Bobbi bit her lip, a rush of contradictory emotions coming over her. Part of her wanted to snap sarcastically that she didn’t give a damn if he liked how she looked but another part of her wanted to blush even harder and thank him for the compliment.
Before she could decide which part to listen to, Res. Tizlah came bustling back into the room. She was holding what looked like some kind of black slippers in her hands. They looked a little like ballet flats with straps across the top and at the ankle.
“Here.” She held them out to Bobbi. “The last time a mammalian merchant came by and I bought boots for Dragon, I also got these female foot coverings. I bought them to try for myself out of curiosity, but they turned out to be much too small for me. And besides, I really have no need to cover my feet.”
She nodded down to the scaly appendages in question, which had six toes with long, curving black talons for nails. They made Bobbi think of the raptors’ feet she’d seen in dinosaur documentaries. Clearly, there was no need for Res. Tizla to wear shoes—her feet were perfectly adapted for the cold, harsh climate of Saurous.
“Thank you,” she said, accepting the little black slippers. She sat on the hard couch to try them on and found that, while they were a little big, they were adjustable with the use of the stretchy black strap which wrapped around her ankle. Once she had them adjusted, they fit quite well.
“Do they work?” Res. Tizlah asked anxiously.
“Yes, thank you.” Bobbi took a few steps to show her. “They’re perfect!”
Res. Tizlah beamed a happy look at her, which centered more in her yellow eyes than the rest of her flat face.
“I’m so glad! The great god Goeth must have known that a female mammalian was coming for my son!”
Bobbi only nodded gravely—again, she certainly wasn’t going to disparage anyone’s religion. And she didn’t feel inclined to point out that she hadn’t come for Dragon—rather, he had come for her. Because she just didn’t see how she could say that to Res. Tizlah, who was looking at her like a girl that her son has brought home on a date to meet his family—a girl that she approves of.
“Well now…” Res. Tizlah clapped her scaly, six-fingered hands together and sighed. “Now that we’ve got you all dressed, my dear, I’m afraid I must run to the kitchens. We have my husband’s feast tonight and I have so much to do!”
“Oh, can I help?” Bobbi asked quickly. “I know I don’t understand your cooking methods,” she added. “But I can help with the prep work—peeling vegetables or chopping ingredients. I’m a very fast learner.”
“Well, I don’t see why not—” Res. Tizlah began.
“No.” Dragon’s face was like a thundercloud. “You’re to stay safely locked in my rooms while I’m gone,” he told Bobbi. “For your own protection—and for my peace of mind,” he added.
“But how am I supposed to learn the ways of your people if I don’t get to know them?” Bobbi protested.
She wanted to add, “You big jerk!” But she realized this would be counterproductive and might make Res. Tizlah dislike her, just when she was starting to warm up. So she softened her voice and gave the big Kindred a pleading look—though what she really wanted to do was let him have it.
“Please, Dragon—I like your mother and I think she has a lot she could teach me,” she said, appealing to Res. Tizlah with her eyes. “I’m sure I’d be safe with her to guide me.”
As she had hoped, the Saurian woman took her side at once.
“Son, let her come to the kitchens—I can use every pair of extra hands I can get,” she said to Dragon.
His frown deepened.
“Under no circumstances. She must be kept safe from Zerlix—he says that he was about to Claim Bobbi before I did, and now he wants her for his own!”
Res. Tizlah brushed this off with a wave.
“Oh dear—you two, always fighting like two canines over a bone!” she exclaimed. “You and your brother are on the same crew, Dragon. So you can keep an eye on Zerlix while I keep an eye on your little mammalian female. I’ll have her in the kitchen the whole day with me—I promise.”
“And I’ll stay right by your mother’s side. Please, Dragon—if you’re going to keep me here, I have to know how your society works!” Bobbi pleaded. Taking a chance, she hooked her arm through Res. Tizlah’s and smiled at her. “Besides—I like your mother. I want to get to know her.”
The corners of Res. Tizlah’s lipless mouth turned up and she got a pleased expression in her yellow eyes.
“Thank you, my dear. I would like to get to know you as well. And you’re right—as my son’s new female, the sooner you learn our ways, the better.”