Page 16 of Ahelno
“Oh, um, thanks, I guess. I’m a human from Earth. I don’t know anything about the Lumanela. Hi, I’m Andie,” I said, trying not to be awkward.
Manoko stretched his wings and closed his eyes. “It is true, then. Your voice feels like water on my skin. Truly magical.” He gave his whole body a shake, then opened his eyes and smiled at me.
I had heard similar comments during my time here, but decided not to press it at the moment. I’d ask Camavel later. Manoko’s prolonged stare was becoming a bit unnerving.
“Stop mooning over her. She needs an identification wristband.” Camavel snapped.
Manoko shook himself again. “Of course, one moment.” He plucked a band from a box and held it up to his communications panel. “Please place your hand on the panel so I can key it to you.” I did so, and the panel and the face of the wristband both flashed blue. “Simple enough,” he said and handed the band to me. I placed it around my wrist and snapped it closed. “Now, please hold the band to the panel so the cost can be deducted from your accounts.”
I did as he asked, and the panels both flashed yellow. “A pleasure doing business with you, little Lumanela,” Manoko bowed to me. “Would you like to join me for dinner one night this week?” he asked, crest rising on his head.
“No, she would not, she is mated to Prince Dakleth.” Camavel snapped again. “Come, Andie.” She flexed her wingsand indicated we should move away. I was grateful for her intervention, even though I didn’t appreciate the reference to my rapist. I was trying to move past my assault, but his name was everywhere. I wasn’t interested in Manoko - or any man right now, but I didn’t want to have to be reminded of the ‘mating’ to get them to back off.
I trailed dutifully behind Camavel to a delightfully painted shop while Camavel ranted about males trying to take what did not belong to them. I kept silent. This was a convo I definitely did not want to have with her. A pleasant trill chimed as we entered the shop.
“Camavel, dearest, WHO have you brought to me?” the shopkeeper purred. I took him in, and my mouth dropped open. He had a beautiful purple crest that he had adorned with sparkling, ruby-like jewels, and he was wearing a drop-dead gorgeous full-length russet shiny gown, with a halter neck and the back cut out to accommodate his wings. The deep color set off his dark gray skin beautifully. More jewels studded his forehead ridge and ears, and I had never seen such a graceful, elegant creature in my whole life. Also, I was hella surprised, because if I wasn’t mistaken, I was meeting my first Ptexari drag queen.
“Is this the Lumanela everyone’s talking about?” he practically bounced on his toes, and his wings fluttered. “Oh, dearest, you are STUNNING. Please tell me I get to dress you, oh please please pleeeease!” His excitement was contagious.
“Rein it in, Robnar,” Camavel admonished. “Yes, you can make her some clothes, but you have to keep it tasteful. She’s dining at the palace tomorrow with King Akapa and Princess Kashtinela, so she needs appropriate clothing for a royal luncheon. After that, you can design a whole set of clothingfor her. She needs casual wear as well as clothing for formal events where she will be representing the royal family.”
Robnar looked like he would pass out from excitement. “Oh, you are a dream client!” he exclaimed. He took in my drab shirt and skirt. “Is it customary for you to cover your top as well as your bottom?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied. “Humans have breasts,” I hefted them a bit with my hands so he could see, even through the shirt, “and it’s customary for us to cover them. We wear dresses, or skirts or pants with a shirt.”
“How exciting!” Robnar replied. “Most Ptexari wear just skirts. Skirts, skirts, and more skirts. Do you know how boring it is to sew nothing but skirts? I shall take great pleasure in dressing you, Lumanela.”
“It’s Andie. I’m just a human, not a Lumanela.”
“But you are exactly as Lumanela are depicted! Small, delicate, beautiful, and your voice is sending waves of contentment through my skin.”
Weird, I thought, but again, something to explore another day.
“Ok, well, do you think you can make me something suitable to wear in time for lunch at the palace tomorrow?” I asked.
“But of course!” he replied. “Scan your wrist on this panel, and I will have access to the measurements from your most recent medscan.”
So no HIPAA laws here, I thought, scanning my wristband and wondering what other data about me people on this planet had access to. Nothing I could do about that, but still.
Robnar pulled out some fabrics and designed a few sketches while we talked. I was surprised how quickly he was able to pull ideas together and sketch them on the tablet. He wasclearly a master of his craft, and I felt better upon leaving his shop. “I will have your first outfit delivered to your cottage tomorrow morning, and then your other items over the next week or so,” he assured me.
With that errand handled, Camavel accompanied me back to my cottage to give me some pointers about table manners for my first royal luncheon.
CHAPTER 17
I recognized the guard who waited on my doorstep as one of those who had originally brought me to the cottage. At the time, I was not in my best state, so I hadn’t bothered to introduce myself. “Greetings, honored visitor,” I said, practicing my best manners. “I would offer you a cup of Oonag, but I know we need to get going.”
“A blessing upon your house and all who dwell within,” the guard replied dutifully. “If you are ready, I am to accompany you to the palace.”
“Yes, I’m ready.” I stepped out the door. I was wearing a stunning blue jumpsuit, courtesy of Robnar’s genius. I was loving wearing pants again. I wasn’t used to wearing skirts 100% of the time. The fabric was also much softer than the hide skirts the Ptexari typically wore. I’m sure I looked strange to the guard’s eyes, but I felt better than I had in a long time. I had torn some of my old clothes into strips to make rag rollers last night, and my hair now hung in loose waves down my back. I was pleased with the result. For the first time in months, I felt pretty. More importantly, I felt like…myself.
I wore the satchel with M’Pak tucked inside like a crossbody bag. It was getting difficult because he was growing soquickly. Just two weeks ago he was the size of a small housecat, and now he was the size of a grown beagle. The guard stepped back when the cub peeked out. “Is that a Granthor?” he asked in disbelief.
“He’s just a cub,” I said. “I don’t know how long we’ll be gone, so I need to bring him with me.” The guard was clearly unsure about this.
“He’s very well behaved,” I assured him.
The guard backed away and moved to the front of the vehicle. I got in the other side and harnessed myself in, with M’Pak in my lap. I was proud of myself for remembering how to buckle the harness.
