About a year and a half after Shifting Sands

Karrde lounged at the table on the terrace sipping a glass of wine as he watched the scene taking place on the lush lawn leading out to the lake. Shada was instructing three adolescent girls in the finer points of unarmed self defense and they were trying their best to master the move she'd just shown them with varying results.

He heard the door to the house slide open and glanced back to see Aves stepping out onto the terrace, stretching and yawning. "Good afternoon," Karrde told him. Aves had gotten in late last night and they'd already been in bed by the time he'd arrived.

"Is it? I'm starved."

"We'll have lunch as soon as Shada is done."

The two young vornskrs that had been laying by Karrde's feet got up and went to Aves wagging their stubby tails and cackle-purring at him demanding attention.

"Okay, boys, I see you." Aves reached down petting the two vornskrs until they were satisfied and went to lay by Karrde again, keeping their eyes fixed on Shada and the girls. "They've gotten big."

"They're almost full grown now." When Karrde and Shada had entered their semi-retirement, he'd decided to raise another pair of vornskrs. He'd missed Sturm and Drang after their deaths and had often contemplated acquiring another pair, but never quite found the time. Now he had the leisure to raise and train them.

Aves sat at the table and snagged a couple of rolls from the warmer on the table to munch on while they waited for Shada. Karrde poured him a glass of wine and Aves looked around taking in his surroundings. "Nice scenery," Aves commented between bites.

Karrde cast a look at Aves uncertain as to whether he was speaking of the impressive view of the gardens and the lake beyond or his wife who was dressed in tight purple workout clothes and moved with acrobatic grace as she was demonstrating a kick. "Yes, it is," Karrde agreed on both counts.

"You pick up some new strays?" Aves asked, indicating to Shada's students.

"No, they live on the neighboring estate. Shada's been teaching them self defense."

"She get tired of taking her aggressive energy out on you?" Aves smirked at Karrde.

"Not quite. I may have suggested they ask her for lessons."

"Suggested? You mean bribed?"

"Something like that." Karrde was a little embarrassed to admit it, but that's exactly what he'd done. "They used to sit on the wall and watch us spar anyway. Now they can't get enough."

Aves laughed, nearly choking on a mouthful of bread. "You bribed little girls to workout with your wife?"

"I needed a break," he argued. "I've never been so fit in my life as I am now. It's hard work being the sole focus of her energy."

Aves laughed. "You live such a tough life, boss. Ready to come out of retirement yet?"

"No. I've never been so happy."

Aves nodded, giving him a pleased look and turned his attention back to Shada and the girls. "She's very good with them. How come you two haven't had any of your own yet?"

"The nice thing about your neighbor's children is that you can send them home when they grow tiresome," Karrde pointed out. "Besides being rather old for it, neither of us have ever particularly wanted children." He smiled slyly at Aves. "And why aren't there any little Aveses and Faughns running around the Starry Ice?"

Aves shrugged, looking a little uncomfortable. "Same reason I guess."

The lesson seemed to be over. The girls waved and called out, "Goodbye, Captain Karrde!"

Karrde returned their wave and the girls ran across the garden to the wall, quickly climbing up over it using the clinging vines.

"They'd be good little commandos," Aves commented impressed.

"I think they want to be Shada when they grow up. She tries her best to discourage such notions, but they idolize her."

Shada walked up the lawn toward them picking up a light tunic from one of the garden benches and pulling it on over her head. The vornksrs stood and greeted her as she began to climb the steps to the terrace. She gave them a quick pet. "Aves," she smiled. "I thought you were going to sleep all day."

"Hunger woke me at last." He got up and hugged her. "Shada, I don't think retirement agrees with you. You've obviously been spending too much time with Karrde. You're even starting to look like him." Aves grinned as he reached up and stroked the white streak that ran down the center of her dark hair.

Shada gave him a sharp smack on the shoulder. "You'd better watch it."

"Ow." He rubbed his shoulder, still grinning. "Is that any way to treat a guest?"

"Aves, I apologize," Karrde put in. "I should have warned you. Shada's a touch sensitive about her new look."

"You'd better watch it too." She gave him a playful thump on the shoulder that turned into a caress. "Let's eat."

They sat down to lunch, exchanging small talk about the members of the organization and various other acquaintances. They would get down to business later.

"So where's Chin?" Aves asked. "I figured he'd be joining us."

Chin had decided to retire along with Karrde and Shada. He lived in the guest house on the estate, helping to train the vornskrs and acting as caretaker when they were away traveling.

"He's out with his lady friend," Karrde told him.

"His lady friend?" Aves asked surprised. "Do tell. How come I'm just hearing about it now?"

"It wasn't our news to tell," Shada said with a teasing grin.

"Oh, c'mon. Don't give me that. Who is she?"

"She's a xenobiologist at the university," she replied. "They met while Chin was out walking the vornskrs one day. She was curious about them and they hit it off."

"We actually don't see much of him at all anymore," Karrde added.

"Way to go, Chin."

"You'll get to meet her at dinner tonight," Shada assured him.

"I can't wait."

TBC