“With meat?” I wrinkled my nose up. “Why would you ruin lasagna with meat? In the Motherlands we’re all vegans.”
Tyton looked confident in a kitchen and was doing a lot of things at the same time.
“I’m pretty sure that the original recipe had meat in it and that…” He was interrupted by his parents and Wilma, who came barging into the kitchen.
Getting up from my chair I reached out my hands to greet their mother, who looked eager to meet me.
“Ah, so this is the mysterious Motlander that we’ve heard so much about.”
I smiled. “May peace surround you. I’m Devina.”
“I know and I’m Joan, like Joan of Arc and this is my husband, William. We’re so happy to meet you.”
Letting go of her hands, I turned with a large smile and reached out both my hands to her husband but instead of taking my hands in a formal greeting he held his palms in the air and stepped back.
“Whoa, careful there.”
“It’s okay, Dad, Devina isn’t a Northlander. You can touch her,” Wilma assured him.
William was an older version of Tyton with the same muscular build. “I’d better not. In case this stunt goes to hell and we get caught with a Motlander woman. I don’t want to have touched her.”
Tyton stiffened and his eyes swung to me with a worried expression.
“Relax, we won’t get caught! Mom and I are going to change Devina into Devin and you won’t be able to recognize her.”
Their mom began setting the table while their dad listed all his worries.
“It’s important that you say as little as possible – in fact, I’d prefer if you pretend to be mute. That way no one hears your girly voice. Also, you need to stay close to Tyton at all times. No sudden impulses to investigate on your own.”
Again, Tyton and I exchanged a glance and it was a little longer than it needed to be. The weirdest sensation, of my neck heating up and my heart hammering extra fast, made me wonder what was wrong with me.
“I won’t take my eye off her,” Tyton promised his dad.
“Good.” William nodded and sat down at the table. “You should know that we’ve told Frederick but that’s it. The fewer who know, the better.”
“Frederick is my other brother,” Wilma reminded me.
“Let’s get some breakfast and then we’ll prepare.” William looked up at a digital clock on the wall. “We’re leaving here at 7:45 sharp. The first fights start at nine and I want to be there.
“That doesn’t give us long to get ready,” Joan complained.
“Then we’d better get this breakfast going.”
Turning to Tyton I asked, “Can I help with anything?”
William pulled out a chair at the table. “No, you just sit here and think about how a boy around fourteen moves and behaves.”
Tyton snorted. “How would she know when she’s only seen boys in the Motherlands? I don’t think they’re the same as our boys.”
“Well, how did you two look and move when you were fourteen?” I asked Tyton and William.
“I have no idea. It’s been more than forty years since I was that young.”
Joan broke into a laugh and pointed to Tyton. “I remember you had that phase when you walked around funny.”
“Funny how?” I asked.
Joan demonstrated. “Oh, he would walk around like this, pushing his chest out to make himself look bigger and stronger.”
