Moving back to Tor, Ali pressed her breasts against his chest and smiled sweetly at him, already nearly looking him in the eyes. In a year she'd be a few inches taller than him or more and in three years she'd probably be near six-six or so. A giant compared to his five-four. He'd keep growing though and by about three thousand years old he should be about five-nine. The idea was ridiculous, but there it was.

“Tor, Rolph, this is my new roommate, Sheri. Um, Sherilyn Bonner, she's a Ducherina second, youngest in her family. Sheri, this is Rolph Merchant, who studies accounting here, and my husband, Torrance Baker. He's a builder. Also Countier four Lairdgren, but he almost never bothers with titles himself.” Ali sounded proud when introducing him, which made him feel a bit better about the scene earlier. At least she hadn't decided that Tor wasn't worth spending any time with yet. That would make for an uncomfortable marriage to say the least.

Tor smiled at Ali and then the new girl, Sheri. He tried to remember the name. How rude would it be to forget something like that?

“We were just going to go to dinner, would you like to come Sheri? The dining halls are closed until tomorrow at lunch.”

The girl went still and her breath caught. It could mean anything, but Tor had recently become aware of how many spies were around him all the time and decided to take action when he could. Focusing lightly, the girl’s pattern, and thoughts, came out clearly. Not in words or even emotions, but for a moment he knew what she was thinking and feeling. He just knew it.

Uneasy, because this was all new, and a bit ashamed, because her parents hadn't sent her with money for fine dining, just school supplies and some toiletries. If she spent her money now she'd feel that lack later. If she didn't there wouldn't be food for a day. It was a quandary for her. One she couldn't get out of without losing face. Not in her world. She steeled herself though, trying to find the nerve to tell these people she was too poor to go with them, so they wouldn't mistake her reluctance for distaste.