“I’m sure you will,” Han agreed.
“This is an excellent game to teach tracking, stealth, and stillness,” Kolsum said. “I think I’ll participate in the new round.”
Things were looking up! With Kolsum playing with the kids, it would be easier for Han and the children to slip out.
Over the last half an hour she’d been slowly moving the game closer to a thick group of trees right on the border of the cresh and the city beyond.
“I’m starting to get a little tired,” she said to Kolsum. “I don’t think I’ll play this round, but I want to stay and watch everyone.”
Predictably, Kolsum sounded a worried rumble. “Should I take you back to your owner?”
The kids all sounded a combination of worried rumbles and purrs. One look from Kolsum silenced them.
Before she could answer, another Talin showed up. He was as large as an adult, but like Tumoro, he wasn’t filled out yet. This newcomer must be at the adultlette stage, making him roughly eighteen to twenty years old.
“Instructor Kolsum, I was told to collect Human Han and take her to the front of the compound,” he explained. Then he looked at her and struck his hand to his chest. “Hello, Human Han, my name is Malsum of the family Tresh within the clan Inik.”
“We don’t greet humans with the same honor we would a fellow Talin,” Kolsum reprimanded Malsum.
“I apologize, Instructor Kolsum,” Malsum said. “I assumed she should have the same respect as any other sapient being.”
“I can see your confusion,” Kolsum said, then launched into a long-winded explanation of greeting requirements for “low intellect” and “subservient” species.
Normally Han would be annoyed with everything Kolsum said, but she was busy cursing her bad luck. She’d been about to make a break for it with the kids, but now that opportunity was lost.
Rishmun and Lirsum must have realized something was wrong because they tucked themselves close to her and grabbed a hand each.
“Are you ready?” Malsum asked.
Han didn’t have a new plan yet. This was bad. She was half tempted to pick up the kids and make a run for it. She was strong enough to carry both of them, but they’d catch her before she even went a few strides.
“Can Rishmun and Lirsum come with me? Please!” she asked Kolsum. “I don’t want to leave; having them walk with me will make it easier.”
“Of course,” Kolsum agreed. “They are your master’s children. Your offspring might be owned by them some day. It’s good that you’re already attached to them. You’ll instill that in your pups.”
It took a lot of willpower to keep from scowling at the instructor.
“After you’re finished, go back to the main hall for this afternoon's lessons,” Kolsum told Rishmun and Lirsum. The children sounded rumbles of agreement.
“This way please,” Malsum said, turning to lead them away.
Her mind whirling, Han and the kids fell in step behind Malsum. She needed to come up with a new plan fast!
If he couldn’t convince the school to let him take the kids, or at least let them spend the day with him so they could make a run for it, then Rensom was supposed to leave quickly and quietly so Han could slip out with the children.
All she needed was a way to get rid of Malsum. She had a few toys hidden on her person. One of them would take down a full-grown Talin, but she really didn’t want to use it on this adultlette. Was there something she could do to get Malsum to leave her alone?
She was so deep in thought she didn’t notice that Malsum had led them to a secluded corner of the property until Rishmun spoke up.
“Malsum, why are you taking us this way?”
“I have something important to talk to Human Han about,” Malsum said.
Rishmun and Lirsum let go of her hands and moved in front of her, as if to protect her from Malsum.
“You can’t steal her,” Lirsum said.
“Your family might be the most powerful on Blish, but we don’t care,” Rishmun said.
