Otter followed after Rua, who marched towards her two sisters and the woman barring their way as if she were some kind of prisoner going to trial. There was a rigidity to her stance, her back straight and upright, and her hands were clenched into fists.

  This wasn’t the kind of stance Otter was used to seeing out of Rua when it came to a fight. Rua had always looked kind of zy, kind of id back, as if she were in control and nothing could hurt her. This was different, more serious.

  That, if anything, raised Otter’s hackles up, made her want to run ahead and start smacking bitches. But she’d promised to leave it alone, at least for now, so she’d just have to let Rua handle it on her own.

  Rua didn’t talk much about her sisters, but Otter tried to remember what she could. Leilynn was the good sister. She had some kind of ability that allowed her to see time kind of like a Dreamer could, but without the control. And Rua had a crush on her, something Otter had carefully filed away for ter use. She’d never had a threesome with sisters before, even if they weren’t actually blood-reted, and it was something she’d always wanted to cross off her bucket list.

  Jua was one of the ‘bitch sisters.’ Someone who, along with Kirhae, had decided to make Rua’s life difficult just for the sake of being a bitch. There hadn’t been many details provided, but it probably had something to do with Rua being a half-breed, and what her penoa father had done in betraying the Siyan Isnds to the Criobani.

  It didn’t really matter. But the ugliness of this world, the fact that something as stupid as eye colour, was enough to provoke such overt racism from people who were supposed to be family, adopted or symbolic or not… It was just as dumb as her own world.

  And that, more than anything, was what angered her. That there was no escape from it. That even here, in this near-perfect fantasy isnd setting where women were polyamorous as the default and very inclined towards other women as a rule, where music and good food ruled every street corner, there was still an ugly stink to it all.

  Leilynn was the first to notice their approach. Her dreamy expression focused, her eyes becoming alert to her surroundings, and a smile coming across her face. She held her arms wide open.

  “Sister,” she said. “And you brought my wife with you.”

  Rua stopped in her tracks, and looked back at Otter, who raised her arms defensively.

  This was going to be a problem. Leilynn was cute – not conventionally gorgeous, but the kind of good looking you wanted to pat on the head and watch her smile. She was one of the many types of women Otter was into, but with how Rua felt about her, and how they hadn’t actually discussed what to look for in future partners, it was a fine line to walk.

  “Don’t look at me, you know I haven’t–”

  But Leilynn had already crossed the distance between them and nearly tackled Sunny, wrapping her in a hug and twirling the two of them about.

  Sunny made a stuttering, confused noise, which was quickly silenced by Leilynn firmly pnting her lips against hers. Sunny went pale, her eyes scared and darting between Leilynn to Rua and then back, before offering a token effort of a kiss back which was clearly not accepted, as Leilynn redoubled her efforts. Sunny’s arms, which had been awkwardly at her sides, made a tentative touch towards Leilynn’s back.

  Otter checked in with her link with Rua. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her, but she also wanted to be sure she didn’t have to step in between her and Sunny.

  There was no jealousy present. No anger. Just a kind of grim acceptance.

  Leilynn released Sunny, and took a step back, but captured one of Sunny’s hands in her own. “Vex, love, it’s– oh. I’m sorry. I’ve made a mistake. You don't have the ears yet. You’re not Vex, are you?”

  “I don’t know who or what that is,” Sunny said. “But… you’re not Leilynn from now, are you?”

  “No. A few years in the future, I’d say. I was Dreaming, and woke up in the wrong time again. Bother. As both you and your father like to say, spoilers.”

  Right. Leilynn was Dream-touched, able to view her own life in non-sequential order. Or something. Otter was still a little unclear on how that worked.

  “So, we get married?” Sunny stammered.

  Leilynn made a humming noise, obviously pleased. “Forget I said anything. Try not to raise your expectations. Marriage can mean many things, and I’d hate for you to get your hopes up. Any journey worth taking has many bumps and winding curves. And speaking of bumps and curves, hello, Otter.”

  “Hello, me,” Otter said in response.

  “Still saying that joke?”

  “Well, if someone wants to talk to me, I must have something interesting to say, so–”

  “--So you might as well try to get in on the conversation yourself. Yes. I’ve heard your spiel before.”

  “I haven’t even said it here yet! That’s not fair.”

  “Oh, I’m that far back. Well, when I wake up, make sure to say it. I promise I’ll think it’s funny, unlike most.”

  And then suddenly, an angry, hook-nosed bitch sister was standing between Leilynn and Otter.

  “Out of my way, stranger,” she growled. “Leilynn, how far ahead have you come? What can you tell me of the Criobani? Are they going to invade again?”

  Leilynn still held Sunny’s hand, but with her other she reached forward and pced it on Jua’s shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. “I’m sorry, Jua. I can’t answer the questions you want answers to. Anything I tell you won’t be a reassurance. Rest, knowing that your vigil will end with peace.”

