Chapter 9: Thoughts
Iris said nothing about what had happened at the hospital all the way back to the hotel. As soon as she entered her home, she was accosted at the door by Delia, who told her that there were several members of the Council awaiting her decisions on matters pertaining to the island. "I must attend to this," Iris told the Mallrats, "and it may take a while. If you like, you can go up and rest in your rooms or you can take a look around the hotel. There will be guards standing outside rooms you won't be allowed into. I'm sure the children are hungry; your attendants will have food brought up to your rooms if any of you want to eat. I'll meet you for dinner."
She walked away from them, immersed in her own thoughts, and went up to her room to change. Sarai, Tessie, Rose, and Delia were already there and had an outfit picked out for their mistress to wear. They began to put it on her quickly as to not keep the council waiting. "You seem distressed, my lady," Rose said quietly as she wiped the sweat from Iris' face and arms. Iris smiled sadly. "There is just so much I don't understand about these Mallrats, Rose," she answered. "Most of them are nice. But I don't understand Amber at all. She seems to dislike everything about our city." "She is the leader, is she not?" Tessie asked.
"Yes, although she is not the leader of all of them," Iris replied. "And there's something strange about that Ebony girl. I was warned about her by Ram. Yet there's something that they aren't telling me about him as well." "I'm sure you'll learn more as you get to know them, Highness," Tessie remarked. "Yes . . . but will I want to know what their secrets are?" Iris asked. "The way they act . . . it's as if something terrible, worse than the virus they are running from, has happened." The girls glanced at each other curiously and continued to dress their Queen. Not too long afterwards, Iris made her appearance downstairs to the Council.
She and the Council took care of the various problems that needed their attention before the issue of the Mallrats was brought up. "Majesty," Althea began, "what of those who arrived here in the boat? What will be done with them?" "I am still not sure," Iris said quietly. "I would like to offer them a home here." "But are they people we want living amongst us?" Ethan asked. "You have spent the most time with them, Majesty, what do you think?" Malik gave Iris a knowing glance, having been the only other one there privy to the scene at the hospital. "I have yet to form an opinion on the characters of some of them," Iris said carefully. The Council nodded in agreement.
"I believe that the ones who were former Technos may be of use to us in learning new things," Gray said slowly. "But I agree that we should get to know them more before we decide." "I agree with Ethan," Crystal said. "And I also think that if we do decide to offer them a home here, the offer should only be given to those who deserve it." "What do you mean, exactly?" Iris asked. Crystal paused a moment to gather her thoughts. "It's just that . . . and I know this sounds silly . . . a few of them give me the creeps. Like there's something . . . wrong. And I think they are keeping secrets." "I understand what you mean," Iris said, "but that's something we'll talk about when the time comes.
Iris met the Mallrats for dinner later that evening. They sat down to a beef stew and new bread in the main dining room of the hotel. Some of the Mallrats looked wary, waiting for Iris to ask what the outburst with Ved was all about, but she never did. Instead, when the meal was over, Iris stood up and asked Jay to come with her to her room. Amber froze and looked at Iris with narrowed eyes. The others looked at each other in surprise and curiosity. Jay merely nodded at Iris and started to follow her out of the room, but Amber stopped him. "Why would you need to go to her room?" she asked evenly. "There are things I want to discuss with her," Jay told her. "What kind of things?" Amber asked. "I'll tell you when I get back, Amber," said Jay wearily. "Don't worry so much."
With that he turned and left. He followed Iris through the hallways, past her guards into her suite of rooms. She waved away all her attendants, leading Jay into a small side parlor, and motioned for him to sit. "You were going to tell me about Ved and Cloe," Iris began, "and you can explain what happened today while you're at it." Jay took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. "Do you want to know all of it?" he asked. "All of the reason why we're here as well?" Iris nodded. "It would be nice," she said. "I'd like to know exactly what sort of people I'm letting stay in my home. There is much I don't understand." Jay sighed. "You have a right to know," he said slowly. "There are some of us you may not want here . . . but . . ." "Just tell me," she insisted.