His mouth twitched. He forced his features to remain expressionless. She looked like a volcano about to explode. His smile would definitely trigger dynamite. “I may have no choice but to shoot him. Think about it, Rachael. Why would he come here when he isn’t allowed to acknowledge my existence? There’s little point in it.” The tub of water was bothering her, so just to keep her from pitching the wadded-up pillow at him, he scooped out a few bucketfuls of water and dumped it down the sink.

Rachael was silent for a long time watching him. She sank into a chair. “Aren’t these elders the lawmakers? Are they holy people? What exactly are they? Besides imbeciles, I mean.”

“You can’t call them imbeciles to their faces, Rachael,” he pointed out.

“If you can shoot them, I can call them names.” She glared at him, daring him to contradict her. “Are elders called elders because they’re old? Ancient? Full of hot air?”

“You haven’t even met the man and you’re already belligerent.”

Her dark eyes swept over him with repressed fury. “I am never belligerent.”

He picked up the tub and carried it out to the verandah. It was still fairly full and very heavy. Water sloshed as he tipped it over the railing. “I suppose there’s some logic in you having permission to call them names if I can shoot them,” he agreed to appease her. He didn’t bother to take the tub to the small hut hidden in the trees some distance away. He set it to one side, out of the way should he need to take to the trees fast. Outside, he listened to the night creatures calling to one another, giving away the location of the intruder as he moved closer to the house.

Had he not been banished he would have gone, out of respect, to meet the man instead of making him come all the way up the tree to him. The elder was in his eighties and, although in great shape, would still feel the affects of the long distance. He ducked back inside to comb his hair into some semblance of order.

Rachael watched him, saw the small frown, the worry lines around his eyes. Most of all she saw that Rio changed his casual appearance, and that meant something. She took her cue from him, brushing the tangles from her hair, checking to see that her skin was clean and brushing her teeth. She hadn’t used the small stash of beauty supplies she’d stuffed in her pack since she’d arrived, but she pulled them out.

“What is that?”

“Makeup. I thought I’d try to look presentable for your elder.” She hesitated, tried again. “Wise man. Personage.”