  “Oh tell a tale with your nonsense, and just give me a yes or a no. Am I going to have to fight Criobani on our shores before the year is out?”

  Leilynn cocked her head to the side, and turned to Rua. “Is this the day of your return?”

  “Yes,” she said. “And that’s the only greeting I get?”

  Leilynn ignored the question, turning her attention back to Jua. “Your answer is no.”

  “That’s it? A straight answer, no quibbling, no prophetic nonsense, no double meanings, no avoiding the question?”

  Leilynn blinked, and the focus in her eyes flickered, vanished, and then came back again. She looked wildly about her, noticed she was holding Sunny’s hand, blushed, and then released it.

  “When am I?” she asked.

  “Your present, sister,” Jua said. “A future version of you was just here.”

  “Oh, so this is the first time I’m meeting…” She looked back at Sunny, blushed harder, and gnced away. “Hello, I’m Leilynn Kurangi, Seat of Isle Kurangi, Burden of Insight.”

  “Sunny,” came the bemused response. “And this is Otter.”

  “Hello, Otter.”

  “Hello, me.”

  Leilynn gave her a confused look, which was the common response.

  “Oh, see, since you want to talk to me, I must be interesting to talk to, so I figure I should get in on the conversation, too.”

  Leilynn’s expression grew even more confused, before cracking into a weak smile, which turned even wider. “Rua! You’re home!”

  “Of course she’s home, you daft bint,” Jua growled. “You said she was going to be home today, it was the whole point of coming here to greet her.”

  Someone audibly cleared their throat, and they all turned to look at the woman who’d been so studiously barring the way of Jua from entering Rua’s home just moments before.

  “Is there something you’d like to add, Liaru?” Rua asked.

  “Forgiveness, Seat,” the woman said, all former aggression gone from her stance, her hands now csped in front of her, her head bowed. “But a moment ago, I was under the impression that Seat Moseina believed this home to be hers now under the pretense of a wager.”

  Rua’s gaze shifted to Jua. “Did she now?”

  Jua’s eyes went ft, but otherwise her expression remained neutral. “Your Hand is mistaken.”

  “Of course. A misunderstanding, I am certain.” Rua turned to Leilynn. “It’s good to see you, sister. I believe there are some things we need to discuss.”

  Leilynn looked between Rua and Jua, and her head bowed. “I guess so.”

  “Liaru, I will need a status update on the household. I apologize for being absent for so long.”

  “No apologies are necessary from the rightful Seat of the House.”

  “Jua,” Rua said, her tone firm. “If you’d like to speak, we will do so inside.”

  “Very well, sister. But Seats only. I don’t know who these strangers are, and I’d rather what I say not fall to unfamiliar ears. Especially to ones belonging to heads so filthy.”

  Otter exchanged a look with Sunny. “Did she just try to insult us?”

  “Sounds like.”

  Rua made a noise. Otter rolled her eyes. As if she’d assault the bitch sister over something so trivial.

  “Lady,” Otter said. “Your pants are advertising a bake sale, but you don’t have any cake.”

  Jua narrowed her eyes. “And what is that supposed to mean?”

  “She’s saying you have a ft ass,” Sunny said. “If someone smacked it, they’d probably cut their hand.”

  Jua turned back to Rua. “Your travelling companions seem… quaint.”

  Rua snorted. “I may have prejudiced them against you. Apologies, sister.”

  “Accepted, for now. Have your Hand show us inside, and see about tea. Perhaps food. Do you have that Jiridion chef still employed?”

  Rua looked to the woman in the red skirt and floral crown, her Hand, Liaru.

  “Serkynn is still with us,” Liaru said.

  “Excellent,” Jua said. “Have him make some of those cakes of his. The fru. With a side of vareesu.”

  Liaru looked to Rua, who nodded.

  “Of course, Seat,” Liaru said, bowing her head and departing into the house.

  “Loyal, that one,” Jua said. “Though only the Sleeper in the Depths knows why to you. I’d steal her if I could, but if I could, I suppose she wouldn’t be worth stealing.”

  “Should we go inside?” Rua asked.

  “I suppose. Leilynn, come along. Bring the guards.”

  “If my own guests aren’t welcome into my own home for this conversation,” Rua said, “then your guards most certainly aren’t. They can stay out here. Otter, keep an eye on them, make sure they don’t get too… adventurous.”

  Otter smiled and gave a small bow, a mocking copy of Liaru’s earlier one.

  “Sure. If they get uppity, can I smack ‘em around?”

  Jua gave Otter That Look, the one that said she severely doubted her abilities, the one Otter was so used to seeing over the years until she wiped it off the offender’s face.

  “Just don’t kill them,” Rua said. “I just got home, I don’t want to have to worry about body cleanup on top of everything else.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Otter turned to the small pack of Siyan guards. “So, who wants to be friends?”

  DorenWinslowe