Page 50

She turned and dropped her eyes to the floor where I'd landed. “Opal, what are you doing down there?”

I pointed at the Vicpor. “He hurt me.”

She scowled, and I could've sworn her tusks got bigger. I thought she'd yell at the Vicpor, but she stomped up to him. He fumbled with the weapon but didn't get a chance to point it at her before she was there.

“No,” she said, grabbing the weapon and tossing it away. It arced past the crowd and someone yelled with surprise when it probably hit him.

“You are not big,” she rumbled, her voice deep with anger.

Without his weapon, the Vicpor shrank back, then bumped into me and fell over. He landed on Sloane. She cried out in pain.

“Another human?” Pelrow said. She reached down, grabbed the Vicpor with one hand, and launched him up onto the ramp.

Ignoring him, she focused her attention on Sloane. “You don't look good, human. You seem extra small.”

Predictably, Sloane didn't answer so I spoke for her. “Sloane doesn't feel well.”

That was probably an understatement.

“Do you need help standing?” Pelrow asked me, even as she reached for me.

I flinched back. “No, I don't. I can stand or walk. My ankle and foot hurt.”

Pelrow’s frown was fierce. “I left you without pain or injury at the broker. Now you're broken! This is small business.”

I heard a scuttling sound and looked up to watch the Vicpor disappear inside the ship. I thought he'd gotten away with everything, except Pelrow looked at the crowd.

“He brought a weapon onto my station and injured children,” she announced to the crowd. “I give you permission to make him and his brothers the smallest.”

A bunch of Marpers with eager expressions and growing tusks crowded each other to rush up the ramp. No sooner did they disappear into the ship than I heard the sounds of fighting.

Justice was rare in this universe, and that was probably the most satisfying thing I'd ever witnessed.

“What about the broker?” she asked me. “I've heard he isn't as big as he should be.”

“He's the one who brought me here,” I agreed. “He's definitely small.”

“I'll take care of him,” Pelrow promised with a gleam in her eyes.

The Talins yelling to be released reminded me that they were still being held by Marpers.

“Pelrow, could you release the Talins?” I pointed to Tolly. “That one is my keeper. I'd like him back now.”

She grunted and made a gesture to the Marpers holding him. Tolly tried to rush over to me, but Pelrow blocked him.

“Opal has a body-small,” Pelrow said, then she thumped her chest. “But she's a big-small, you understand? She might be physically tiny, but she contains a big spirit. She walked through our station even though she could've been hurt by accident. Even without a keeper, she had no fear. She is very big-small.”

I was putting that on my next job application: Opal, the biggest small human.

Tolly sounded a rumble of agreement. “She is extremely brave.”

“Good. I’m glad you understand,” Pelrow grunted. “It's good she found a keeper, but you can't let her be alone again, yes?”

“Never again,” he agreed.

Pelrow turned and looked down at me. “Mind your keeper, yes? It's important he's able to do his job.”

“I will,” I promised. I would’ve said anything to get us all out of there mostly in one piece.