Chapter Fourteen
I was out of bed early the next day. My mind was a jumble of Ziryahshun phrases that had whispered at me all night through a fog of dreams: hello, goodbye, what’s your name, et cetera.
“Grrehlm’ahr,” I growled at Joanna, hoping I’d picked the right phrase for our social status differences. Good morning.
“Grrehlm noh!” she greeted me back, all curving peaches and purples. “I’m impressed! You’re a fast learner.”
“Isherrh.” Thanks. “What’s it looking like today?”
The neutral tone of the walls faded away to reveal white mountains and gray skies, like my bedroom was floating in midair. It had snowed the previous night; the trees were heavy with it. My spirits grew heavy, too, at the sight.
What was the date today? Christmas must be right around the corner, and this would
