To one side of the hangar bay, Lije, Stickyfingers, Tiny, and Aylia stood by the makeshift stove. Aylia and Tiny dropped coils of dough into cooking oil bubbling in the oil drum pots Pip had created while Lije and Stickyfingers pulled out the finished, fried donuts. At this rate, they’d have enough to share with the other two squadrons. Even with their efforts, they’d barely put a dent in the sourdough starter, which formed rows upon rows of glass jars that had taken up one of the workbenches.
Lt. Rothilion and many of the elves had claimed a spot by the large open door, chatting quietly while the night breezes tossed their long hair.
In the center, one of the largest groups of both humans and elves was playing a round of “Guess that quote” with one flyboy reading a quote from a Star Forest novel, and the others guessing who said it. Nellie Blair must just about have that book memorized since she was shouting out the answers almost before the flyboy finished reading. The others were talking about banning her from playing.
Pip reached the side of the room where Merrik sat in his wheelchair in the shadow of one of the aeroplanes. He had ice provided by Tiny wrapped around his stump, his prosthetic tucked in the bag hanging from the back of the wheelchair.Shadows still lingered in his eyes, even when he smiled, while his face was drawn and thin.
“Hey.” Pip held out one of the sodas to Merrik. “It’s good to have you back.”
“Good to be back.” Merrik took the soda with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.
He’d managed the initial round of welcome backslapping, handshaking, and story-swapping well enough. He’d even been persuaded to show off his new wooden leg, gaining oohs and aahs over his ability to wiggle the wooden toes with his magic.
But then he’d drifted to the sidelines, hiding even more from the bustle than he had before.
Pip sank onto a seat on the cement floor next to him. “How are you?”
“Well enough.” Merrik shrugged, not glancing at her as he uncapped his soda.
“Probably getting very tired of everyone asking you that.” Pip opened her own soda before taking a small sip.
“Just a little.” Merrik’s smile returned, a wry curve to his mouth.
“Well, just let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” Pip took another sip of her soda.
“Linshi.” Merrik sipped his soda, and silence fell between them for a moment. Then he gave her another smile, one that very nearly reached his eyes. “I heard you and Fieran are courting. It is about time.”
“Isn’t it?” Pip grinned, her grin widening as she heard Fieran’s and Mak’s footsteps clomping on the concrete toward them. “Took him long enough.”
“Took who long enough?” Fieran flopped down onto the concrete next to her, his legs sprawled out and his arms braced behind him.
“You to finally ask to court me.” Pip poked his stomach, earning her anoof. “Where did you and my brother get off to?”
Mak lowered himself to the concrete floor on the other side of Merrik. “Installing a few ramps.”
“There’s now a ramp on that hangar bay door.” Fieran pointed at the door of Bay 4 that led toward the tents. “The other side is already level with the dirt for getting the aeroplanes in and out. There’s also a ramp to your tent and to the showers and latrines.”
“Linshi.” Merrik’s smile vanished as quickly as it had come, those shadows deeper in his eyes.
“Now about that engine…” Fieran reached past Pip to tap one of the wheels of Merrik’s chair.
“No.” Merrik sent Fieran a glare, even if his mouth now twitched with a smile. There seemed to be some kind of joke there, but Pip was missing something.
“Fine, fine.” Fieran just grinned before he rested his hand over one of Pip’s. He glanced at her, tilting his head toward Merrik. “Did he tell you that he had the gall to start courting my sister the moment my back was turned?”
“No, he didn’t.” Pip glanced between Fieran and Merrik, not sure if she should laugh or brace herself for an argument. Since she and Fieran had been in Aldon with Fieran’s youngest two sisters, that left only Adriana, the one sibling Pip hadn’t met yet.
“Yep. Kissed her and everything. The cheek.” Fieran gave Merrik a glare just as fake as the one Merrik had given him a few moments ago.
On the other side of Merrik, Mak gave a snort before he burst into chuckles. “Now you know exactly what it feels like.”
Fieran gave a wince.
Pip shook her head, rolling her eyes. Brothers.
Chapter
Twenty
