“I’m her friend,” Hadjar sighed a little wearily. He could already see how many times during their journey they would end up in these kinds of situations.
Adagey’s eyebrows lifted slightly, and hope kindled in Artekay’s eyes.
“Do you truly believe that a man and a woman can just be friends, Hadjar?” The crippled man asked. “In all my thirty-four centuries, I’ve never seen it happen.”
“I believe that a friend is just that, regardless of their gender, Adagey,” Hadjar explained calmly. “Please forgive me, but if you called us here to discuss my relationship with Azalea, we need to get going. We don’t have time for small talk.”
“I’m sorry if I offended you somehow,” Adagey bowed to Lathea and turned back to Hadjar. “I’ve never met such a beautiful maiden before. Even my old man eyes we
