Quiver by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

masculine?”
    “Yes, and no. It isn’t masculine in a physical sense, but when you bind to a world, they take on the mirror of your soul. My husband used to be the voice in my head; now, he and Hemcorl keep each other company, so he is male to me.”
    That made a certain amount of sense. The Avatar could assign the gender of the world. They would know what they were sensing, after all.
    “Well, dearest, this is your office. You have full access to the knowledge bases of the Nyal Imperium. Your access code is your name, Anna Aricor. You can change it if you wish.”
    Anna walked around the desk and took a seat.
    Yem-lal wandered around and gestured to the walls. “Do you like it?”
    “It is lovely. So, I just start looking for investment opportunities?”
    “Certainly. Find something that interests you and research it. I read your files. Your money will not be squandered. You have goals in mind, so use your bride price to achieve them.”
    Anna typed in her name in Nyal Common and looked for a notepad.
    “Second drawer on your left. Everything you are accustomed to is nearby.” Yem-lal smiled. “There is a buzzer on your desk that will contact me if you need anything. I will send Dey-lal to you when dinner is ready.”
    Anna looked up and smiled. “Thank you. Today was a wonderful day.”
    Yem-lal smiled shyly. “Thank you, daughter. You make me wish I had had a little girl to be protected by my two hulking boys, but even Hemcorl couldn’t manage that trick.”
    Anna felt the regret almost palpably. “Cross your fingers for a granddaughter.”
    Yem-lal grinned and left Anna alone to play with the information systems she had been granted access to.
    It was time to make a list of what she wanted for her parents, from transport, to shelter, to clothing. Everything had to be accounted for if they were to enjoy their retirement on Hemcorl.
    Since the moment Yem-lal had mentioned it, the possibility of having her parents there with her had been tempting. If she got her parents’ agreement, she wanted to make sure that they didn’t want for anything.
     
    “Anna, it is time for dinner.” Dey-lal was leaning in the open doorway.
    Anna blinked and pulled herself out of the data storm she had been analyzing. “Right. Of course. Sorry.”
    She made a note and shut down her terminal. She rubbed her eyes and patted her hair before standing.
    “You look like you just woke up.”
    She grinned. “I have been learning how to make money in the Nyal Imperium. Your mother indicated that if they wanted to, Hemcorl would allow my parents to live out their days here.”
    “She mentioned it. I think it would be an excellent idea, bringing the last of your bloodline back into Nyal space.”
    He offered her his hand, and she took it.
    “I am just working on making sure that I have enough money to support them through their retirement.”
    “You do realize that I can give you what you need.” He pressed a kiss to her temple before leading her out into the halls.
    “I want to earn it. I have already managed to increase the accounts by twenty-five percent. I am being cautious.” She smiled tightly.
    “You have nearly pulled in twenty thousand credits in one afternoon?” He was shocked.
    “Of course not.” She smiled smugly. “I made that in an hour.”
    She was smug all the way through dinner. She had finally found something that she was pretty good at that translated to her new circumstance.
    Yem-lal looked satisfied with the way things had worked out. She announced, “Dey-lal, please escort your bride to your wing. She doesn’t need to be segregated anymore.”
    “Yes, Mother.” He smiled and offered Anna his hand.
    She slipped her fingers along his slowly and with deliberate delicacy. “Good evening, everyone.”
    Anna let Dey-lal pull her to her feet, and they walked out of the dining room without another word. The men slowly returned to their seats when Anna glanced at them over her shoulder.
    “Is it usual for