Chapter 93: Feast Part 2

After a few minutes of following the mayan down the new passage, Pratt breaks the rigid silence. "So how come we have separate quarters?"

"It is not customary to share the same living space."

"Why not?"

"We do not feel it is decent. There is too much distraction."

"From what?

"What is important," she looks at Pratt. "Protection."

"Of the queen?" I ask.

"Of everything we hold dear. Our people. Our customs..." another moment and then, "our Gift." "Do all Mybyncians know its whereabouts?" I ask. "Or only the chancellor?"

Salva stops and speaks softly over her shoulder, "We trust in our queen and our chancellor. They alone carry the burden of protecting what was bestowed to us," she finds my eyes with her bright orange ones. "It will never be found by foreign hands. It will never be moved. Come," she starts walking again, "we are nearly to your quarters."