Kiera's Moon

"Romas had all the cats corralled and kept elsewhere for this feast, just for you," Evelyn leaned over to whisper. "Isn't he just awesome?"

"He's awesome if he keeps them corralled for my entire visit, which hopefully won't be long," Kiera replied. Evelyn frowned and shifted away. Kiera almost apologized, but the approach and introduction of two pre-teen boys with white-blond hair and bright blue eyes distracted her.

"My brothers, Lilan and Hilan," Romas announced.

The grinning boys were between ten and twelve, already tall and lanky. The two scuffled for a seat next to one of their older brothers across from Kiera before a look from Mison quieted them. They sat dutifully, sharing the pillow, and were calm for several moments before a discreet elbow match broke out between them. She was grateful to see even alien kids behaved like typical kids.

She took her first bite of what looked like beef. It certainly tasted like beef, though the tangy spices were unfamiliar. Evelyn poured clear, steaming broth into a bowl beside her plate.

"This is good. You can dip anything in this," she said.

Kiera tried it. The clear broth held a tangy, rich flavor, like spiced butter. As a fan of good food, Kiera found Evelyn's words to be quite true. She dipped everything she tried-- from meat to casseroles with odd textures-- in the clear broth. They even had a version of bread; it was unleavened and came in large, round, flat ears.

She ate until full, then pushed her plate from the edge of the table. The two boys across from her had managed to make messes of themselves and the table in what might have been a competition. They cast several glances her way and appeared as interested in her as they were in looking past her. Romas's eldest brother, who sat across and down the table from her, rose, a look of anger on his face. She watched him circle the table and twisted to see where he went.

Behind the tent and its low, shallow steps was a small group of blond warriors surrounding a fifth man with darker skin and hair. Romas's brother spoke to the group. The boys across from Kiera began giggling. Uninterested in watching people talk, she glanced again at the boys and nudged Evelyn.

"Evelyn, I need to use the little girls' room," she said.

Evelyn leaned to whisper to Romas, whose response was a tad too long for Kiera's impatient bladder.

"He says to enter the main house by the first entrance you find. Your bracelet-- "