“Is that your handwriting?” Kat looked at the tiny place setting in wonder. “Wow, that’s beautiful Nina. Thank you.”
“You’re more than welcome.” Nina smiled at her. “I’m just grateful to have something to do.”
“She means to take her mind off Reddix,” Lissa explained. She frowned. “When I think of how he acted…I’ve already told Saber he’s not invited to our joining ceremony, whenever we finally have one.”
“Thanks, Lissa.” Nina lifted her chin. It had only been a few days, and her heart still felt like it had been shattered into a million pieces, but she was determined to move on. “But you don’t have to do that. I’m not going to let him bother me.”
“Brave girl,” Kat said admiringly. “Well, if you can really get over him that easily, it wasn’t meant to be in the first place.”
“Exactly what I’ve been telling her,” Lissa said. “I just—”
“Oh, look out—disaster at five o clock,” Kat hissed, turning her back.
“What?” Nina looked around uncertainly. “What are you talking about?”
“It’s the new girl—Maggie Jordan. She’s up here on the ship because she’s going to participate on the first wholly integrated Human/Kindred exploration. Which basically means some of the warriors are checking out a new planet and letting some humans tag along.”
“That sounds nice,” Nina was intrigued. “She must be really smart to be chosen for that.”
“Oh, she is—smart as a whip,” Kat said earnestly. “She’s got a doctorate in xenobiology and xenobotany, and she’s only twenty-five. That’s like…amazing. Impossible.”
“So what’s the problem? Why are you hiding from her?” Lissa asked.
Kat frowned. “Well, you see, the thing is—she’s too smart. You know that old stereotype of the absent minded professor who has his head in the clouds all the time? Well, that’s Maggie. She’s so smart she has no common sense.”
“She’s pretty, anyway,” Nina offered, staring at the girl over Kat’s shoulder. She had short, rather messy honey blonde hair that was a mass of curls around her heart-shaped face. Her eyes might have been brown, but it was hard to tell—they were hidden behind a pair of thick, round glasses. She had a good figure which was unfortunately hidden by the bulky lace dress in a rather horrible shade of puce she was wearing. “Pretty in an…academic nerd girl kind of way, anyway,” Nina amended.
“Pretty but not practical,” Kat confided in a low voice. “Sophie took her under her wing and asked if she could help with the wedding. Of course I said yes because I need all the help I can get. But already she’s knocked over a dozen chairs, spilled half a bottle of wine that wasn’t even supposed to be opened yet, and broken half a dozen crystal champagne flutes. I’m telling you, girls, she’s an accident waiting to happen.”
Just then, as though she’d been called, Maggie Jordan caught sight of Kat and hurried over.
“Oh, Kat!” she exclaimed. “I’m so glad to see you. Is there anything else I can do to help?”
“Well…” Kat smiled at her warily. “As a matter of fact, Lissa and Nina here were just saying they could use some help with the favors and the place settings.”
“Oh good! Anything I can do.” Maggie swept out her hands in a gesture of goodwill. Unfortunately, she happened to catch two or three of the little picture frames and knocked them off the table Nina was sitting at. The delicate glass shattered immediately, littering the floor with tiny sharp shards.
“Oops,” Lissa murmured.
“Oh dear!” Maggie cried. “I’m so sorry! Here, let me clean that up.” She bent down at once and began picking up the shattered glass.
“Don’t,” Nina warned. “You’ll stick yourself—let me get a broom.”
But it was too late. Maggie had already stabbed her finger with a piece of glass.
“Ouch!” She straightened up abruptly, and the top of her head smacked the underside of the table with a bang. Luckily, Nina was able to save the rest of the tiny picture frame place settings, but sugared almonds went rolling everywhere.
“Are you all right?” Lissa looked under the table to where Maggie was still crouched.
“I think so…” Maggie came crawling out from under the table with one hand held out in front of her. A long shard of glass was sticking out of her middle finger.
“Here—let me get that,” Nina said, bending down.