Starfish

30.2

Dredging a slice of eel through a plate of kelp flour, Nina shook off the excess and laid the strip of white meat along the bottom of the tray and reached for another. She grasped it with tongs that were much too large for her hands, but so long as she kept her grip the eel was not in danger of sliding to the floor. Ardus crushed dried herbs in a ceramic bowl with the back of a spoon, sprinkling bits into the flour mix between dredging. He was teaching her how to cook Dreen food, a task that Nina found both interesting and familiar. She'd eaten eel before as a child, usually with rice, but rice hadn't evolved on Dreenai so she would have to make do with shredded kelp or the grains of tallgrass cooked in brine until they were chewy and sticky like pasta. Not that it mattered, Dreenai eel was delicious on its own and Nina was proud to be an unfussy eater. Athe fiddled about, putting away dishes and making up excuses to stick around and watch, grinning.

Once the eels were floured, Ardus walked her through the process of rolling the fillets around bundles of sweet brineweed and pieces of various vegetables cut into short sticks or thin sheets. Some of the bits were leftovers from the party, others various odds and ends from Ardus's stores. Taking metal skewers from Ardus, Nina pierced the rolls and threaded them in neat rows on the tray for Ardus to put into the oven. "An early dinner, then perhaps I can show you my collection?" Ardus suggested as he wiped his hands on a towel.

"Do you think we can get him to go home?" Nina inclined her head towards Athe, smirking smugly over a cup of tea.

"He will go home eventually, I am sure." She watched the two Dreen share a wordless exchange, a sour look from Ardus and an exaggeratedly innocent one from his assistant.

"Am I interrupting something?" Athe's wide yellow eyes sparkled with devilish glee.

Ardus glared at Athe. "I did not make enough eel for three."

Athe waved him off. "Oh, I'm not hungry. I thought I'd stick around and clean... unless you have other plans?"

"It is no business of yours," Ardus showed his dirks.

Athe sipped his tea leisurely. "You pay me to handle your business."

"Not all of it," Ardus snapped.

Athe swirled his cup. "Maybe I should ask for a compensation increase."

"I will not honor such a request," Ardus growled, "now get going!"

"You seem awfully tense, maybe you should consider it. Let me take some of the burden off of you, clear out your schedule."

"If you do not clear out of my apartment," Ardus flickered yellow, "I will march you down to the beach and drown you myself." He widened his eyes for effect, giving him a wild, ominous look. Nina smothered a snort, one hand over her mouth and the other across her stomach. She knew exactly what Athe was doing, and enjoyed the exaggerated show Ardus was putting on for her. They're peacocking! Or whatever Dreen call it. Look how bright Ardus is! Nina knew a male display when she saw one: Ardus was glowing, flashing bright warning yellow and aggressive orange, making a show of his colors while flashing his dirks in a lip-curling sneer that only pretended threat. She watched the two play at masculine showboating, remarking how males of every species were basically the same. Athe knows Ardus just wants me to see how big and tough he is, and he's antagonizing him to let him show off. She shook her head. Men!

Eventually, though, Athe did leave after much banter and empty threats, and Nina found herself alone again with Ardus. Perfect. She sidled up to him as he wiped down the counters, shuffling along beside him and finally leaning into his hip. Ardus looked down at her, his pores glowing soft blue and green. "It will be a bit before the eels are done, is there something you would like to do? Can I make you a drink?"