“What makes me the expert on broken women?” Yorso scowled. “If you knew the day I had with her, trying to give her the attention she needs while answering the captain and head medic’s coms every few minutes, you wouldn’t be making that mistake.”
“You’re the one with the experience. You’ve been with females her age.”
“Sure, but they knew the universe revolved around them. I didn’t have to convince them of it. Ancestors, what a mess. When Tina wasn’t trying to wait on me, she insisted on apologizing for breathing my air.”
“Seriously?”
The horror in his tone made Yorso pat his back. “I’m exaggerating, but only a little. She has major issues.”
“You don’t have any ideas? I’ll take anything at this point.”
Yorso considered. They were almost to the dining hall when he stopped Tukui. “We have to elevate her. Treat her as if she’s the Mother of All Herself.”
“Aren’t we already doing that?” If Tukui were the sort to cry, he’d be doing it.
“The Earthers have a saying. Something about putting the cart before the—the—oh, it’s their equivalent of our kestarsh. Anyway, our current situation is backward. We had no opportunity to romance Tina before asking her to clan. We clanned her first.”
“You think we should court her? After the fact?” Though as he thought about it, it began to make sense.
“Praise her, bring her presents, adore her—win her love. As if it were an arranged clanship—but that’s not quite right. If we’d had a promised Matara, we’d have had years to work on the relationship before she joined us. You get what I’m saying though, right?”
“I get it. We praise her already,” Tukui mused. “Presents would be nice, but rather hard to come by in our present circumstances.”
“We can show her what we’ll buy her when we get the chance—oh, and there’s something else. Come on.”
Yorso hurried away, turning from the dining hall. His sudden enthusiasm was great enough that Tukui had to run to catch up.
“Where are we going?”
“To visit Dramok Cres.”
Tukui scowled to hear the name of another former rival for Yorso. At least Cres kept a respectful distance from him now that he was clanned, or so Tukui had thought. “There’d better be a good reason to visit him.”
“Stop it. I heard from another of the full clans he might be able to give us some help.”
“You haven’t talked to him yourself?”
Yorso slowed to punch Tukui in the gut. He telegraphed his intentions, giving Tukui a chance to brace for it. It didn’t hurt…much. “I was told about the fight you had with Zevs, so don’t pass judgment on me. Unlike my short-tempered Dramok, I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Tukui growled but kept from offering a rebuke. For Tina’s sake, he’d see what Yorso was up to.
Chapter Seven
Dinner had once more consisted of alien food, which Tina found delicious. It was weird to be fed by the men, though. She wished she could believe that kindness was the reason for such consideration. Since that seemed improbable, she struggled to figure out the clan’s motives.
After he’d cleared the dishes, Yorso presented her with a box. “A gift to you from us. I hear chocolate is popular with Earthers.”
“Oh. Thank you.” Because they watched her expectantly, she took a dark chocolate rectangle dotted with nuts and ate it. The writing on the box was foreign, impossible for her to read. She was certain it wasn’t chocolate from a factory, but the kind that came from gourmet candy shops. She savored the delicious surprise.
After swallowing, she asked, “Where did you get this? It didn’t come from the convent’s kitchen.”
“During a search of the convent, it was found hidden in a vent, along with many other foods. Someone was hoarding it. Didn’t they feed you on Europa?” Tukui kept his tone light, but there was an undercurrent of concern.
“It must have been Brenda’s, one of the younger girls. Poor thing.” Tina could relate to the fourteen-year-old. Brenda had been packed away to the convent while her wealthy parents wandered on what was apparently an endless vacation, courtesy of an immense inheritance. Tina explained the situation.
“Shipments of fancy foods instead of the companionship she’s desperate for? How can anyone treat their daughter that way?” Yorso was livid on Brenda’s behalf, despite never having met her.
“Disgusting. They’re not parents at all.” Tukui was also irate.
Osopa pronounced judgment by shaking his head and staring moodily at his weapons display.