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Kamau sighed and showed him a massive pan of multi-colored tubers ranging from creamy white to deep purple and orange. “I am making a Servali tuber tagine with roasted silverfin, and yes, I will make enough for you and your Queen to go back to your love nest and gorge yourselves between rounds.”
“Thank you, that’s very kind of you.”
Kamau slammed the container down. “I’m sorry, what? Did you just thank me for ‘doing my job’?”
“Ah. Yes. I remember that little conversation we had about—”
“You’re being polite.” Kamau dropped his voice and slunk over to him. “Are you telling me all that was making you an arrogant bag of spots was the lack of a Queen?”
Ardol shrugged with a crooked smile. “Maybe?”
“Hm. Well, you may be kinder, but I’m still smarter. I know you didn’t come down to see me just to inquire about my plans for the day. What do you want? Human delicacies for Jade? I’ve signed up for some education modules from a Sapien-Three chef. I’ll work on recipes and substitutions before I order any special ingredients that we’ll have to get from the Milky Way Galaxy.”
“That would be lovely.” Ardol paused. His home estate had cooks and servants galore. Leopardine cuisine was delicious, but Jade would probably like food from her own culture, too. He wondered if his father would let him change the menu up. Probably not.
But once I’m District Lord, it won’t matter. They’ll cook whatever I tell them.
“You have it bad, my friend,” Kamau chuckled. “One mention of her and you’re a million light years away.”
“Huh? Oh, yes. That would be lovely to try some food that the humans onboard grew up with,” Ardol continued once he snapped back to the present, “but I was wondering if there would be enough food for a few extra mouths tonight?”
“How many?”
“Four.”
Kamau’s eyes lit up. “Human or Felid?”
“One human, three Felid.”
“Hah haaa!” The chef took off in a gold and black blur, large ears practically flapping with joy. “I have enough for the tagine, and I will change the roasted silverfin to silverfin and black stripe mixed grill. For dessert, I have some sapsweets that I can use to make pillowcake.”
Ardol licked his lips. “Sapsweets are my favorite. And pillowcake—” he closed his eyes as he thought of the delectable fried dough that had a crispy brown shell and rich, sweet, pillowy interior. “You are a genius, my friend.”
“Hmm. About time you realized it. Tell your guests they are welcome.”
JADE HUGGED CLAUDE tight, rocking from side to side. “Don’t worry. We’ll stay in touch. And I’ll be right here, just outside of town, for the rest of the cycle.”
Claude wiped his eyes on her shoulder. “Okay.”
“And maybe when we come back to visit one day, there will be a new little cub for you to help take care of. I think you’d make an amazing honorary big brother.”
“Honest?”
“Cross my heart. If the medical treatments work on everyone, not just Layla.”
“Those cubs were sure cute. You couldn’t tell they were half-human.”
“Are you saying my cubs are going to be ugly if they look like me?” Jade teased.
“Gosh, no! You’re awful pretty for a human. Not as pretty as Josie Weaver, but...”
“Ah, Doc Weaver bet watch out. He’s going to have you courting Josie before you know it.”
With many more hugs and waves, Jade watched her friends pile back into Miles’ shuttle and take off into the night.
Strange how she’d moved them from tolerated to trusted without realizing it.
Like a wound healing. It gets better a little each day, she mused, turning back to head up the ship’s walkway.
