Read Online Ambasadora (Book 1 of Ambasadora) by Heidi Ruby Miller - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Heidi Ruby Miller
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liked best about
him. He walked over to her and hugged her from behind. She liked it when he
chased her after a fight, and he was usually happy to oblige her. He figured if
they parted on bad terms they might never find their way back to one another.
“So, we’ll talk about this
again in a while?” she asked.
“I promised we would, and I will
always keep my promises to you,” he said against the softness of her hair.
It smelled like a combination of her citrusy scentbots and the gentle floral shampoo
she favored.
She spun around in his arms, stood
on her tiptoes, and gave him a little peck on the lips. “You better,”
she said, and with that announcement, she was out the door.
David spoke into the empty room.
“I’d marry you tomorrow and start making babies if I thought it was the
best thing for you.” He was already sure it was the best thing for him.
This was why civilians irritated
David Anlow, especially scientists. You couldn’t just order them around—they
had opinions and wanted to debate every decision.
“So, it’s true. The Embassy
is forcing this woman on us even after our petitions to them state we don’t
have room for her?” Sean Cryer spoke from across the jadeite dining table.
He and David were the only ones standing, as if squaring off against one
another. Though larger than average, Sean’s frame couldn’t match David’s, but
the light from the curving sculpture lamp behind Sean made him look bigger.
And, the younger man had the presence and aggressive confidence of an Armadan,
which served to reaffirm a certain suspicion David had about Sean Cryer’s
ancestry. Of course, it was hard to tell how much of the attitude and bravado
came naturally and how much he garnered from the mind and mood-altering poisons
he swallowed, injected, or sniffed. Plus, Armadans could control their
confrontational impulses—Sean could not.
Everyone else watched intently
while enjoying their meal.
“I’m sure those petitions
you sent out were read by a sub-official, then filed away forever,” David
said. “Let’s try and make the most of this.”
“If the Bard keeps
gaining passengers, you might have enough for a squadron soon,” Geir Shang
said in jest. “Then it would be like you were navigating one of those big
Armada cruisers again, instead of piloting around a handful of scientists,
though I imagine we’re better looking and more fun.”
Odd that Geir would make a
military joke when he was an Armadan who had chosen a life of science over
joining the fleet. David had mixed feelings about Armadans like Geir mainly because
one of his brothers and his sister had taken the civilian route upon
graduation. Though not unique among Armadans, his siblings were the first in
the Anlow family circle to break tradition, and David, even though he left
service early, seemed to be the only one who had difficulty accepting their
choices.
Still, Geir had become a good
friend. The dark man would see things David’s way. He always did. David shoved
Geir’s booted foot out of his chair. It landed with a thud on the lilac and
blue swirl of the floor. “I’m not exactly thrilled with the idea of a new
body myself,” he admitted. “I’m still trying to get used to some of
you after three months.” He looked pointedly at Sean whose expression
dared him to say more.
If Sean hadn’t performed
technological miracles several times on this antiquated pleasure craft, David
would have petitioned to have him jettisoned into the deep dark weeks ago.
“Look,” David reasoned.
“We all knew this was coming. We’ve been preparing for it for almost a
month. There’s nothing we can do about it now.”
“Scientists need room for
their research,” Mari said. “We’re already sharing the public space
among the six of us. Her room was going to be a laboratory for Kenon and
Geir.”
David wanted to punch Sean in the
mouth for getting Mari worked up about this issue again. “Then why haven’t
they gotten
him. He walked over to her and hugged her from behind. She liked it when he
chased her after a fight, and he was usually happy to oblige her. He figured if
they parted on bad terms they might never find their way back to one another.
“So, we’ll talk about this
again in a while?” she asked.
“I promised we would, and I will
always keep my promises to you,” he said against the softness of her hair.
It smelled like a combination of her citrusy scentbots and the gentle floral shampoo
she favored.
She spun around in his arms, stood
on her tiptoes, and gave him a little peck on the lips. “You better,”
she said, and with that announcement, she was out the door.
David spoke into the empty room.
“I’d marry you tomorrow and start making babies if I thought it was the
best thing for you.” He was already sure it was the best thing for him.
This was why civilians irritated
David Anlow, especially scientists. You couldn’t just order them around—they
had opinions and wanted to debate every decision.
“So, it’s true. The Embassy
is forcing this woman on us even after our petitions to them state we don’t
have room for her?” Sean Cryer spoke from across the jadeite dining table.
He and David were the only ones standing, as if squaring off against one
another. Though larger than average, Sean’s frame couldn’t match David’s, but
the light from the curving sculpture lamp behind Sean made him look bigger.
And, the younger man had the presence and aggressive confidence of an Armadan,
which served to reaffirm a certain suspicion David had about Sean Cryer’s
ancestry. Of course, it was hard to tell how much of the attitude and bravado
came naturally and how much he garnered from the mind and mood-altering poisons
he swallowed, injected, or sniffed. Plus, Armadans could control their
confrontational impulses—Sean could not.
Everyone else watched intently
while enjoying their meal.
“I’m sure those petitions
you sent out were read by a sub-official, then filed away forever,” David
said. “Let’s try and make the most of this.”
“If the Bard keeps
gaining passengers, you might have enough for a squadron soon,” Geir Shang
said in jest. “Then it would be like you were navigating one of those big
Armada cruisers again, instead of piloting around a handful of scientists,
though I imagine we’re better looking and more fun.”
Odd that Geir would make a
military joke when he was an Armadan who had chosen a life of science over
joining the fleet. David had mixed feelings about Armadans like Geir mainly because
one of his brothers and his sister had taken the civilian route upon
graduation. Though not unique among Armadans, his siblings were the first in
the Anlow family circle to break tradition, and David, even though he left
service early, seemed to be the only one who had difficulty accepting their
choices.
Still, Geir had become a good
friend. The dark man would see things David’s way. He always did. David shoved
Geir’s booted foot out of his chair. It landed with a thud on the lilac and
blue swirl of the floor. “I’m not exactly thrilled with the idea of a new
body myself,” he admitted. “I’m still trying to get used to some of
you after three months.” He looked pointedly at Sean whose expression
dared him to say more.
If Sean hadn’t performed
technological miracles several times on this antiquated pleasure craft, David
would have petitioned to have him jettisoned into the deep dark weeks ago.
“Look,” David reasoned.
“We all knew this was coming. We’ve been preparing for it for almost a
month. There’s nothing we can do about it now.”
“Scientists need room for
their research,” Mari said. “We’re already sharing the public space
among the six of us. Her room was going to be a laboratory for Kenon and
Geir.”
David wanted to punch Sean in the
mouth for getting Mari worked up about this issue again. “Then why haven’t
they gotten
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