ELIA

The next day after breakfast, Elia asked Candace if they could go to her house, or for a walk, though the aching in her legs meant she hoped her friend would choose to go home.

"Why don't you come over to my house?

" Candace said.

"I have some work to do, but I could chat while I'm weaving.

"

"That sounds great.

" She winced getting out of her chair and Gahrye grinned at her.

"Feeling the pinch a little, Elia?

" he murmured under his breath. She shot him a look, but had to smile back. She'd been terrible the day before. After he'd had her study the blocks and punches the soldiers were practicing, Gahrye had taken her to a nearby clearing and worked with her on the different moves.

She knew she'd been terrible, but there was something that felt powerful about doing something to learn and grow, to make her body stronger. But she could tell she was going to have to keep working hard, because her body was soft. And if she was going to change that, it would take gritting her teeth and forcing herself to keep going.

Reth cupper her thigh as she stood and she smiled and leaned in to kiss him. His eyes heated and the kiss lasted a little longer than it should have, but she couldn't resist. He was… delicious.

But soon she was hobbling towards Candace's home along the path through the trees. Her friend eyed her warily.

"Did you injure yourself?

"

"No. Just… worked hard yesterday and my body's reminding me how many years it's been since I had a gym membership,

" Elia said through her teeth.

"What is a jim membership?

" Candace asked, curious.

Elia shook her head.

"In my world when you're in the city, you go to a specific building and there's a lot of… weights and machines that help you exercise, so your body gets stronger, and you get fit.

"

Candace frowned.

"Why wouldn't you just… work to get stronger?

" she said, in an echo of Reth's thought.

Elia gave a flat smile.

"The kind of work you can do in the city isn't the same as here. It doesn't work your body the same way. Think of it like training for the guards. It's that kind of thing.

"

"Oh, okay.

"

They walked in companionable silence to Candace's house, where Candace led her to the second floor, which turned out to be her working floor—except for stairs, the entire room was flat and empty, with a single massive contraption in the middle that seemed to have great lengths of linen or some other kind of soft fabric billowing to the floor.

"It's a loom?

" Elia said, awed.

"Yes, you're familiar with them?

"

"Not really. I just know what they do and… this is beautiful, Candace?

" Elia said, running a length of the fabric through her fingers.

"So incredibly soft!

"

"Yes, it's a blend I created. The Sheep are very annoyed. I've managed to out-do their best work. But it takes a great deal of time, so I can't make a lot of it.

"

Elia sighed, the fabric, a soft cream was so beautiful and silky against her skin. She thought of the dress she'd worn to the Mating Feast and bit her lip.

"Candace, how much does this cost? And… do you know anyone who sews it into clothing?

"

"I do,

" Candace said past a thick pin in her mouth that she'd just pulled from the mechanism under the loom.

"If you want something, I could make it.

"

"I… how do I even pay for something in this city?

" she said, her eyes going wide as she realized she'd never even thought to pay for… anything—how did the merchants make their money? What money did they use? She gaped at Candace, horrified.

"Have people been giving me things I'm supposed to pay for and I haven't done it?

"

Candace twittered a laugh.

"No, dear lord, no. We don't have money here. We trade—either for other goods, or for work services. But Reth is… he is ours. All of ours. Whatever he needs we'll provide, because of what he provides to us. And you're a part of him, so…

" she shrugged and turned back to the loom.

Elia swallowed. She said it so simply, yet Elia knew any system like that would be extremely difficult in her world.

"What could I do for you, so that I could have a dress made from this?

" she asked nervously.

"I don't want to take advantage. If it's expensive and you can't make much, I don't want to—

"

"This is already for you, Elia. I was going to give it to you as a gift at the Festival. A thank you for appointing me. If you'd prefer something made from it, I would be happy to do that.

"

Elia put a hand to her chest and stared at the beautiful folds of fabric.

"thank you,

" she murmured, tears pinching her throat.

Candace walked around the loom and pulled her into a quick hug, then held her at arms length.

"I know it's been difficult, Elia, but I am so glad the Creator brought you here. I've had more fun in the past few weeks, than I did for years before. Your presence here is… thrilling. And even though it hasn't been easy, I can see your heart. I know you will succeed here. And the people will love you,

" she said, then turned away, leaving Elia standing there, gaping at her back as she returned to her seat at the loom.

"Now, do you want a dress like the last one, or should I get more creative with it?

" she said, as if she hadn't just dropped an emotion-bomb on Elia's chest.

Blinking to catch up to the shift in her friend, Elia shook her head.

"You're the expert,

" she said quietly.

"The only thing I'm certain of is that I need to have pockets in the sides, and a tie at the neck. The rest… you can choose. I know nothing about clothes.

"

"A tie at the neck?

"

"Yes, the neckline on the other one, it was on a string that could be untied so it could come open from the top.

"

"Oh, yes. That's a good idea. And the gathering would suit your shape.

"

Elia shrugged. She just wanted a dress that Reth could remove from her from the top down, like he had with the last one. But she didn't think Candace needed to know that.

"Plus, it gives Reth an opportunity to… unwrap you,

" Candace said with a grin.

Or not, Elia sighed to herself and just laughed.

She would get used to this. One day.