The saleslady beckoned her over and Elli went uncertainly with her. She had seen the price tag on the gorgeous crimson gown—it was more than she would have paid for a really nice saddle back home.
I just hope he’s not expecting me to pay him back, she thought. Since I don’t have a credit to my name!
With a little help from the saleslady, she got into the gown and she had to admit it looked magnificent. The high-necked bodice hugged her hour-glass shape closely, revealing her curves, and presenting her figure to the best advantage.
“Is this the kind of thing Tenebrian ladies wear?” she asked the saleslady, who was a little old woman with bright eyes and a pair of thin, spidery spectacles perched on her sharp nose.
“Oh yes, my dear—out here they do, anyway,” the saleslady said, turning Elli this way and that to show off the shimmering waves of crimson silk which fell to her ankles.
“Out here?” Elli asked, looking at herself in the 3-D viewer. “What do you mean by that?”
“Oh, well everyone knows the Teenies have some strange customs amongst themselves,” the saleslady said. “We sell the kinds of clothes they wear when they come out of their palace, but I hear tell they dress very differently inside their Court.”
“Differently how, though?” Elli asked.
But the only lady only shrugged.
“Don’t know, my dear. It’s all just rumors. Do you want the dress or not? It looks fabulous on you.”
“I don’t know,” Elli confessed. “Let me ask my…let me ask Roke.” She still wasn’t quite sure what to call the tall warrior, though he had declared himself her ‘partner.’
“Your Heart’s Companion?” the saleslady asked. “That’s what the Teenies call their sweethearts,” she added, smiling. “I hear them all the time when they come into the shop. Well, go on—go ask him.”
Elli came out of the fitting room and took a spin in front of Roke.
“Well, what do you think?” she asked, looking up at her.
“Hmm…” His dark eyes were suddenly half-lidded as he looked at her. “I think you look fucking gorgeous, little priestess,” he murmured. “That color suits you down to the ground—I knew it would.”
Elli felt her cheeks getting hot. She wished he wouldn’t look at her that way—it made her feel nervous and flushed and reminded her of the way he’d kissed her and touched her at the Christmas party.
I have to stop thinking about that! she told herself firmly. I have to make myself forget it or I’ll never be able to work with him!
“It’s really expensive,” she said, making an effort to drag her mind out of the past and back to the present where it belonged.
“Mmm-hmm, but you’re worth it, sweetheart,” he murmured. “We’ll take it,” he told the saleslady, who nodded and smiled.
“But—” Elli started to protest but the big warrior only strode past her to pay for the dress without another word.
After the dress shop, Roke had another surprise for her. He took her to a men’s clothing shop on the other side of the Garment District.
“Are we going to get you an outfit for Court, too?” she asked as they walked into the cool interior of the shop which smelled like leather and expensive fabric.
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea,” Roke rumbled. “But to be honest, I was thinking of getting something for you. Specifically, some trousers.”
“What? But I can’t wear trousers.” Elli was aghast. Her whole life on Torl Prime, she’d grown up in a society where women only wore skirts and dresses. And of course, when she’d become a Novice priestess, she was only allowed to wear the plain white robes that went with her station. Never had anyone suggested that she wear trousers like a male before!
“Why not?” Roke asked, raising an eyebrow at her. “Why can’t you wear trousers?’
“Well, I mean…it would be wrong,” Elli protested.
“Why?” he asked again.
“Because it’s unladylike,” Elli pointed out.
“So is training zorels, according to you, but you do that well enough,” he remarked.
“Oh yes, but…but I’ve always trained them in skirts,” Elli said.
“Don’t you find the skirts get in the way?” he demanded. “Aren’t you ever afraid one of those big beast’s claws is going to get hooked in the fabric and drag you down?”
“Oh, I’m much too quick and careful for that to happen,” Elli told him.
Roke frowned, his face going dark.
“Be that as it may, little priestess, I’d prefer not to take the chance. My heart was in my throat while I was watching you tame that big brute today—I’d prefer that you were as safe as possible.”
“But—” Elli started to protest again but by then the salesman had come forward.
“I need some trousers which will fit my curvy little friend here,” Roke told him, nodding at Elli. “Can you accommodate us?”
If the salesman was surprised by the big warrior’s request, he didn’t give any indication. He simply took Elli’s measurements with the long tape draped around his neck, gave a short nod, and disappeared into the back room for a moment.