Chapter 32

With the girls gone, Relda folded her hands and rested them on the table.

“They will be cared for well with me,” she assured, “but you’re their grandfather won’t take them away?”

“He can’t have them,” Raylay spoke up. “They’re being raised against the Dialorians, and he’s a loyalist to the Regime. Even though he’s their slave.”

Relda pursed her lips, and then unpursed them.

“I see,” she muttered.

She directed her attention back to Eyan. There was a pause between them while dread weighed inside Relda.

“As I mentioned before,” she said, “I would like clones. Seven of them.”

Eyan sat down and asked, “Well, what are you willing to pay? Cloning is not cheap.”

Relda fumbled in her pocket. The bracelet was still secure. There was a sharp pain in her chest.

“I have a bartering payment,” she said, “but it needs to be returned to the creature I stole it from.”