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Andarian listened to his young messanger’s report with a growing frown. How had the human even found that thing. Still it clearly hadn’t been the child’s fault and Andarian couldn’t help feeling pleased that the thing was gone. He was about to reassure the boy that he wouldn’t banish him when he heard Xantaria storming towards them. He pushed the child behind him as he turned to face her with a false smile.

“Your servant lost to a human?” she snarled. “How did this happen?”

“T-technically I didn’t lose, Xantaria-ida,” the boy answered before Andarian could. “I injured the interloper badly and am still alive.”

“You let the crystal be destroyed! We needed that. I count that as a loss. Get back to Taloa proper and find her and don’t come back until she’s dead.”

“Now be reasonable, Xantaria-ida,” Andarian said. “He’s a child and not strong enough to survive on Taloa for long.”

“Then he’d better find her soon,” she said coldly. “Because I’m not backing down and you have to do what I say. You promised, it would be dishonourable.”

Andarian flinched. “It would also be dishonourable to allow the kid to be punished so harshly. Don’t push me Xantaria.”

That could have been a mistake, he realised. She’d given no sign of realising that she didn’t have him completely tied up and he’d just told her. Instead her mood shifted abruptly and she threw back her head and laughed.

“Ah, so you have some spirit after all, Andarian! I was beginning to wonder if I’d broken you. Very well your servant may come back occassionally in order to avoid dying but he may not return to Kithra and he may not stay here long enough to get comfortable. Now show me what happened.”

Andarian was going to argue more but the child laid a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. “I will do as Xantaria-ida requires, my mirian. Do not argue over me, please.”

“Very well.” Andarian sighed and tapped one of the crystals around him and watched the battle between his servant and the human girl.”

“Where did she get that?” he wondered aloud. “And how is she using it?”

“She must be working with the Exiles,” Xantaria said. “But it doesn’t matter who gave it to her or how she’s using it. She’s still a human.” She turned to look at him and noticed the fruit he’d been nibbling on. “What’s that?”

“It’s a pear,” he replied.

“It’s big,” she said. “I remember pears as being tiny. Did humans cultivate that?”

“They did,” he said. “Made them sweeter as well. You should try them.” He stared at the fruit in his hand. “I wonder if I could force them to grow on Kithra.”

“I doubt it,” she said. “But if we win you can have all the pears you want.” She grabbed the pear from his hand and took a bite. “But you’re right they are good. Maybe humans are good for something after all.”

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