“Lilla,” said Keirth, “you can’t tell me you believed a word of that story on the nets.”
She looked up at him, her face serious. “Sure didn’t want to. You were always a good boy, Keirth, but seeing the things you saw...well, I’ve seen some good boys turn into not-so-great men.”
“I would never—”
“Of course, you wouldn’t,” said Lilla. “Sometimes this business hardens you against men. Can’t be helped. I’m sorry for thinking it.” She smiled again. “Well, let’s not stand her jibber-jabbering any longer. Come back to the house with me.” She turned and started walking back the way she’d come.
“Keirth?” said Ariana. “Where are we? Who’s that woman?”
“Lilla,” said Keirth, starting after her. “She was a friend of my mother’s. And we’re on the planet Scranth.”
“Another colony planet?” she asked.
Keirth nodded. “Come on.”
Still confused, she followed him.
There was one of the houses that was bigger than the others, and it was this one that Lilla led them into. As they entered, the strong smell of perfume and incense invaded Ariana’s senses. They walked into a large room. Couches and lounges flanked the walls, and women in less clothing that even Lilla was wearing sprawled on them. Most looked bored, but a few were snuggled close to men, who were openly gaping at the women close to them.
Lilla strode over to one of these men. He was reaching out to one of the women. Lilla smacked his hand. “You know better. You want to touch, you pay extra.”
And suddenly, it all clicked for Ariana. Lilla had said something about reservations. She’d said her business hardened her against men. And Keirth had said that Lilla was a friend of his mother’s. Keirth had also told her that his mother was a prostitute. Which meant...
She gulped. Keirth had taken her to a whore house. If he’d told her this on the ship, she would have murdered him. She couldn’t believe this. She couldn’t be here. It was beyond the bounds of propriety, it was absolutely unacceptable.
Keirth turned his head and whispered in her ear. “Now, remember, sweetheart, your big talent is being polite to people, right?”
She glared at him. She really, really wished he’d stop calling her that.
Lilla beckoned, and Keirth took off in the same direction she had. Ariana trailed behind them, looking at her surroundings. The room was opulent, covered in silks, with ornate chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. But it was also overdone. There was too much on display, giving it the appearance of trying too hard to look...classy, she guessed. The overall effect was of something chintzy and empty. Cheap. She shuddered.
They emerged out of the large room into a small kitchen, complete with a wooden table and chairs in the middle. Keirth settled into a chair immediately, and Ariana, unsure of what she should do, followed suit.
Lilla, on the other hand, took a few containers out of the cooling unit. “You two hungry?”
Ariana was starved, but she didn’t say anything. She glanced sidelong at Keirth.
“Don’t fuss over us,” said Keirth.
“Heating up leftovers is not fuss,” said Lilla. “Besides, it’s not often I get actual visitors these days.”
“Fine,” said Keirth.
Good. Ariana really could use some food.
Lilla popped the leftovers in the heating unit and sat down at the table with them. “So, I guess there’s a story about why you’re travelling with the daughter of a duke.”
Keirth shrugged. “I was stealing her ship to go after Risciter, and she got stuck on board. I haven’t been able to get rid of her since.”
Ariana folded her arms over her chest. He wanted to “get rid” of her. Yeah, she was deeply regretting thinking anything complimentary about this man.
“Risciter’s looking for her,” said Keirth, “and I don’t think he’s got her best interests at heart. She can’t go back to the sector. Not yet. I was hoping she could stay here.”
Lilla raised her eyebrows.
Ariana glared at him in shock. “What?”
Keirth glanced back and forth between the two women. “Well, not forever. Just long enough for me to find Risciter and kill him.”
The heating unit beeped. Lilla got up. She began to portion out food from the containers onto ceramic plates, which she set down in front of Keirth and Ariana. “Revenge,” she muttered. She got some silverware to hand to them as well. She sat back down at the table. “Listen, Keirth, I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but maybe it’s time you let this go.”
Ariana took a bite of the food. It was rice and vegetables with some kind of sauce. It was very good. She took another bite.