Galen leaned over the railing of the ship, retching. Thuraya pat his back and offered him a glass of water. Galen took the glass, taking small sips. He continued to hang over the side of the ship in case another round of sickness overcame him. Thuraya crossed her arms and leaned her back against the railing next to him.
"I can't believe you still get sick. You've been riding boats and ships for at least a thousand years now."
Galen glared at her weakly, "Leave me alone."
Galen doubled over, heaving. Thuraya grimaced and tipped away from him. At this point, Galen has given up getting over his seasickness. Symptoms that passed quickly for others lingered for Galen. He has been sick for most of the voyage. He looked enviously at Thuraya. She had never been one to get motion sickness.
"Land ho!" yelled the ship's watch.
Galen peered into the horizon, but he could not see anything. Next to him, Thuraya pulled out a telescope. She put the lens to her eye and scanned in front of her.
"Why do you have a telescope?" Galen asked.
"We're on a ship, Galen. A telescope is essential." Galen was completely sure that no other passenger had a telescope. "Don't look at me like that. Would you rather I be under or overprepared?"
"Can you see land?"
"Yes," she pocketed the telescope, "We'll be there soon."
"Good. I don't think my stomach can take any more of this."
"Are you excited?"
"I'm nervous. I've never raised a child."
"I will be there as well. I won't let you become a disaster."
"For some unknown reason, that actually reassures me."
Thuraya slapped Galen's arm. He jolted, rubbing the spot she hit. "Unknown? I exude comfort. You're lucky to have me."
Galen lifted his head from the railing for the first time in two hours. He smiled at Thuraya and said, "I am."
Thuraya raised her hand, and Galen tensed in preparation of getting hit. Instead of smacking him a second time, she rested her hand on his head, gently ruffling his hair. Galen smiled wider before his expression took a turn for the worse. He slumped over the ship again, fighting back a wave of nausea.
"Get me off this ship," he groaned.
His pleas were answered the next day when the ship docked at the port. Muhitpol, a large city of its own, had nothing on the magnitude of ships docked at Hadugrad. Minastav controlled seafaring in the East, much to the consternation of Hidara. Although Thuraya accused Galen of being ignorant of the wider world, he did pick up information here and there. Hidara once dominated the seas of the world, generating massive wealth. All countries used them to transport goods, trusting in the renown of Hidaran sailors. Minastav, previously based entirely in agriculture, shifted their enterprises at the beginning of industrialization. Soon they trained an entire workforce to specialize in shipbuilding, ship maintenance, and sailing. The Stavi amassed the most advance ships on the market and boasted sailors better than Hidara.
"Vera's is a five-minute walk from here," Thuraya said, steering the trolley with their bags. She seems eager to arrive.
"She lives in the city?"
"Unlike you, she does not shy away from human contact."
"You mean unlike us."
Thuraya rolled her eyes. They weaved through the pedestrian traffic. People chatted all around them, talking in the quick and complicated Stavi language. Over the years, Galen endeavored to keep up with changing languages of all the countries, but Stavi always eluded him. Minastav held its language close, not allowing foreigners to learn it. Occupied by the language surrounding him, Galen did not notice how long they had been walking until Thuraya suddenly stopped.
"We're here."
Galen looked skeptically at the decrepit building that stood in front of him. "She lives here?"
"It's not as bad as it looks." Thuraya hurried into the building, and Galen followed reluctantly behind her. Thuraya was right; the inside of the building was not as bad as it looked. However, it left much to be desired.
"We'll leave the bags there," Thuraya said, pointing to a closet.
"Is that safe?"
"Yes, Galen." They walked up the stairs to Vera's apartment. Knocking on the door, Thuraya and Galen waited for Vera to answer. The door swung open a moment later, revealing a bubbly woman.
"Thuraya! Galen!" Vera exclaimed. She opened her arms for a hug, which Galen returned. He melted into her comforting embrace. Letting go of Galen, Vera turned her sights onto Thuraya. She latched onto Thuraya, who tensed before returning the hug stiffly. However, a faint smile could be seen on her face.
"Where's the child?" Thuraya asked as soon as she was released.
"Sleeping," Vera responded. She led Thuraya and Galen to sit in the living room. "Do you want any tea?"
"I would like black, please," Galen requested.
"I would like the same," Thuraya added.
"Coming right up!" Vera chirped. The soothing sounds of tea being prepared filled the room. Galen relaxed into the cushion. Thuraya and Vera made small talk to pass the time. Watching the two asteris, Galen noticed something strange. Whenever Vera's back was turned, Thuraya smiled fondly. Galen narrowed his eyes in thought. Thuraya rarely looked at anyone fondly.
"Your tea is ready." Vera set Thuraya and Galen's cups on the table in front of them. She settled into an armchair to the right of Thuraya. Galen lifted the cup to his mouth, sipping from the steaming liquid.
"How is the girl?" Galen asked.
"Confused, but curious."
"Have you explained anything?" Thuraya said.
"The basics. I don't think she quite understands yet, though."
Thuraya nodded. She placed her cup on the table. "That is to be expected."
Vera sighed, "Yes, it is. I don't envy your job."
Thuraya nodded again, then she suddenly said, "Your hair looks good."
Vera raised a hand to touch her hair, "Thank you. I wanted to do something a little different."
A compliment? The Thuraya Galen knew would never compliment someone. Something was going on here.
"It makes your face look good." Thuraya struggled to find the fight words.
"Thank you. Your hair makes your face look good as well."
Galen thought he could see the faintest red appear in Thuraya's cheeks when she looked away. He smirked, "Vera, could you check on Nessa?"
"Right now?" She asked, putting down her cup.
"Yes, right now." Galen felt Thuraya's stare burning into the side of his head.
Vera raised from the armchair and walked down the hall. Once Galen thought she was out of hearing range, he asked, "What was that?"
"What was what?" Thuraya deflected.
"Oh no, you aren't escaping this. You were mooning over Vera."
"Mooning?" Thuraya sputtered, "I don't moon."
"Compared to a normal person, that wouldn't be mooning, but for you..." Galen let the sentence trail.
"Shut up," she muttered darkly.
"How long?"
"Only for the last thirty years."
Galen squeezed his lips together in an effort not to laugh. "Does she know?"
"No!" Thuraya shouted. "No. Do you think I could sit here calmly if she knew?"
Galen slung an arm around her shoulders. "Thuraya, you are being quite obvious."
Thuraya's cheeks burned, "I am not."
"Yes, you are." Thuraya made the mistake of turning to look at Galen because, as soon as she did, he waggled his eyebrows at her suggestively. She took the pillow she was sitting against and hit him, but it only caused him to start laughing. Vera returned to the room and saw Thuraya trying to suffocate Galen with the pillow.
"What's happening?"
"Nothing," Thuraya said as Galen cackled beneath her.
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