Page 27 of Starfall
Orla smiled. “Thank you.”
“Are you expecting a large crowd?”
Orla shrugged. “Locals and the seasonal avatars, of course. Their families will be here as well. It will be an all-night party until we make sure we have relit the sun.”
Emery smiled. “Are the other seasons coming?”
“Spring and Summer are on the way. I think they are curious about me, and that is why they agreed to stay today. Normally, they help start the fire and go.”
Two cars pulled in next to Rowen’s, and two more men approached.
They were handsome, and Emery began to suspect that the avatars were chosen for that reason. The funny thing was, she knew them. She knew both of them. They were regulars at the diner. Of course, they didn’t recognize her in this form, but that was their issue.
Hunter swung by and borrowed Orla, walking with her to greet Spring and Summer.
Emery walked to Rowen as he wrestled more of the great log into position. “Would you like a hand, Rowen?”
He grinned. “Please. Hunter has to be a host.”
She lined up and shoved the log into the fireplace. It was sixteen feet long and two feet wide and would be fed into the fire at intervals so that the fire would be the same that was about to be lit.
A bonfire nearby would also be lit so that if anything went out, embers could start things again. It wasn’t traditional, but if it was a good party, it might be necessary.
“How strong are you?” Rowen smiled and came over to brush bits of wood from her cloak.
“I don’t know. I can always do what I need to. That’s all I know.”
“Have you looked up the characteristics of ogresses?”
“When I could. My adoptive family didn’t encourage it as they thought it would draw my father’s attention.”
“Ah. Well, Winter has a few books. Orla can show you.”
Emery snorted. “Orla can probably recite them by now. Books are her thing.”
“What do you mean?”
“She consumes books. Always had. Now, she can actually use some of the stellar magic that she possesses when she wants to.”
“Is that the same magic that you have?”
“No, mine is different. A bit more tangible.”
“What?”
“Accumulation is my paternal inheritance, and the magic makes that take a different form than any ogre would recognize. I collect businesses that have social benefits and staff them with people who need the workplace and will thrive there.”
He paused. “How many businesses do you actually have? Not the dozen or so you mentioned?”
She coughed, “Forty-five. Three more are in the acquisition phase. Some are in the city and in surrounding townships.”
“How much do you have in liquid assets?”
She met his gaze, looked down, and mumbled, “Three million or so.”
“Where did you learn that?”
“Uh, I had a mentor. She was great and helped to keep me focused.”