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“Whores?”
Lisra grimaced uncomfortably, but Sandy just chuckled. It was like ‘beige is girly’. She had to readjust her thinking. To them, humans must look like strippers in full regalia, walking down the streets, clear heels clicking, tassels bouncing. Or maybe just wrapped in a too tight, too short, bodycon dress but going to a classy, formal event.
“Don’t let anyone thinking that way discourage you,” Lisra insisted quickly. “They’ll get used to you. Because the most important trait for a female is pride. You hold your head high and look down on them, refuse to grant them even your displeasure. It puts you above them.”
Ah. That must be why her silent treatment was so effective. They must feel like Victorian nobles looking down on peasants that dared look back, unimpressed by their finery. Such an aggravation was too insulting to tolerate. That hadn’t been Sandy’s intention, she just didn’t want to talk to those people, but she’d take any advantage she could get.
“Is there somewhere that could make clothes for me?” She asked. “Nothing designed for telfay. Something for me.”
“Sure. You can hire a tailor. Or you can buy clothing from off-world traders. It might take a bit longer to get here, but you can at least be assured that it fits better than anything we would have ready for you. Cheaper than a tailor too. Oh,” she laughed. “But who am I talking to? With how much Rane earns, you hardly have to worry about money, huh?”
Sandy sipped at her tea, saying nothing, but glancing at Drevor. He was staring back already, unspoken words in his eyes. A confirmation of a message that Lisra hadn’t meant to give.
Maybe because it was the fact that everything in this manor was clearly done in Elffa’s style, but Sandy had just assumed that it belonged to her. Maybe she came from old money or something. But that wasn’t what Lisra said. She said with how much Rane earned. Meaning, Rane was the one making all this money.
It was a motive for Elffa to keep him under her thumb. And probably the most base and basic one possible. It was almost disappointing. She wasn’t some elegant, blue blooded, untouchable lady with inscrutable desires. She wanted money. Maybe also control, but really just money.
Sandy finished teatime with Lisra and bid her farewell from the door. They talked about the other mates of the team and fashion and hobbies. Simple, friendly things. She told Sandy not to rush getting accustomed to things, and to take her time if she really was so shy. Lisra didn’t mind waiting, but she hoped she’d be able to come by again soon. Sandy couldn’t promise her that, since Elffa was controlling her right now, but she agreed with a smile.
The moment she was out of sight, Drevor began walking her back to her hallway. The one she sincerely hoped was getting water damage from the wet reeds she’d left there. She’d learned the art of being petty from her grandmother, and really it was their fault for letting the prisoner be bored.
“Money, huh?” She started, speaking softly as Drevor walked her up the stairs.
He looked briefly surprised that she was talking to him but recovered quickly. “Rane is a very highly publicized, star trikballer. He earns a great deal.”
“And that belongs to his mother, I assume.”
“It is not uncommon for parents to control the assets of their children.”
“It is when their children are adults.”
“Ah, but Rane is not an adult.”
“Isn’t he?”
“In the strictly biological sense, yes. But legally?”
They reached the door and Sandy stopped, turning before it could lock her back in. “The tribunal meeting you’ve applied for on my behalf. What is it?”
Something like approval flashed in his eyes. “The tribunal is an important milestone legality for all youth on Levtiram. When you reach the age of adulthood, you must apply to the tribunal for legal adulthood.”
“Everyone must do this?”
“Yes.”
“Including immigrants?”
There was definite approval in his gaze now. “Only those that are mating a telfay. Those who are working here are granted automatic legal adulthood if they have it on their own planet. Those applying for legal citizenship have their own steps to take, but the tribunal is not required for them either.”
“In that case, I don’t need a tribunal meeting. Such a thing on my planet is determined only by age. Which is eighteen years old. Which I have far exceeded. And I’m not applying for permanent citizenship.”
“Only until you are mated. Once you are mated, if you have not already completed the process for permanent citizenship, you must meet the tribunal.”
“Does everyone get approval for legal adulthood?”
“No. Those who are considered incapable of being fully responsible for themselves can and will be denied.”
“I see. Like those who, for example, are addicted to drugs and alcohol and spend an inordinate amount of time partying?”
