Indigo Rain by Watts Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

I will bite out your spleen.’”
    Roulette laughed. “We’ll be in and out quickly, I promise.”
    “We will not be out quickly. We will be carrying a big trunk,” Gregir sighed.
    “I can’t leave it there.” She didn’t try to hide the worry in her voice. “At least here it’s in a place I can watch.”
    “And a place you cannot lock.”
    “Not just any stranger can walk in to this building, though.”
    “No, just desperate homeless people.”
    She didn’t turn on the tears—she just made sure she looked like she might at any moment. “Please, Gregir.”
    The wolf gritted his teeth, pointedly looking away from her face. “I do not think we should do this when it is dark out. After breakfast tomorrow, we shall see what we see, yes?”
    She wanted to say then let’s go right now, but decided not to push her luck; the sun was already setting. “Thank you.” She beamed, stepping forward and giving him a hug. His body tensed up so much she thought he might shatter.
    He patted her on the back awkwardly and disengaged himself from the hug. “It is time to head to dinner, yes?” The wag of his tail didn’t help the stoic look he was clearly trying to maintain.
    “They just started serving.”
    “Then everything is fresh and it is the best time to go.” He held the door open for her with an exaggerated sweep of his arm. She laughed and headed out with him.
    This time people were already sitting down with plates, and a short line was ahead of them. Again, the meal was two entrees—vegetarian and meat—but this time with a choice of sauces rather than just the table-side condiments for spices. Roulette chose a chicken plate with a sour orange chile sauce.
    “That smells of nothing but pepper,” Gregir said, wrinkling his nose at Roulette’s plate as he sat down beside a gray fox. The Vraini nodded to him without quite looking up or raising his ears from a low, wary angle. “This is Tylee. Tylee, meet Roulette.”
    “Hi,” Tylee said, eyes widening at Roulette as the raccoon took her own seat. “Oh.”
    “Forgive Tylee for staring. He is stupid,” Gregir said conversationally.
    “Hey.” The fox punched Tylee in the shoulder, ears coming forward for just a moment.
    Roulette laughed. “He wasn’t staring,” she lied. “And this is a traditional sauce for chicken in Orinthe. You northerner canids are just oversensitive. L’rovri where I’m from would say this is too mild.”
    He grinned. “L’rovri where you are from would be dying from heat stroke.”
    Tylee’s ears came forward again. “So what brings you to the Society? You don’t look—well—you don’t look like one of the usual clients here.”
    She started to smile at the implied compliment, then checked herself. The Vraini’s clothes were clean but well-worn, and the same could be said about his fur. She’d guessed him to be in his late thirties when she sat down, but now wondered if he might be closer to her age. “I’m just having to leave the room I’ve been renting for a little while.”
    He nodded sympathetically, and she realized he’d taken it to mean she could no longer afford to pay. She cleared her throat, feeling even more self-conscious. “Are you an Achoren native?”
    Tylee nodded again. “I grew up nearby, in South Esington. Are you from Orinthe?”
    “Yes.”
    “I hope I can visit it, someday. I’ve heard it’s beautiful. Why—uh, why come here? There’s not much in Achoren for immigrants.”
    “There is not much in Achoren for natives,” Gregir rumbled.
    Tylee laughed. “Not these days, it seems.”
    The wolf responded with something typically sarcastic about humans and they settled into more small talk. Like most L’rovri that Roulette had met, Gregir ate quickly. Tylee had already finished eating; he’d been halfway through his meal when they sat down, and he had the air of a wild creature afraid something would steal his food if he didn’t hurry.
    As she finished a short description of the