“Yes, it was over here.” I walked past the fragrant perfumes and scented items that assaulted my nose to the jewelry section. There, on a hanging display, was a pair of silver-chained armbands, woven together with white stones. They were a magnificent work of art. The others on display didn’t appeal to me. They were made from darker metals and stones or crafted in heavier metal in a way that made me think they were for something else other than display.
“Is there something that caught your eye?” a hoarse voice asked.
A tall, grayish-purple figure with taloned feet and large wings stood before us. She had a long thin tail that came to a sharp broken edge. It looked like, at one point in time, she had a blade at the end of her tail but lost it in a battle. The figure had long black hair and wore a more modest version of the two-pieces she was selling. She coughed into her taloned hands, staring straight at me.
“What do we have here?” the female shopkeeper said in a slightly clearer voice.
She walked over and reached for my necklace. I took a step back as Z’fir stepped between us, cutting her off before she could reach me.
“My nestqueen doesn’t wish to be touched,” Z’fir growled. “I would back away if I were you, or we will take our business elsewhere.”
She raised both hands in the air, signaling her surrender as her wings folded closer together.
“I mean no harm, Sire,” she apologized. “I heard rumors of the discovery of a new gemstone and was surprised to see someone walk into my shop with one.” She met my gaze as I peered at her from behind Z’fir’s petal wings. “Will you let me gaze at it?”
“Is it safe?” I asked my four nestmates, nervous about the situation.
“She is an old Caurg, probably too weak to fly—and if she could, not far,” Xylo explained.
“If she tries to take it, one of us could take her.” Z’fir stepped away from me but stayed close enough to help if needed. “It is up to you if you allow her to examine it.”
She eyed my nestmates nervously as her gaze kept landing on my necklace. Truthfully, I knew nothing about her species, but if Xylo believed she wouldn’t be able to get away, I didn’t see any reason why she couldn’t see my necklace. What harm could she do to it? It was just a gemstone.
“You can look at it, but I am not removing my necklace. If that isn’t good enough for you, then forget it.”
A wide smile crossed her wrinkly face as her wings fluttered excitedly.
“Come here, child. Let me see this rare specimen,” she beckoned as she reached in her chest piece, grabbing a magnifying device attached to a chain.
I stepped closer and stood an arm’s length from her. She placed the device to her eye and slowly brought her other hand to the necklace, stopping before she touched it. Glancing up, she asked, “Can I touch it?”
“Go ahead,” I said with more confidence than I felt. I didn’t understand what was so important about this necklace. Sure, it was pretty, and I had seen nothing like it in our shopping trip, but I wasn’t purposely looking for rare gems.
I could sense my nestmates stepping closer as she reached out and tentatively touched the necklace. Her silver eyes opened wide in wonder.
“A beauty this is.” Lightly, her taloned hand lifted the chain off my neck, avoiding the jewel itself. “What a marvel,” she murmured as she examined the dangling gem. Meeting my eyes, she said, “You are one lucky female to receive such a gift.” Slowly, she lowered the necklace back to its original spot.
The old shopkeeper studied my nestmates as she tucked her magnifying device away.
“Which one of you gave her such a precious gift? I don’t want to know what you had to sacrifice to afford such a prize, but I hope she is worth it,” she criticized, eyeing me jealously.
“Wait, wait, wait,” I began. “You believe I forced them to buy such a trinket?” I asked, holding up the chain of my necklace to let the light hit the stone. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I didn’t beg for either of them to buy me this.”
Odelm stepped in front of me and wrapped his tentacles around me, preventing me from continuing to face off against the old shopkeeper. Xylo stood next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“For your information, that necklace was a gift from Prince Zirene Darcaw. He gave it to her, for she is Selena Darcaw of Destima, Seedbearer of Second Prince Zirene Darcaw. You are out of line, and if Selena wanted to, she could call offense since as a Seedbearer to Prince Zirene and the nestqueen of Prince V’dim and Prince Z’fir, she holds the status equivalent to a princess,” Odelm seethed. “Do you want to be known for being the shopkeeper who mocked and offended royalty when they did nothing but grant your wish after showing interest in your product?”
The poor woman dropped to her knees so quickly, it was as if she was stuck at the back of her knees. She awkwardly bowed her head to the ground, her old body refusing to cooperate smoothly as her wings knocked over a few products on display. “I did not know…”
“No. You did not know, but you assumed the worst,” Odelm mocked. “We wanted to spoil our nestqueen and show her a good time around the space station—maybe buy a few trinkets and outfits before taking her out for a meal. She wanted to have a relaxing stroll in public without others mocking and watching her, and the first time she showed an interest in something, you ruined the moment with your jealousy. What do you want to say for yourself?”
I wrapped my arms around Odelm’s torso, my hands gripping his chest, and he pulled me closer. Closing my
