" "That and our wealth." "That and our wealth." She sighed. "I will go with you." "You don't have to." "Yes, I do." She turned to the desk and said, "Captain, you may dismiss the honor guard. And prepare a shuttle. I will be returning with Vatare' Shardik to the Starship Facility." There was a pause, and then the Captain said, "Yes, Your Highness." We boarded the shuttle together, she first. Ipsi was more than a little distressed, but Anlestin raised her voice and Ipsi relented. "Shen!" I said as I boarded. "Greetings, Vatare'. Good to see you again." "You too," I said with earnest. "I trust you recognize The Princess Anlestin?" He shook his head, bowed down on both knees and said "It is an honor, Your Highness." She shook her head and said, "Please stand. I cannot abide the formality." "Shen, we will need cargo door sixteen on Parma. Can you find that?" "Like the back of my paw," he said in Quen. "Back of your hand, Shen. Hand. You don't have paws." "What's the difference, then?" he asked. I proceeded to explain the conceptual differences between hands, Hands, paws and mittens. |