Hostia stared at Muthr, then back at Eva. “Do theys metamorphose when theys become adults?” Hostia asked.

“No.” Rovender chuckled. “She provides the child’s upbringing.”

“They’ve never seen a robot before?” Eva whispered.

“The Halcyonus and the Cæruleans, my clan, do not make such things,” Rovender answered.

“Where is it that you comes from?” Hostia asked Muthr.

“We are from HRP underground Sanctuary five-seven-three,” Muthr answered, her amber eyes glowing brightly. “Do you know, or have you heard of, the whereabouts of any other such human facilities?”

Hostia blinked, clearly bewildered, and looked to Rovender for a translation.

“They are looking for their clan. Would it be at all possible to procure a space for the evening?” Rovender asked.

Zoozi ran over to Muthr and ran his stubby fingers over her sleek metallic sculpting. “She is a beautiful toy, Mamus.”

“A toy?” Muthr’s tone was aghast.

“You are right,” Rovender said, patting Zoozi on the head. “She is a big toy to this young lady. But both the toy and the girl must remain a secret to all in the village.”

“Because of Besteel?” Hostia asked. She and Fiscian exchanged glances.

“We’ve had some narrow escapes from his tireless pursuits,” Rovender admitted. “As I have said, we do not want to cause any jeopardy to you or your family. They’ll be on a ferry to Solas by morning.”

Outside, the thunderhead banged its immense drum, sending a tremor through the midnight sky. Hostia grasped Eva’s hand and stared at her with penetrating orange eyes. “May I?” she asked.

Muthr began to speak, but Rovender stopped her.

“Um, sure,” Eva replied. She watched as the Halcyonus rubbed Eva’s hand on the top of her head, near her nostrils and secondary mouth. Hostia closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. She took in the scent of Eva.

The composition of Eva.

The electricity of Eva.

“Yours spirit is good, and you are friends of Rovender. You may stay,” Hostia announced, still holding Eva’s hand. “You all may stay.”

“Many gratitudes,” Rovender said, pulling off his rucksack.

Hostia led Eva by the hand and addressed them all, “Our homes is your home. Come in.”

CHAPTER 23: WEAVE

As she stepped through the curtained doorway, Eva entered the main living room of the Haveport family. Wide colorful pillows and brightly patterned blankets were arranged along the perimeter of a circular, tightly woven floor. A round curtained window looked out into the quiet central market below. An array of dimly lit lanterns hung, like a cluster of large fruit, from the center of the room. Hostia reached up and rubbed one of the round glass-blown lanterns with her hand, and the entire bunch flickered and then glowed brightly.