My jaw drops, my eyes roaming the place, trying to take it all in.
Cephi prods my arm, and her eyes laugh when I meet her gaze.
“Well then, Ni-Kee, shall we find some new things for your new home?”
“I don’t really know where to start.”
“That’s all right, I certainly do,” the Suevan says briskly, setting off for a stand stacked high with bolts of fabric.
She speaks with enough authority that I follow her, curious about who, exactly, she is to my Draz.
“The human female is the warlord’s mate,” Cephi announces loudly, and dozens of Suevans pause, all turning to get a good look at me. “We need items to help make his myza worthy of her presence. Pillows, I think. New blankets. She will need gowns and pantsuits, too. Perhaps some cooking equipment—”
“Armor and weapons,” I interrupt her. “I’m not a good cook.”
“That’s all right,” Cephi says, looking at me with that sly amusement. “My son will be a good enough cook for both of you. We should bring him some new tools though, he will like that.”
My eyebrows shoot up, and I swallow hard, feeling every inch the idiot.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were his mother?” I wince, the words coming out too loud.
“I found it humorous to wait. I wanted to see what you were like, without any added pressure.”
I narrow my eyes at her. “Did you find out anything interesting?”
“Just that my son has made a very good match, indeed.” She grins at me. “Welcome to Edrobaz, Ni-Kee. Go choose your weapons, if you wish. We can discuss garments and bedding once you’ve looked your fill at the sharper things.”
I bite my cheeks, trying not to become irritated at her overbearing tone. Unfortunately, I’m running on little sleep, too much stress, and am annoyed beyond reason with the fact that Draz left me without a word, not even giving me a heads up that his mother would be waiting for me.
“We’re already here, so I’ll pick out a few things now. I need clothes just as much as I need weapons.” The tone of command rings through the words, but Cephi’s grin only grows.
“Good, very good,” she says approvingly, and I belatedly realize it was a test to see if I’d back down to her or assert myself.
Good thing she wanted me to assert myself, because I am certainly not the type of woman to back down, human or otherwise.
I crack a grin at her, running my hands over a silky mint green material. “Did I pass your test?”
Her mouth twists to the side, her tail lashing behind her before she barks out a guttural laugh. “Yes, yes you did. Now then, let me show you how Suevans haggle. No one will make a fool of my long-awaited daughter, not while I draw breath. Isn’t that right, Xez?”
We both look up at the vendor, who must be Xez. “Of course not, Cephi. No one will make a fool of the warlord’s wife. Definitely not me.” He shakes his head, offering me another bolt of even softer fabric, this one in a deep red. “I can make you a gown like the one you have on out of this. I have a few new designs that may be suited to your human form, too.”
“Your clan has been the source of much gossip,” Cephi tells me.
“My clan?” It takes my tired brain a minute to catch up. “Oh, my crew? Well, that doesn’t surprise me. Have they come to the market then?”
“Not yet,” Xez says, pulling out more fabric swatches in a rainbow of gorgeous colors. “But I long to dress them. Will you tell them that Xez has many ideas to clothe their bodies in?”
I blink at his odd word choice.
“Don’t promise him anything,” Cephi tells me, glaring at Xez. “He knows good and well that the human women can choose who clothes their bodies themselves.”
“Of course they can,” Xez retorts, diamond pupils narrowing in anger. “I simply wanted the First Warlord’s wife to put in a good word. Is that not why you are here, Cephi? Because I am the best?”
Cephi makes a disgruntled noise, and I grin a little.
“I’ll take three gowns and four pant and top outfits,” I say. “In any of the colors you think will be best.”
“You don’t want to pick?” Xez sounds dismayed. “What if you don’t like them?”
“She needs fifteen gowns and twenty pant sets,” my mother-in-law says. “Give her one of each color.”
I cut my eyes to her, trying to decide if this is another test, but she smiles down at me without any guile in her eyes.
“My son has gone too long without a mate. He will want you dressed in the best, and you need clothes, do you not, Ni-Kee? You will have many functions to attend.”
“All right,” I say slowly.
“Put it on my son’s account,” Cephi says. “Do not even think of marking it up.”
Xez and Cephi begin haggling, and I wander over to the booth full of Suevan armor. I’ve only ever seen Draz wearing pants, and the thought of him in full armor makes my mouth go dry. My warlord is large and formidable enough without the armor, his scaled hide providing nearly all the protection he can need.
“Is it sold as a set?” I ask the vendor, slightly confused about why they have armor at all.
“We would have to create something special just for you,” the vendor tells me. “No disrespect, human female, but our armor will not fit you.”
I hadn’t even considered armor for myself, but… now that he mentions it, that sounds perfect.
“Could you do it?” If the Roth show up, I know only too well how fragile my body is. I need to train with it on. My whole team does. I don’t know how much money I have to spend today, but I’ll need to discuss a budget for me and my team. None of us need to be bored.
Leaving Michelle and Bex bored is a recipe for disaster.
And really, we can’t take much more of those.
My gaze flicks back to the vendor, who’s measuring me up.
“Do you doubt my ability?”
“No, just your willingness.” It’s matter of fact, and the Suevan blinks in surprise.
“You are the warlord’s mate. If you want the armor, you will have the armor. In fact, it will be an interesting diversion to create it for you. The first set will be free.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“It is necessary. You may not like the way it moves. I know nothing of human bodies other than what my eyes are telling me.”
“I’m not going to ask you to work for free,” I argue back. Is this what Cephi meant when she said she would handle the negotiations?
“You aren’t asking me to work for free, I am telling you I will be working for free.”
“Accept the armor,” Cephi says, her hand on my shoulder, her tone brooking no argument.
“I accept the armor,” I say, unsure of what the hell has the vendor so riled up. “But let me buy a few things for Draz.”
I select a shoulder piece, along with a pair of new pants, like the ones that are all but ruined after our trek through the jungle. Cephi haggles with him, bringing the price down to something that satisfies them both, then grins at me when the vendor sighs wearily and hands us a bag stuffed full.
“And that, Ni-Kee, is how it is done.” She wipes her palms against each other, the gesture so human that I can’t help grinning right back at her.
“What else do you want?” she says, a gleam in her eyes, like she’s just getting warmed up for shopping.
“A nap,” I say honestly, exhaustion wearing at me.
“You are not having a good time?” she asks, worry clear on her face. “Was I offensive?”
“No, no, not at all. We hiked all night, though, and I’m completely drained.”
“Drained does not sound good. We can get you some refreshments?”