Page 16 of Phoenix's Fire

"That," Jeera said. "I'm also a nurse. That means I help heal people like Ayla did in the compound."

"But more," I added. "Jeera knows more than even me, Meri."

Jeera gave me another of those smiles. "I dunno, you're better at sewing wounds."

"She's so good," Meri said - and then paused. A look of confusion crossed her face, followed by a timid little smile. "I just talked to a Dragon!"

"You did!" Jeera agreed. "And I'm hoping you'll keep doing it. See, our houses are small, not like in your compound. We can't all live together, and since my brother is hosting Ayla here, he doesn't have any spare room. I was hoping that maybe you'd be willing to stay with me?"

"But..." Meri looked at me one more time.

"As a guest," I said. "But the kind who lives there. She'd be your roommate like Callah and I were. We didn't think you'd want to live with so many men."

"Men?" The fear was back in her voice.

"I live with men," I clarified. "She doesn't."

"Have you met them yet?" Naomi asked, making her words a little slower and more intentional than Jeera.

"No, ma'am," Meri whispered.

"Rymar, come here!" Jeera ordered.

"Yeah!" Rymar called back, hurrying out of the kitchen to stand respectfully away from Meri.

The man lifted a hand in a wave which - since he wasn't wearing a shirt - exposed the brilliant colors of his scales. Most of him was yellow, but vivid orange spots covered that with red markings on top. Then there were the bright turquoise stripes and speckles above everything. His reddish-orange hair was cut short and pushed back on his head.

The man was vivid in a way we never saw in the compound. His skin was brighter than any color I'd seen before I'd come to the surface - except the Wyvern's eyes. But his color wasn't the only bold thing about him. His personality was just as bright. Thankfully, Rymar was doing his best to be quiet and sedate - for now.

"He's the one who doesn't speak much English," I explained to Meri. "But he's nice."

"You say," Rymar told her, "me hear. Me no say gut."

I giggled. "See? And he's better now than he used to be."

"Talk ta gurl," Rymar said, pointing at me. "Lernt Anglish."

"No, you really didn't," Jeera teased in English. "Now go cook. Kanik!"

"My turn," Kanik said in English, and the men traded places.

Where Rymar was nearly glowing with colors, Kanik was the opposite. His skin was close to the color of Naomi's. Just different enough for the black markings to stand out. But the lavender color of his chest was a beautiful contrast, making the purple behind his ears fit everything else.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Kanik told Meri. "Ayla missed you a lot." Then he dipped his head in something that was almost a bow.

"Kanik's the one who taught me to speak Vestrian," I explained. "He teaches children."

Then Jeera mumbled in Vestrian, "Don't you dare mention the militia."

Kanik just smiled, never taking his eyes off Meri. "I mostly let her read. Ayla has a fondness for books."

"And it's allowed," I added. "Kanik and Zasen gave me so many. I learned all about the world and how it changed. I've also read many fantasy stories. No one gets mad at me for it."

"Because," Naomi said, shooing Kanik back to the kitchen, "among Dragons, women are equal. Do you know what that means?"

"No," Meri admitted.

"It means you can do anything you want that doesn't hurt anyone else," she explained. "Read, yell, or anything else." Then she pointed to Meri's belly. "Is it okay if I feel for the baby's position?"