Free The Creative Fire: 1 (Ruby's Song) by Brenda Cooper Page A

scrolling through the new stories and songs that had been released to journals for the festival. Gold and green cloths covered tables. Flowers had been grown and picked, fruit ripened, and the fermented leftovers from the previous harvest canted into large clear bowls. Tables ringed the edges, laden with food and drink all along one side, clothing and jewelry on another.
    A small crowd formed around Kyle’s table as he arrived, reaching for cookies while Kyle laughed and held his platter out of reach.
    Onor, Marcelle, and Ruby each cradled heavy decanters close to them. Onor’s smelled sweet, Marcelle’s tangy and salty, and Ruby’s was filled with musky spices so good she inhaled repeatedly.
    Ruby felt happy enough to hand the still over to Kyle. She’d have a cup later, when it was time, but for now she preferred a clear head.
    Kyle took a handful of cookies and distributed them in bite-sized pieces.
    Ruby heard her full name called and turned to find a woman who could only be her Aunt Daria. She had aged more than Ruby’s mom; her hair had gone the color of her uniform and been cut short and a bit ragged. Her eyes were dark green, almost unnaturally green. The shape of her face was so close to Suri’s that Ruby almost cried out at the sudden realization that she did, after all, miss her mother.
    Daria smiled thoughtfully. “You do look like her.”
    “Not as much as you do.”
    Daria looked serious. “Suri asked me to look after you until she gets here.”
    “Mom’s coming here?”
    “There was more room for people to go from D to B than anything else. Besides, I’m here, too.”
    She was going to lose her freedom.
    “I’ve room for you.”
    Ruby nodded, stiff with resistance.
    “We can get your stuff after the festival.”
    “I’m settled now. I was going to look for you.”
    “Today,” Marcelle added unhelpfully.
    Daria didn’t look convinced.
    If only Ruby’d asked someone—anyone—before Daria found her. Now she didn’t have any proof that she hadn’t just been hiding. “Look, I’ll visit you. But I can stay where I am.” She pointed at Kyle. “We’re staying with him, me and my friends.”
    Kyle turned toward them as Ruby pointed. He nearly dropped his tray of cookies as he leaned over and caught Daria in a great big hug. “Have you met Ruby?” he asked her.
    “She’s my niece.”
    He stepped back and eyed them as they stood side by side, then lifted an eyebrow. “Could be.”
    Daria told Ruby, “I cleaned out some space for you until your mom gets here. There’s an abandoned hab on my row, and you can help me stake it out for Suri. She’s afraid you’re living with that boyfriend of yours.”
    “Onor’s a friend .”
    In front of her, Onor tensed visibly.
    No help for that. Ruby put a hand on his shoulder and turned him toward Daria. “Onor, this is my Aunt Daria. Daria, my friend , Onor.” She grinned at Marcelle. “And my other friend , Marcelle.”
    Daria didn’t even have the grace to look embarrassed. “I told your mom I’d get you today, and recorded the move with the reds on my way in. It’s approved. I’ve got custody until Suri gets here.”
    Ruby didn’t respond, afraid that anything she said would show her anger.
    Daria noticed anyway. “Look, I have to go meet some people. I’ll see you at the end of the evening, at the front gate, if I don’t see you before.”
    “How about tomorrow morning? My friends can help me bring my stuff.”
    Daria glanced at Onor again. “Tonight.” She kept her gaze on Ruby until Ruby nodded, and then she softened her voice and said, “It will be good to see you.”
    Ruby forced a smile. “Sure.”
    Daria nodded and took Kyle away to chat with him. Ruby let out a long trembling breath. She’d liked feeling like an adult.
    Music spilled out of speakers and mingled with the background chatter. Ruby turned to Onor and Marcelle. “Let’s go find Owl Paulie.”
    Hugh had found a place to pull Owl Paulie’s wheelchair up