"And so I said that she was no prize herself, and she just flipped her hair and walked away!" Terika finished. "What a little wher!"

"Deris has been full of herself ever since she and Kartin became a couple," Reija scoffed, picking at her wherry. "Who isn't much of a catch if you ask me."

"If you ask anyone!" Lavikel agreed. "He's just a short little twerp and have you seen his hair? Ugh. Looks like he's never taken a comb to it!"

"I don't see why you have a thing against short guys," Narla remarked. "I think they're cute!"

"Well naturally you would," Reija shot back, "you're all over poor little Gerinad who's almost afraid of all your attention because no girl's so much as looked at him before."

"I am not!" Narla protested, though she blushed. Everyone who was anyone in the holders' daughters hierarchy knew that Narla and Gerinad were a couple, though Narla was too emberassed to admit it.

"Oh come on Narla," Teiyr rolled her eyes. "Stop pretending. I think Gerinad and you look cute together." Teiyr flung an accusing glance at her tablemates.

"Really?" Narla asked a bit too enthusiastically.

"Really," Teiyr assured her. "There's a certain something cute about a guy who's not a handspan taller than you. It's nice to be at eye level."

"I think the guy should always be taller," Terika pointed at a couple who was passing by. "Look at them. The girl's a handspan shorter than the guy. It makes it so much cuter."

"I think it depends on the people," Narla argued. "I'm not that much taller than Gerinad. Maybe half a handspan, if that much. Plus, he's got that sweet, innocent babe face..."

Lavikel groaned. "Faranth, here we go again. I'll admit that he's cute and all, but you don't have to drone on and on about it."

"Just because you're jealous doesn't mean you have to be such a wher about it," Narla told her. "At least I have a man."

"You can't call Gerinad a man until his voice breaks!" Lavikel reminded her. Gerinad wasn't actually younger, he was just a slow grower so he looked about 15 when he was really 19.

"You can't judge a person by his voice," Narla reminded her her most prim voice. "Gerinad is just as much of a man as any other guy."

"You would know," Reija snickered and put up an arm to block Narla's playful slap.

"You're one to talk," Teiyr scoffed. "You who's got about ten guys up to age 25 following you around like starving canines."

"That thing with T'mek was just a one night fling," Reija protested. "It was after Turnover, I was drunk as a seacrafter, and the man begged me for Faranth's sake!"

"We were all drunk beyond reason," Teiyr waved away her friend's excuses, "but only you and Lavikel were hopping into bed with anyone."

"I did not!" Lavikel protested. "He just kissed me then I slapped him and walked away!"

"Away to his quarters," Terika chuckled. "Stop denying it Kel, everyone knows Refiloc wasn't your first."

Lavikel rolled her eyes and pretended to be intensely interested in the pattern painted along the side of her plate.

"Look who's here!" Teiyr exclaimed. "It's Reija's man!"

Reija looked up to see Hallon striding into the room and sucked in an outraged breath. "We are not an Us," Reija hissed.

"You might as well be, the way you two flirt," Terika scoffed. "It's amazing you two have kept out of bed this long."

"I don't want that sorry excuse for a man in my bed or anywhere near me," Reija informed her. "And don't you start any rumors saying otherwise!"

"Too late for rumors," Lavikel told her. "Hallon's got his heart set on you and he always gets what or who he wants."

"Well he's not getting me," Reija said through a fake smile she plastered on to wave back at Hallon. "If he tries anything, he'll walk away with at least a black eye."

"Don't be such a dimglow about it," Teiyr chided. "The cutest guy in the Hold has his eye on you. Girls would pay to be in your place!"

"I'm not a bedhopper," Reija insisted. "I have my morals!"

"Oh yes, I'm sure," Terika chuckled. "You never use any of your own sheets when you have a guy over and you always make sure they match the color of his hair."

Reija was about to reply when Hallon broke away from his little group and strode over to the table where Reija and her friends were sitting. "Hello Reija," he grinned, flashing two rows of blindingly white teeth.

"Hello Hallon," Reija replied. "Have a seat." Narla scooted over and patted the space beside her, grinning.

"How's my favorite?" Hallon asked, slipping his hand around Reija's waist. Reija politely removed it and set it on the table.

"Fine, thank you," Reija replied, smiling sweetly.

"Do you think perhaps you could meet me once the meal is over?" he asked, bending his head to whisper to her. "I'd like to discuss a few things... in private."

"I suppose so, we'd have to be quick about it though, or my brothers would come after me," Reija replied, though she'd rather have been eaten alive by thread than meet Hallon in private.

"Good then. Meet me in the courtyard. I'll be waiting," he planted a kiss on her neck then stood and returned to his group of followers.

"Well?" Narla pressed.

"What'd he say?" Lavikel asked.

"Spill it!" Terika encouraged.

"He just wants me to meet him in the courtyard after the meal," Reija shrugged. "Nothing exciting."

"Shards Rei! Everyone knows that the first stop before someone's quarters with Hallon is the courtyard!" Teiyr exclaimed. "This is your night!"

"Well I'm not everyone," Reija told her, "and I don't plan on spending the night anywhere but in my quarters - alone."

After the meal was over, Reija left to meet Hallon in the courtyard...