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“I’ll say something for the poor,” Kozien commented as he gulped down the ale. “They know how to make a good brew.”
Gianna grinned at him, taking another sip and swirling the little clay cup. “It’s dry, shelled kernels of something like corn.” She sipped it again. “There are wheat stalks in it… I think it’s flavored with barley sugar. Not the purified stuff, but the byproduct that’s left when you cut the seed. It’ll be soaked in pure rainwater, the barrel was probably just left on the roof to catch the liquid and then ferment in the sun.”
“How do you know all of that?” Kozien sounded amazed.
Gianna shrugged. “I’m a street rat. I know all about the ways of the poor.”
“But how?” Kozien pressed.
Gianna sighed. “I was eight and my little brother, Gabe, was five when we first came from Earth to look for a place to live up on Noxxa. We were staying at a very nice, upscale establishment in the main city, and my parents went out early to look at land.” Gianna looked into her cup, swirling the amber liquid. “They left us in the care of the merchant’s wife. It was only supposed to be an hour. But a shuttle crashed, and our parents were killed.”
Gianna’s hands shook, just a little, as she recalled that time of her life. “The merchant and his wife sent us to an orphanage. Apparently, that was mercy because they could have sold us. Still, it was like nothing we had ever seen.”
She looked up to see Kozien watching her with big, shimmering eyes. In the darkness of the room, his eyes almost seemed to glow.
“The orphanage didn’t have any private rooms or even enough beds. We fought for blankets and every last scrap of food. The only way to stay alive was to learn to steal and commit other petty crimes.”
Gianna looked away from Kozien’s gaze. She was pretty sure she could see pity there, and it was worse than if he had judged her harshly for how she’d had to survive.
“That’s why you said he was probably looking for a big score,” Kozien pointed out. “Because both of you have done questionable things, but if you make a big enough mark, it solves all your problems forever.”
“Yes,” she muttered. “Gabe always takes it too far, and he spends his money too quickly. He could have done quite well as a laborer, but he said it was too hard and not enough money.”
“True enough,” Kozien agreed as he finished his beer. “I’ve seen those guys get whipped to death.”
Gianna shuddered, thanking any gods who might be listening that such a thing had never happened to her or Gabe.
“I can’t repay you for this, any of it,” she whispered, trying not to look at him.
“I know,” he answered. She looked up and saw no judgment or hesitation on his face. Apparently, he wasn’t going to let her lack of credits stop him.
They finished their food in silence, thoughts weighing heavily on them both. While Kozien took the bed and rolled over to sleep without a second thought, Gianna sat up in the armchair and felt more anxious with each passing minute.
Gabe got himself into scrapes. It was just something he did. Now that he’d gone and buried himself in the worst trouble yet, she felt bad about dragging Kozien into this. He had his own problems, but now he was right in the thick of this.
Kozien was fairly innocent or appeared to be. He was also honest and generous by wanting to stay even though she couldn’t pay him.
The unfairness of the situation hit her hard. She couldn’t do this to him. If they continued, Kozien would get hurt because of her.
Moving slowly so she would not wake him, Gianna quickly scribbled a note on the back of the receipt and then slipped out of the room and disappeared into the night.
The noises of the merchants opening their stalls on the streets roused Kozien from a sound sleep. The room was dimly lit yet as the sun was barely above the horizon. He sat up quickly, looking around for Gianna.
When he saw that the room was empty, he didn’t worry too much. His first thought was that she would be hungry and he was anxious to feed her. But before he could take two steps away from the bed, though, he saw her note on the table.
Kozien. I appreciate all you have done for me, but I can’t endanger you in the search for my brother. You have far too many of your own burdens to carry. Get off this planet and take care of yourself.
G
Anger and fear rose in him as he crumpled the note in his fist. No way was he going to leave her. Stranding an innocent woman would not have set well with him under any circumstances, but he was pretty sure his growing attraction to her meant she was his true mate.
Kozien stood still for a moment, taking long, deep breaths. He didn’t think she would be easy to find, and he was going to risk exposing himself if he went running around in public. If word got out that the Lorr prince was hiding out in this quarter, everyone would become his enemy.
He wrapped himself in his hooded cloak, hoping he looked like one of the strange, oversized aliens that had oddly scaled faces. Those guys were often covered up in public, and no one dared ask them to remove their hood.
Kozien hit the streets, weaving through the morning crowds. As the sun rose, gaining strength and light, the markets got even busier. He rather enjoyed the chaos. The hawking calls of the merchants and the shrill cries of the patrons were a complete change of pace from the dignified manner of the inner city.
Kozien couldn’t ask around for Gianna because he would expose himself and most likely her, as well. She was probably still disguised and wouldn’t have been recognized even if she passed people she knew.
