East

"Moonbeam?" Suvdin's soft call came from the entrance.

"Come in!" I stood.

She entered, trailed by Batu. "I heard you have a guest in need of a home." She smiled.

I glanced at Batu. "I thought she could stay with us."

"She'll be safest if she remains here with Suvdin," he replied.

For the first time since we'd met, anger stirred. I wasn't about to make a scene in front of Suvdin - but I wanted to. "She's sleeping," I said instead. "She'll be frightened if she wakes up to strangers."

"This is wise. Do you wish to bring her to me in the morning?" Suvdin asked.

"Yes," I said, albeit unhappily.

Suvdin either didn't hear my reluctance or was graciously overlooking it. She smiled and left.

I crossed my arms and glared at Batu. "Why can't she come with us?"

"She is safer here, goddess."

"She's safer with you to protect her!"

"You are angry." He appeared interested.

"Of course I am! You didn't even ask me before you gave her away to someone else. She's my responsibility."

"What would you have me do, Moonbeam?" he asked and approached, standing close enough that my anger began to slide into another warm emotion. "To protect you, I cannot have distractions. We may not be long in any one place. Here, Suvdin has agreed to adopt her as a daughter. She will be safe and have a family. It is a rare kindness and honor."

But I want her with me. I bit my tongue and absorbed his words. He made sense. He always did. He understood this world better; I trusted him with my own safety.

Turning to face Flowers, I still hesitated. "I would've preferred that you ask me first," I said finally. "I don't disagree with your decision. But I want to be informed."

"Very well, goddess. I did not mean to cause you distress."

I didn't know why it upset me so much. It was partially because Flowers had originally been under my protection, and I deserved to be consulted before he made decisions about her welfare.

But there was more. I just couldn't figure out what. Flowers, like me, was an outsider, and it was nice to have company.

"Suvdin has three children. She's okay with a fourth?" I asked him.

"She is. I provided the means to support her for her life as well."

"What does that mean?" I faced him curiously.

"I gifted Flowers a thousand horses. They become her new father's."

"So you bribed them."

"What is this?" he asked, head tilted. "It is honorable, goddess."

"Sorry." I drew a breath. "I'm still learning. Do you have a thousand horses?"