Otter figured at least one of the guards would be male, even despite the apparent low percentage they took up of the popution. But no, they were all women, lithe yet solidly built, trained for agility first and strength second.

  Given that they followed Jua around, intelligence was probably low on their list of important things to cultivate.

  The guards ignored her. As well as one could ignore a person and still simultaneously sneer at them anyway. Maybe it was her ck of deodorant, or the fact that even after just being washed in the ocean just a day ago, she still looked like an absolute mess. But more than likely it was just her association with Rua that set them against her. Just as well. It just meant the high school clique she had to be shunned by were easily identifiable with their leather armor and spears, so she knew who to fuck with ter.

  “You doing okay?” Otter asked Sunny, taking her aside.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Dude. Rua’s sister who can see the future said she is going to marry you at some point.”

  Otter shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but looked away into the distance, as if it did. “I don’t even know if I like women that way.”

  “You were literally trying to spy on me and Rua trying to fuck st night. You’re at least a little curious.”

  Sunny’s cheeks heated a little. “I don’t know what that was. I mean, I do. It’s just… I have all these memories that aren’t mine. Mama, pining after her sisters. You, sleeping your way through college like you were allergic to your own bed. Memories of Sami. And I didn’t know if I was into it because the two of you were into it, or if I just liked it.”

  “Ah. So you want to know if it’s your own identity or not, or if we’re super-imposing our own tastes on you.”

  “It’d be easier if someone hadn’t thrown away–”

  “We’re not getting into that argument. I stand by my decision. That woman sounded like a piece of shit. She had her chance. She blew it. It’s your turn now.”

  “And what? My turn comes at the expense of someone stuck in a scrap of metal, still self-aware but unable to act, left to shriek into the wind for all eternity?”

  “Huh. Didn’t think about that part. Okay, yeah, that sucks, but the alternative sucks more. Besides, the isnd caught fire, she probably melted or something.”

  Sunny shook her head, her lips in a grim line. “No. You don’t get it. Vexurian steel is enchanted, worked over by Pact magic. It can still be dented, it can be rent, but never really destroyed. As long as the pilot’s alive, it’ll inevitably heal.”

  “Great, so the suit will fix itself, and she can wander the world looking for you. Or maybe take up a hobby. Go sight-seeing. Take up knitting. Be one of those human statue mimes. The possibilities are endless. And none of those possibilities have to do anything with you.”

  Sunny shrugged. “Maybe. But it’d be nice. Knowing who I was.”

  “Everyone’s got a past. And it usually sucks. Better to just forget it and move towards the future.”

  “And is that why you haven’t told Sami?”

  Otter felt her heart hammer out a quick three beats before steadying. She crossed her arms. “That was no one’s fault.”

  “And that’s why you ghosted her, huh?”

  “You know, you were nicer when you were waist-high and afraid to talk to me. Even so…” Otter leaned forward, and lightly poked Sunny on the nose. “Boop.”

  Sunny’s annoyed expression flickered, and then she made a soft giggle. Still she said, “I’m not a kid anymore. Maybe I never really was.”

  “Not a kid for less than a week, and already lining up cuties wanting to marry you.”

  “I have no idea what I’m going to do about Lei.”

  “I could mime out some suggestions.” Otter held out both hands, her fore and middle fingers extended, and smashed them together in a rude dispy. “Although, honestly, don’t recommend that one.”

  “She called me ‘Vex,’” Sunny said.

  “It’s what Rua wanted to call you, when we first found you.”

  “I remember. Ever since you called me ‘Sunny,’ part of me thought it didn’t fit. But I’m not sure how I feel about ‘Vex’ either.”

  “It’s your name. We only gave you one at the time because you were a kid and barely verbal. You want to change it, go for it, I’m not the boss of you, except when I’m throwing scraps of metal containing mercenary bitches.”

  Sunny rolled her eyes at that. “So gd you get to decide things for my own good like that. Remember when your own dad used those words–”

  “Low blow. Besides, I am a way cooler parent than he ever was. For one, I’m an awesome wing-woman. You’re not sure how you feel about women? Fine. Let’s see if I can find you one to experiment with.”

  Sunny’s face went beet red. “What?”

  “No sex, obviously, you’re probably gonna want to save yourself for your upcoming wedding night. Although, gotta tell you, if you’re actually gonna do that, you better hope Leilynn has a sexual history, because there is nothing more awkward in bed than two virgins. No, just like, go to a bar, get you a drunk sloppy makeout or something.”

  “No, that’s okay, uh…”

  “Right, good point, drunken encounters are never worth it, I know. All these Siyan women look fit as hell, I bet they all work out. Do they have gyms or something? We’ll find someone for you to get all sweaty with, and then get really sweaty with.”

  If it was possible for Sunny’s face to go even more red, she’d be brighter than her own hair. Sometimes, it was just too easy to mess with people.

  “Hey, look, over there,” Sunny said, pointing off into the distance, “What’s that?”

  Otter smiled, looking for the source of the convenient change of topic. It was a troop of soldiers, all dressed in pte mail, marching down the street towards Rua’s mansion-pace-Barbie-tropical-dreamhouse.

  They looked very different from the Siyans. For one, with the exception of their leader, they all appeared to be men. They were also taller than the Siyans Otter had seen. Rua was short for one, but not by much. They seemed to be a people who didn’t know what a height above 5’4” was. These people were all around six feet, tall, bulky, and imposing.

  Their leader wore full pte in some kind of white metal with a diamond icicle designed iny. Her helm covered her face entirely with no visor. Crystals grew in a crown-like formation around her head. She carried a zweihander zily banced on her shoulders.

  “The fuck is this?” Otter asked.

  “Mikovians,” Sunny supplied.

  “Who what now?”

  “During the war with the Criobani, the Siyans needed outside help to drive them out. The Mikovians came to the rescue. They’re about the only people who love a fight more than the Siyans. Problem was, after they drove the Criobani out, they didn’t leave.”

  “And no one thought to tell me about this?”

  “It’s never been a problem. The Mikovians never threw their weight around too much, they just wanted some of their people to stay behind so they could be a part of the fight when the Criobani inevitably returned. And some assurances their continued presence would be tolerated.”

  “How come I haven’t seen any of these Mikovians before now?”

  “You’ve seen a couple. One of the gate guards when we first came in was one. And anyone blonde you saw on the street was, too.”

  “But they had blue eyes. Aren’t the people in the world supposed to be colour coordinated by eye colour or something?”

  Sunny shrugged. “Mikovians are like a sister-people to the Siyans, kind of. They have blue, too. Just, ice blue, not sea blue.”

  Otter facepalmed. “Rua really needs to tell me things before they become a problem in my life.”

  “You know she likes you learning the hard way so you don’t forget the lesson. She hates wasting her breath.”

  The group of Siyan soldiers and the group of Mikovians were staring at each other a little too intently. And holding their weapons a little too readily. This was a fight waiting to happen.

  “Don’t these people like one another?”

  “I don’t know, I only have half of mama’s memories, and they’re a year out of date. I don’t know if anything’s changed.”

  Otter looked between the two groups. Yep. These people definitely didn’t like one another. Great.

  “Okay, you deal with the Siyans, I’ll deal with the Mikovians.”

  “Deal with them how?”

  “I don’t know, just distract them or something so they don’t fight each other. Be an annoying tourist, sing a song, I don’t know.”

  “What’re you gonna do?”

  Otter shrugged. “I dunno, fsh my tits? Maybe the woman is hot.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up, Mikovians are prudes.”

  “Yeah, that tracks with my luck.” Still, Otter steeled herself and walked towards the brand new problem that had dropped in her p.

  DorenWinslowe