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“Who gets to name the ships, anyway?” Alphonse asked as she watched some workers in a small dingy nestled alongside Dancer.
Delyth shrugged. “I guess the people who build them.”
The workers were scraping away barnacles and other debris. It looked like grueling work, especially with the noon sun overhead. Occasionally, one would plunge into the ocean waters only to reemerge and haul himself back into the dingy to resume work.
She knew that the least human-like Cabot would work these types of jobs. Menial and laborious. Brande had said in his letters ‘ship maintenance’. The healer suspected this was it. Stepping closer to the edge of the pier, Alphonse squinted before steeling herself to call out. It still made her uncomfortable to be loud in public, but after all, this was a friendly hail. “Brande?!”
One of the figures below looked around, and even from where she stood, Alphonse could see him smile. He waved and spoke to his companions before diving overboard. “Oh goodness, he’s coming right away. I never saw him swim— Delyth, look how fast he is! That’s incredible. Do you think he can move through the water so easily because of his skin?” Fascinated, Alphonse watched as Brande came to a small ladder and hauled himself up onto the pier. She hadn’t forgotten how frightening Brande looked, with his translucent skin and wide, inhuman eyes. He was smiling so that every one of his sharp teeth was on display.
Most Cabot had the advantage of appearing mostly human: webbed fingers, perhaps some gills, but with typical human features like round eyes and flat teeth. Even Delyth looked like a woman. A beautiful, strong woman with wings.
Brande was decidedly not human.
He hurried over, and the crowds on the docks made way for him. He was too strange. “Healer Alphonse!” he said, wrapping his dripping arms about her shoulders in a tight hug. He was a small enough man, but his body was sinewy and well-muscled. He must be very strong to cut through the waves so easily.
Brande released Alphonse with a kiss to the top of her head and turned to Delyth with a cautious grin. His teeth glinted in the sunlight.
“You must be her woman. Delyth. Healer Alphonse says you are a warrior of true merit and grit.” The Cabot held out a long, webbed hand. His nails were sharp.
Delyth grinned, reaching out to take Brande’s hand. His grip was strong, his skin strangely slick and cool to the touch. “That I am,” she said cheerfully, tightening her wings in excitement. “Alphonse’s woman, I mean.”
“Then you must be very lucky.” He winked and finally released Delyth’s hand, giving her a comprehensive look. Taking in her height, her build, and of course, her wings.
“I most certainly am,” Delyth said, smiling. “When will your shift end? Perhaps Allee and I could treat you to a meal this evening?”
“Don’t be silly! My woman will want you to come and share a meal with us. Alphonse, I have told her you were coming. She will be happy to see you. I will give you directions to my home, and you will go.” Alphonse smiled at Brande as he blinked a second set of eyelids.
“Of course, Del wouldn’t that be nice? Dinner with Brande’s family?” Generous too. Alphonse would have to find a way to repay him for his kindness. She also knew how expensive feeding extra guests would be, and she could tell by the state of Brande’s clothes and how slim he was that food wasn’t a readily available resource for Brande and his kind.
But she didn’t want to embarrass him by denying the offer or making a fuss.
Tucking her hand into the crook of Delyth’s elbow, Alphonse listened closely as Brande described how to find his home and hugged him once more goodbye.
Brande gave Delyth another knowing look and then saluted them farewell before jumping off the docks and back into the water.
“What did you think?” Alphonse asked, turning to peer up at Delyth.
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“I thought…” Delyth paused, unsure of exactly what she had thought. The experience of meeting so many others like her was still a little overwhelming after years of believing she was alone. “I thought he was kind,” she said at last, “and generous. I don’t want to put them out in any way.”
Brande hadn’t looked how Delyth had imagined he would all those moons ago when Alphonse had first told her the story of healing him, but Delyth liked him the way he was. Unique. She wondered what he had thought of her. “Do you think he liked me?”
“Why wouldn’t he like you? He already knows so much about you because I write often. I’ve told him all about the ladies and our cottage and our life together. He knows I’m happy.” She squeezed Delyth’s elbow as they continued down the docks back towards the shore to turn onto a road that followed the coastline.
Delyth smiled down at Alphonse and covered her hand where she had lain it on the warrior’s arm. “I suppose it was a silly question,” she said, a little sheepishly. It was just that she wanted so very much for them to like her.
They walked past rich, white-stone estates with clay-tile roofs, with lovely little flower gardens and fountains out front and views of the crashing surf. The streets were clean and paved. Carriages trundled past with well-groomed horses, and the people walking or riding were dressed in fine clothes. As Delyth and Alphonse continued, however, the streets became pitted and poorly maintained, the homes falling into disrepair.
Desperation was evident on the faces of the people here. Most ducked and looked away, afraid of newcomers, but a few stared blankly. Interested but distant.
“Del?” Allee’s voice was strained, and her grip on the warrior’s arm tightened.
“Yes?” Delyth only half registered the question as her mind had fallen, as it always did when she felt
