“It’s okay.” She smiled at her hostess.

“No, I’ve made marks.” Axilla pointed to the red prints on her arm.

“It happens all the time. They’ll fade.” She shrugged, not wanting to make the woman feel bad.

“She is being polite. Everyone must be gentle,” Aculus informed the Conclave.

She wanted to swat him. He made her sound like a baby that needed to be coddled.

The people who’d followed them to the hospital were still there when they emerged. They instantly started cheering, and the ruckus didn’t stop until they were in the compartment of the hovering vehicle.

“Tell me about Earth,” Axilla repeated once they were seated.

“I don’t really know where to begin. Parts of it are hot like Osi. But where I live is cooler, much cooler half the year.”

“There are vast oceans. Much of Earth is blue from orbit,” Aculus added.

“I live near one.” She nodded.

“Really. That must be so beautiful,” Axilla said. “Tellar, that reminds me, we must visit Dolan again. I miss our sanctuary by the water.”

“Soon,” Tellar chuckled.

Nadzia tilted her head as he laughed. He sounded an awful lot like Aculus. She studied the man and noticed there were other similarities between the two, particularly around the eyes and the way the ridges on their head flared.

“Earth has many fur-bearing animals, but also avian, reptiles and insects,” Aculus informed the pair.

“Aculus rescued one of those furry creatures.”

“Was that what was in the box?” Tellar asked.

“It was. Tarsus is a juvenile of his breed,” Aculus replied.

“He thought the little beast was a house cat,” Nadzia chuckled.

“He resembles one of their domesticated species.” Aculus grinned and shrugged.

“Aculus was always rescuing small creatures. I suppose I shouldn’t have been surprised when he insisted on joining the Paladin,” Axilla commented.

“Aw,” she mouthed at Aculus, making a sarcastic face even though the picture of a tiny Aculus rescuing little critters was pretty cute. She just couldn’t help tease him.

Aculus replied with a sardonic arch of his brow and a wry smile.

“And he rose through the ranks on his own merit,” Tellar added.

“As much as I hate that he is off world so often, that is true.” Axilla smiled at Aculus.

Nadzia tilted her head. The look of pride on Axilla’s face was motherly.

“You’re his parents,” she blurted as it dawned on her.

“Yes.” Aculus nodded.

“And you lead Osi?” she asked, looking at Tellar and Axilla.

“Yes. We are the lead Conclave of Osi and Aculus’ conclave.” Tellar patted Aculus’ arm.