“Two people can’t hide their feelings when we all live so closely with one another. When an energy shifts between people, everyone notices.”

“When did you notice this ‘energy shift?’”

“About a year ago, I can’t remember when exactly it was, but I saw him give you a look that gave me pause. Another one of his officers was admiring your language skills, and he had the look of a male in love. Other people mentioned other incidents.”

“I don’t remember that,” I say.

“Of course, you wouldn’t. I don’t even think you would have understood at the time. But we all knew,” she drew her hand around the empty canteen to indicate the servants.

“And me? When did you think I loved him?” I ask.

“From the moment he allowed you to take on all of your valet duties. We all noticed. You saw him as a male then.”

I took a sip of tea. “I think you might be right. It was all so gradual, I just….”

“You two have been the love story everyone on this ship, the fleet, and the Home Planet has been talking about for weeks.”

“What do you mean in the fleet and on the Home Planet?”

“Didn’t it occur to you why that other Water woman hated you and wanted bad things to happen to you?” my friend asks.

“I just thought she was a nasty person.”

“She wanted her commander to cherish her the way our commander cherishes you, and she knew that would never happen. Her commander isn’t that kind of male. So she wanted to ruin it for you by having you raped by a lesser male.”

“But he would have been put to death,” I say.

“Yes, and you would have been shamed, and then our Commander might have been forced to find another place for you.”

It sinks in now. Why he wanted me to know how to defend myself. “I couldn’t have even remained as his valet?” I ask for clarification.

“A woman who has been raped is seen as unlucky on ships.”

“More than unlucky,” I comment.

“True,” she says, “But females don’t’ have control over the laws or ideas males have about us. For the most part, they are good laws, but sometimes, if you are unfortunate, the laws turn sharp enough to kill a female in the time it takes to draw in breath.” I watch my friend take a sip of tea while we both think about that. Then she changes the subject to a more upbeat topic. “Enough of that; tell me about what you’ve been doing? Tell me everything.”

I begin with the clothing because that has been a topic she and I always have discussed. “He bought me these clothes and others of different colors. I don’t know if they are fashionable, but they are the nicest things I have ever had against my skin,” I say and then add quickly, “That is besides your dress. Thank you so much. It meant so much to me that you allowed me to wear your dress. I didn’t know how to clean it, but I didn’t wear it long.”