Discussion at Dinner

Weeks later.

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Glorina

A few weeks went by. Tolly made me show him the rest of my bugs. And since I had nothing to receive them with anyway, I didn't see a reason to hide them.

And then, nothing. I was fed, people were polite when they talked to me. Jelana checked on me frequently, and took me out to the woods a few times, to get away.

But I had nothing to do. I was useless. Worse than useless. I knew from things Tolly let slip, or flat out told me, they were in the process of weaving a trap around Lord Raltin, one which he, and his goons, would not be able to escape.

I shivered at the thought. My boss would never forgive me for my betrayal. But still, when Tolly, or An, when she was in town, asked questions, I did my best to answer them. Which frequently was far less information than they needed.

This night, Tolly was eating dinner with Jelana and me. Daved sat next to her, not eating, but sipping a glass of brownish liquid companionably. From the lack of attention he garnered, I gathered that he was a normal sight here. But I had never noticed him in all the weeks that I had been working here.

Jelana, like usual, had a huge plate in front of her, filled with food.

"An will be here tomorrow," Tolly remarked. "She's coming to see how we're getting on. And check on you."

"I don't see why," I said peevishly. "I'm fine. As fine as I've ever been. I just need something to do."

"Getting bored, hmm?" Tolly said.

"I would like something to do, to earn my keep."

"Nonsense," Tolly said, like he always did. "You're my guest. You don't need to earn anything."

I managed not to scream in frustration.

Jelana looked at me with a rather troubled expression. Then her face went blank for a moment, which I'd discovered usually meant she was talking to Daved.

I assumed he must talk faster mentally than he did vocally. Or she just didn't want Tolly to hear.

Then she turned to us, and said, "Tolly, why don't you take her out for dinner tomorrow night? Someplace fancy."

"Hmm?" Tolly looked down at her. "Why would we want to do that? Nowhere serves better food than here."

"True, but they serve different foods. And it would probably do both of you good to get dressed up and out of here for a bit."

Tolly looked at me. "Do you want to go out?"

I was torn. I felt almost safe here. But to get out, be away from all the eyes that were always watching me, at least for a little while. "I would enjoy going somewhere with you, Tolly," I said.

He looked at me doubtfully.

"And I've seen so little of the town," I added. "Just these buildings, and Jelana and Daved's woods."

"Won't be much to see at night," Tolly grumbled. Then his eyes lit up with a sudden thought. "Let's go out then. Make a night of it. You deserve it, for putting up with us without complaint."

"I have little to complain of," I said. Except for not having anything to do. Except for being useless.

An came in later that night, while I was out in the seating area, pretending to read. Not that there was anyone there to pretend to. Both Jasin and Belinda would sometimes pop to see me at times, if there were breaks in the dinner rush. Or I could see if Tolly were free to talk to me. He usually would come down to see me if I asked. But I didn't want to do that too often.

"How have they been treating you?" An said, perching on the seat across from me.

I tossed aside the magazine I'd been paging through and looked up at her. Still taller than me, even when we both sat.

"Well enough," I said. "Jelana's been coming frequently to check on me. Which I gather doesn't happen too often, otherwise."

"She usually just comes to town once a month or so," An confirmed. "Twice, if she's feeling really chatty. I understand that even that is far more often than she used to, before she met Daved."

"Is it?" I murmured.

"Daved's been good for her. I think the reverse is also true, but it's much harder to tell with Daved."

"He talks and moves so slow," I said.

"Much faster than he used to," she said. "And his puppets have gotten much better. More autonomous. He has such trouble with the faster pace we live at." She laughed easily. "Perhaps in a century or two, he'll be able to pass as human. At least you weren't frightened of him the first time you met. I was terrified. Though I had much less preparation prior to seeing him. They're much more careful about introducing people now."

Someone had been passing her information about me. Perhaps everyone was passing information to her.

"What is your place in all this?" I asked. "What am I to you?"

She drew back, startled. "What do you mean?"

"You don't live here. But everyone looks up to you, talks about what you think, what you would do. Who are you to make such an impression?"

She laughed, a bit self-consciously. "I'm Jasin's sister, which I'm sure you know. His older sister, by a couple of years. When Jasin started coming down here to court Belinda, I visited with him from time to time as well. And Tolly took an interest in me, my talents, the kind of trouble I tend to fall into. He arranged for my schooling, even arranged a job that's just perfect for me. I owe him so much."

"He likes having people beholden to him," I said, sourly.

She looked startled. "I guess he does at that." Then she said, "He won't ask you to pay back more than you than you're willing to pay."

"If he lets you at all," I said. I got up and started pacing. "This may be a nice prison, but I'd still like to pay my own way if possible."

"Glorina, do you want to escape?"

I pulled back in sudden remembrance of what I was hiding from. "No, of course not," I said quickly, too quickly. "I like it here."

"I see," she said, looking at me thoughtfully.

After a bit, we made polite conversation, then she said her good-nights, and left.

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