Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine

by the Kinship until I was fourteen passes old. Up til then my life revolved around being the youngest child of a mountain herbalist on Stockrim.”
“You were raised Aut?” inquired LaRenna, deliberate in her deletion of Krell’s title.
“The Kinship didn’t know I existed. We lived outside either of the moon’s major colonies and Father kept very much to himself. I was discovered when a Taelach healer came to purchase some rare medicinal herbs he’d grown.”
Firman nodded agreement. “Mother died the day after Krell was born. We kept to the hills because Father couldn’t bear the thought of losing Krell too.”
“So that’s why you chose to be Kimshee.” LaRenna kept her surprise contained and stared blankly across the room. “You wanted to be close to your raising, your roots.”
“She’s smart as well as beautiful, Krell.” Firman beamed. “How’d you manage that?”
“For the millionth time, she’s my apprentice!”
Firman jiggled his expanding midline. “And I have women flocking to me for my physique.”
“Firman!”
“That’s my name.” Their candor made LaRenna squirm uneasily. She drew a swallow from her mug and concentrated on counting the floor tiles.
“I believe our talk has made your lady self-conscious.” Firman patted LaRenna’s arm. “Just as well we refrain from the more vivid details of your relationship. It’s almost first dawn.” He gathered four recorders from the table’s corner, juggling them back and forth as he grabbed for his mug. “I’ll be back for you in a while, LaRenna. Say your good-byes, Krell, and kiss her once for me.”
“Why, I oughta—!” exclaimed Krell. “If it were true I’d say you were jealous.”
“It is and I am.” The slamming door echoed his sentiment.
“Be wary of my brother, girl.” Krell glanced over her shoulder. “He’s the type that’ll look up your skirts if given half a chance.”
“Must run in the family.”
Krell stiffened then returned the mugs to the cooking corner. “Your being on post does not give you license to drop protocol, nor does last night’s setback.” Krell paused until LaRenna dropped the glare on her mentor’s back. “Firman will see that you meet up with Starnes. Accomplish your post and nothing more. If at all possible, I need you need to meet me on the beach at first dawn. I’ll be waiting.”
“Yes, First Officer.”
“Have Starnes make the excuse of sending you to the Commons so you can get out unquestioned.”
“That early?”
“Don’t question, just do. The Wine Stores are open then. Have him send you there.” Krell’s long fingers gripped the tabletop. Could looking at LaRenna be avoided? “You have the medicines?”
“Stitched in my skirt hem where you had me put them.” Look at me. The phase bounced off Krell’s mental barrier and back to its sender.
“As soon as you know what’s being planned, get out.”
“First Kimshee, we’ve been over this a hundred times.” LaRenna squirmed with agitation.
“Make it a hundred and one then.” Krell spun from the corner and opened the door in such a rush LaRenna fell back onto a bench. “You will be reassigned as soon as you complete your post.”
“I haven’t requested reassignment.”
“I have for you.” Krell’s response echoed down the street. LaRenna watched from the narrow window, launching phase call after unanswered phase call until she was certain the distance between them was too great. Then the same pit of emptiness she had felt with Nyla Smalls returned in magnitude. “You’re a big girl. Deal with it.” LaRenna collapsed back onto the bench and sulked into her mug.
It wasn’t long before Firman returned. “Well, let’s go,” he said in a level tone. He balanced a large stack of paper files on his arm. “Better use the facilities first, if you’ve need. There’s not one in the waiting area. Jobless Auts are notoriously messy, so we closed the one up front.”
LaRenna took his advice and made use of the small water closet off the workroom, glancing in the worn reflecting board to smooth her hair before she rejoined him. Firman handed her a local work card as soon as she emerged. “According to this, you’re quite the barmaid. Hope your man shows up early or someone else will want to hire you.” He eyed her head to toe, rating her appearance with an approving if not somewhat enchanted smile and a nod. “Nice.”
“Beg your pardon?” LaRenna wondered if her mentor’s warning had some merit after all.
“Nice disguise job. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were Autlach. Makes me wonder whatcha’ look like Taelach.”
“I’m a smaller version of Krell.”
“Nope. I don’t believe my guardian sibling could pull off wearing skirts.” Firman drew his hands down in two straight lines. “No figure.” With a flamboyant wave of his arm, he held the door wide for her. “After you.”
“Thank you.”
“Anytime.” He smacked her firmly on the backside as she passed. “Anytime at all.”
LaRenna whirled about. “Must you?”
“I have a reputation to uphold.” Firman gave her another playful swat. “Besides, you’d better get used to it. There’s not a barmaid alive that hasn’t had to endure the occasional swat or pinch to the hindquarters.” With a persistent grin that challenged even the sourest of thoughts, he waved her out the back entrance. “What’s it all coming down to when a man can’t tease his own kin?”
“Me, linked to you?” asked LaRenna. “Not possible unless you are referring to the First Officer.”
“First officer?” Firman chuckled “No need for formality around me, LaRenna. Krell is simply Krell—big, moody, and from what I can tell so deeply infatuated with you that life must be damn near impossible.”
“I’m being transferred after this post at her request.”
Firman stopped chuckling to regard LaRenna with a gentle expression. “This is serious then.” He clasped her hand and held it tight. “The key to Krell is learning to read in opposites. Has she been sending you mixed messages?”
LaRenna appreciated the warmth and opportunity to discuss what had been plaguing her mind. “No, the messages have been clear enough since last night.”
“What happened?”
Certain of the friendship of her mentor’s brother, LaRenna began to speak without hesitation, sharing both the