“But we’re your family. Your people.”
I shake my head. “There’s no forgetting what happened. Dad sold me, Cami. He and Council. And no one tried to stop them.I’m building a life with Atox. Among people who want and appreciate me.”
“We’rehuman, Paloma. They’re not.”
“This goes beyond physical features.”
“Dad said you’re a good fit for the orcs because you’resturdy,” my stick-thin sister says. “But that’s not a reason to stay with them. I can help you lose the weight so you’ll find a man. Ahumanman.”
“I don’t need a guy to make me feel good about myself. My weight doesn’t define me like your lack of intelligence doesn’t define you.”
She bites her lip, shock registering in her eyes.
I’ve gone too far. Attacked her a second time, except this time was worse than slapping her cheek. “I’m sorry, Cami. You know I didn’t mean that.”
My sister has an undiagnosed learning disability that makes reading, writing, and other day-to-day tasks difficult for her, but none of that affects her intelligence. Oh, god, the more time I spend with her, the more I realize how easy it is to replicate the bad behavior of a parent. Our dad constantly commented about my weight, but he put Cami down, too. In the heat of the moment, I made a hurtful comment similar to those he’s spewed in the past. More and more, I understand Atox better, especially how he worries about his father’s legacy.
I grab my sister in a hug. “You’re one of the smartest people I know, which is why I wish you’d be open-minded about Atox and the rest of the orcs. We’ve been fed lies about them by the same men who took our rights away in New Earth. Men who don’t want to get to know the other species here. They’d rather spread rumors so we fear the orcs and the others.”
“Why would anyone do that?”
“To control us. It’s as simple as that. People use fear to control. Orcs do, humans do. We’re alike in more ways than you realize.”
“I’ve got to go. Owen’s going to give me hell for being gone so long.” With a weak smile, she hugs me. It doesn’t feel forced, but it lacks her usual enthusiasm.
“I’m sorry, Cami.”
“I know. Me, too.”
She heads toward the produce table, the job I had when I wasn’t working in the fields. I glance over at Sojek. His eyes dart left and right, a sign he’s uneasy by being surrounded by humans. Cami and me raising our voices didn’t help.
My reunion with her has left me with an intense need to see Atox, to hold and apologize to him.
We need to talk, starting with me telling him about our baby and then asking him to set up another meeting at New Earth and to take me. If I go with him to talk to my people, I can expose the fear mongering that Council has been using. If enough women listen to me, maybe, just maybe, we can effect real change there and work on becoming allies instead of enemies.
“I need to find Atox,” I say to Sojek.
“He said to stay here.”
“Change of plans. Where did he go?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’d lie to me, Sojek?”
“No, Graka. But if I tell you where, then I fail my grak.”
“Good point.” I start walking toward the bantaran sector. Atox often talks about their technology. It’s as good a place as any to start.
“You can’t leave here,” Sojek says.
“Don’t worry. I’ll find him on my own and he won’t be able to blame you. Unless he gave you orders to tie me up to keep me from moving, you can’t stop me, can you?”
Sojek falls in step beside me. “Graka, this is not advisable. Our grak will be angry.”
“I’ll take the blame. He won’t touch you.”
“I don’t fear his wrath.”
