Page 34

NEEV

* * *

Vynia joins me right as Raiz leaves. I watch him walk down the corridor, noting the drastic change in his appearance and demeanor as he steps out as the Lord of his house. Of all the versions I’ve seen of him, the casual, barefoot, at-home version is my favorite. Though, it’s hotter than it should be to see him with two swords crossed behind his back.

“Two swords? Is that really necessary?” I ask just before he exits.

“If you knew these two families, you wouldn’t think to ask me.” His voice is dark with amusement.

“Who is it?” Vynia asks.

“Xyetol and Zrygen.”

Vynia’s wince at the names is all the response I need to take his word for it.

“Be careful,” I say quietly, knowing he’ll hear me.

He gives me a feral smile over his shoulder. “I’m not the one who should be worried.”

When the door closes behind him, I find Vynia looking at me oddly.

“What?” I ask the female.

“Nothing.” She holds both hands up. “You ready to train before we have dinner?”

“Lead the way.”

She takes me down a level to a large room, the rock of the cliff the home is built into remains jagged and raw down here. There are no polished carvings lining the wall like the living spaces. Only a soft layer of sand covers the floor. Racks of various weapons line two sides of the space. Lights flicker on overhead as she hits a switch.

I look over at her, confused. “I thought you didn’t have electricity?”

“This room is completely underground and insulated from any flares or interference from our star. The lights run off a generator.”

“Interesting.” I look around, even with the lights it’s still pretty dim for my comfort. “Can you make them brighter?”

That’s one thing I hadn’t thought of until my research earlier; I had obviously noticed all the lighting on the ship was dim, and then in the house everything was as well. I just assumed it was because of the permanent twilight they live in. And it is to an extent, but their vision has evolved to be best in low light conditions.

“I can.” She grimaces as the lights brighten for my benefit.

“Is that too bright for you?”

“I’ll adjust.”

She pulls her shirt over her head, leaving her in a tight-fitting vest and a pair of pants similar to what Raiz lounges around in. Her exposed skin has the same patterning as Raiz’s, with alternating stripes of lighter and darker gray across her back fading to a pale gray on the front of her body. Her long black hair is plaited down the back of her head. She’s nearly as tall as the males of her species, but where they are bulky, she’s lithe.

I pull my hair back, tying it into a ponytail and fastening it with a small piece of leather Uzold found for me. Vynia meets me in the center of the room, appraising me in a way that makes me nervous.

“Having your hair like this gives your opponent an easy way to grab you.” She tugs the ponytail free and steps behind me, quickly styling it like hers. “Do all humans have hair like this?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s so soft. And the color under the lights, I didn’t realize there were hints of blue and violet and green in your hair.”

“There’s a range of colors and textures for human hair, just as there is for you. But from what I’ve seen my hair and eye color are not normal. At least not from all the human media I’ve watched and read over the years.”

“Right.” She nods. “I forget that you weren’t raised by other humans.” She finishes and moves in front of me. “Raiz said you have some training from one of the Order’s guards?”

“Yes. I’m not sure how helpful it’ll be against one of you, but it’s something.”