“You’re a fine one to talk about not over-doing it,” she scolded affectionately, putting her arm around him as they walked away from the PASS agent. “I can tell you are barely holding yourself upright. Have you had anything to eat?”

  “Have you?” he retorted fondly.

  “Agent Arteyn gave me a restorative drink,” she said mock-virtuously. “I bet you haven’t had anything since we sent Niagmo home with Taasi.”

  Shortly before that, someone had offered them parsho, he remembered, and some fish balls he had eaten hungrily despite not usually caring for dried fish. It was no time to be finicky, and the high nutrient meal had helped them recharge.

  “I haven’t,” he admitted. “And I should have.” It had been hours since those fish balls.

  “We’ll eat soon,” she said as they walked slowly along the edge of the stonework, to the part that was undamaged.

  A Kalesthal patroller came to stop them from entering the small gate, recognized them, and offered them a bubble. So much better than walking, Eulet thought wearily, as he sat down gratefully.

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  They were too tired to talk. She offered him a half-empty tube of water, and because they were headed home and she claimed she wasn’t thirsty, he let her talk him into finishing the water.

  He closed his eyes and didn’t try to stay awake. There was no need. If she needed him, she would wake him, and right now he was more tired than she.

  Edaskina, he thought as he drowsed. Beloved.

  He was not fully asleep but in a comfortable in-between stage when they arrived home.

  She had to help him get out of the bubble. His body had stiffened with exhaustion, and he did not want to use the little energy he had left to ease his sore muscles. They had agreed to head for the pool next to the small courtyard. A long soaking bath was what they both needed. And food.

  There was a bowl of nuts centered in a platter of fruit on the service niche in the courtyard, but they would need more than that after such a day.

  “Let’s order some food from the kitchen,” she suggested as she pulled off her clothes. “Claru-cha and her helpers get up early; they are probably getting ready for the morning rush.”

  True, it was morning, he thought.

  They shared the nuts and fruit while floating in the mineral-rich warm water. Gradually they began to feel stronger, more alert. By the time the food came from the kitchen, they were able to climb out and eat under Lía’s watchful eye. She had brought the food to them and would not accept any nonsense about eating in the water. They would sit at a table like civilized people, she scolded. And dress first! Whoever heard of civilized people eating naked? Did they think they were at some sort of pleasure court?

  She had not raised either of them, only some of their cousins, but that didn’t stop Lía from scolding them as though they were both children. Sometimes it was annoying, but today it was oddly soothing, so they didn’t send her away.