Our waiter comes and collects our trays. When he leaves again, Glacia says, “Are we allowed?”

“Wouldn’t hurt to ask.”

“True. When were you thinking?”

“One of these afternoons?”

“How about Tuesday?”

“Sure. I have work in the mornings starting Monday, so I’ll be free after lunch.”

“That works.” Glacia leans forward. “And when do you want to go shopping?”

“Shopping?”

“For Jaston’s wedding, remember? It was your idea to buy a gift here, mister.”

The memory of the breakfast we shared after the Hologis tournament pops into my head. Forgot I said that.

“You’re right.”

“As usual.”

Glacia sticks her tongue out quickly. I just roll my eyes. “So, shopping.”

“I think I’m open Wednesday, but Fallsten likes telling me my schedule at the last minute.”

“We’ll say Wednesday for now. You have anything else in mind?”

“I have lots of things in mind.”

“Such as?”

“We could be explorers.”

I perk an eyebrow. “Explorers?”

“Let’s go on a hike.”

“Have you even been on a hike?”

“Not a real one. And you haven’t, either, so let’s go be explorers.”

I shrug. “All right. Where’d you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. It’s not like I live here.”

Our waiter returns with two new menus and hands one to each of us. “Desserts,” he says. “Tonight’s special is Lemon Swirl Cake with the most delicious seedberry drizzle to top it off. We also have an assortment of creams and pies fresh to order, and a wide variety of shakes and smoothies.”

“Thanks,” I say with a polite smile, and start looking through the menu.

“Excuse me,” Glacia starts before the waiter walks away. “This is our first time on Belvun and we want to see some of the planet before our expedition leaves. Do you know anywhere we could go?”

“But of course! What did you have in mind?”

“Hiking,” I say from behind the menu. “She likes going on long walks in the middle of nowhere.”

Our waiter chuckles and claps his hands. “Have you ever heard about the Hania Reserve?” Glacia must shake her head, because he says, “Hania is the closest natural park to the Embassy, forested, with a river and some mountain trails. And if you don’t mind long flights, you could visit some canyons, marshes, glaciers… All sorts of pretty places.” He smiles down at us. “But you can’t go wrong at Hania. Nice place to unwind. I can get you directions, if you’d like.”

“Please,” Glacia says. When the waiter leaves, she pulls down my menu to look at me. “For your information, I do like going for long walks in the middle of nowhere, mister, and I’m pretty sure you enjoyed the one we went on, too.”

“Nope, you tricked me into going.”

“Did not.”

“Did too.”

She leans back again and twists one finger in her hair. “Whatever you say.”