Sea of Stars(102)

 “That sounds like fun, Wayra. I’m in,” I agree with a smile.

 Drex, Hollis, and Gibon agree too, calling out several more things they think my skills as a thief and a grifter would translate into tactically.

 Charisma covers my hand that is resting on top of my fork on the table. I glance over at her and see that her eyes are filled with tears, but she’s fighting to keep them from spilling over. In a soft voice that doesn’t carry too far, she says, “Trey gave us the talk while you were sleeping. He told us that you don’t like sympathy, so if you say something that we find sad or troublesome, we should not show you that it bothers us.”

 “He told you I hate pity?”

 “Yes, that’s right,” she says. “That’s why Vessey left so quickly. She wanted to smother you with concern and love and kisses and cry her heart out for all that you’ve been through, but she didn’t want to hurt you more or offend you, so she left so she could pull herself together.”

 “Thank you for telling me; it helps to have a translator.”

 “I’m more than that,” she says with a sniffle. “I’m your friend, and hopefully, one day, your sister.”

 “I have something for you,” I reply impulsively. Turning to Vanderline, I ask, “May we be excused?”

 “Of course,” he nods, as he stands up from the table. All of the other men stand as well. Charisma seems delighted that I’ve freed her from the table early.

 I take her with me upstairs. Finding my bag near the bed, I pull out the black lacquer box. When I open it, I show her its contents. Charisma puts her hand to her mouth in shock. “My Crystal Clear Moments! You carried them with you all the way here from the Isle of Skye? And my sonic sayzers!” She picks one up and hugs it to her. “These are my favorite ones! I have another set, but they’re not as pretty. I thought they were gone forever!” She peers into the box and picks up my starcross bracelet. “This is Trey’s starcross.”

 I look at it in her hand. “Well,” I say sheepishly, “it’s sort of mine now. Trey gave it to me.”

 She looks startled. “Trey gave you this?”

 I nod. “Yeah.”

 “It’s been in his family forever.”

 “With luck it will remain in it forever.”

 “Here.” She pushes the silver bracelet over my hand, and then gently pushes it over my wrist. The metal grows in size to accommodate the width of my arm as she slides it up onto my bicep. “There,” she says, admiring the look of the silver starcross armband. “Some females wear them there. It’s convenient if you use this hand to throw the starcross.” She holds my opposite hand, crossing it over my chest.

 My fingertips touch the etched silver crest on the armband. The panel opens up and a wickedly sharp star-shaped metal disk emerges to sit upon the cradle, waiting to be thrown. I press it back in, and it hides away once more beneath the crest.

 Charisma holds up the sonic sayzers. “Did you use both of these?”

 “No, just this one.” I indicate the right one.

 She hands it to me. “Here. You can practice with this one, then. I’ll recalibrate the left one for me. Do you need to rest or can we try them out now?” she asks me.

 I glance outside. It’s really dark with no city lights, but the moons and stars are bright. I shrug. “I’m not tired. Let’s try it.”

 She smiles broadly. “We’ll take these and use them as targets.” She picks up the lacquer box with the Crystal Clear Moments figurines inside. “All but this one.” She reaches in and extracts the dancing couple that Trey said she received at her debut swank.

 I laugh. “Trey said you hated that one!”

 “I did hate it,” she replies ruefully. “I thought it resembled Victus, and so it made me sad. But now, I love it. ”

 “Would it be all right if I kept one?”

 “Of course,” she says. “Pick whichever one you want.”

 “Thank you! Should I change?” I ask while gazing down at the lilac gown I’m wearing.

 “We probably won’t practice very long, and it’s not too terribly exerting. I think we’re fine in what we have on—maybe just bring that jacket there.” She points to the black jacket of hers that I borrowed.

 You don’t mind if I use it?”

 “No! I have several that are very similar to that one. If you want another one, let me know.”