Read Online Asarlai Wars 1: Warrior Wench by Marie Andreas - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Marie Andreas
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going to be a problem, can’t you find a way to block it? Do some of your mumbo jumbo?” She wiggled her fingers at him.
Now it was Deven’s turn to look away. When he turned back to her the lines around his eyes and mouth had deepened. “We have a few days before Lantaria. We should try and get to the bottom of this. Any patch I do may or may not hold since I’m not sure what I’m patching.”
She took an involuntary step away from him; a feeling of utter terror at him prying into her head flooded her. Which was stupid on many levels. One, she never gave in to fear. And two, she trusted Deven with her life.
Granted, she’d never allowed telepaths in her head, but this feeling went beyond that. Her stomach threatened to climb up her throat at the thought. “No. I’ve got too much work to do before battle. We have to be spot on, and the month off won’t have helped.” She waved her hand at him. “Block it.”
He sighed, but went ahead and placed a simple telepathic block that should keep anything in her head from leaking. He’d had to put one on once before for a mission, and he’d explained it very thoroughly at that point. He didn’t explain it this time, but the feeling was the same—sort of as if he’d just put a swimming cap on her head.
There was nothing more to be said, so they went to see how the crew was faring. They were almost back on the bridge when they were slammed to the floor and bounced along the corridor a few feet.
Vas rolled to her feet and ran the rest of the way, expecting to see part of her new ship blasted apart before they even got out of dock. Deven was right behind her.
“What was that?”
“Are we under attack?” Both Deven and Vas spoke at the same time, and looked to do so again when Gosta raised his hand.
“The explosion was on the station.” He flipped the screen toward them and showed what had blown up—Skrankle’s office. Actually his office, the building it was in, and two unlucky nearby scout ships. A gaping hole opened the bay to space before the station’s seals locked in. The sirens that filled the station indicated help would be there soon.
Vas ran her fingers through her hair, finally ripping out the remains of the braid. Who in the hell would want Skrankle killed? Okay, lots of people would want Skrankle dead. And dismembered. And strewn to the far corners of the universe. Nevertheless, she didn’t think most would go so far as to blow him up. Joy at an irritating life blown to bits collided with annoyance at being beaten to the punch. In addition, the fact he might have actually come through on getting back parts of her missing ship.
“Damn it, we’d better see if there’s anything left, I’m positive he knew more about what happened to the Victorious Dead .” She turned toward the corridor leading to the hatchway.
Deven blocked her. “You probably shouldn’t go.” His frown was as solid as his arm.
“I have a right to see what happened.” She glared at him.
“Can I talk to you first?” He propelled her toward her ready room. It probably looked like she walked with him by choice. She couldn’t pull away without looking like they were fighting. Which would only lead to more drama and gossip. Her crew might be some of the best at what they did, but they gossiped more than a gaggle of grandmothers.
With a sigh, she followed him into her ready room and shut the door. “Why don’t you want me out there?”
“Who do you think is going to be the number one suspect in Skrankle’s demise?”
“Me? Because I had a disagreement with Skrankle? I only kill people I’m paid to kill, no freelance. Besides, I’ve been with all of you.” Vas paced around the small room. She hadn’t taken the time to personalize it yet, so the room still felt cold and sterile.
He nodded. “Yes, and if you hadn’t been poisoned where would we be by this point?”
“Probably half way to Lantaria if Mac had his way….” She swung around. “You think
Now it was Deven’s turn to look away. When he turned back to her the lines around his eyes and mouth had deepened. “We have a few days before Lantaria. We should try and get to the bottom of this. Any patch I do may or may not hold since I’m not sure what I’m patching.”
She took an involuntary step away from him; a feeling of utter terror at him prying into her head flooded her. Which was stupid on many levels. One, she never gave in to fear. And two, she trusted Deven with her life.
Granted, she’d never allowed telepaths in her head, but this feeling went beyond that. Her stomach threatened to climb up her throat at the thought. “No. I’ve got too much work to do before battle. We have to be spot on, and the month off won’t have helped.” She waved her hand at him. “Block it.”
He sighed, but went ahead and placed a simple telepathic block that should keep anything in her head from leaking. He’d had to put one on once before for a mission, and he’d explained it very thoroughly at that point. He didn’t explain it this time, but the feeling was the same—sort of as if he’d just put a swimming cap on her head.
There was nothing more to be said, so they went to see how the crew was faring. They were almost back on the bridge when they were slammed to the floor and bounced along the corridor a few feet.
Vas rolled to her feet and ran the rest of the way, expecting to see part of her new ship blasted apart before they even got out of dock. Deven was right behind her.
“What was that?”
“Are we under attack?” Both Deven and Vas spoke at the same time, and looked to do so again when Gosta raised his hand.
“The explosion was on the station.” He flipped the screen toward them and showed what had blown up—Skrankle’s office. Actually his office, the building it was in, and two unlucky nearby scout ships. A gaping hole opened the bay to space before the station’s seals locked in. The sirens that filled the station indicated help would be there soon.
Vas ran her fingers through her hair, finally ripping out the remains of the braid. Who in the hell would want Skrankle killed? Okay, lots of people would want Skrankle dead. And dismembered. And strewn to the far corners of the universe. Nevertheless, she didn’t think most would go so far as to blow him up. Joy at an irritating life blown to bits collided with annoyance at being beaten to the punch. In addition, the fact he might have actually come through on getting back parts of her missing ship.
“Damn it, we’d better see if there’s anything left, I’m positive he knew more about what happened to the Victorious Dead .” She turned toward the corridor leading to the hatchway.
Deven blocked her. “You probably shouldn’t go.” His frown was as solid as his arm.
“I have a right to see what happened.” She glared at him.
“Can I talk to you first?” He propelled her toward her ready room. It probably looked like she walked with him by choice. She couldn’t pull away without looking like they were fighting. Which would only lead to more drama and gossip. Her crew might be some of the best at what they did, but they gossiped more than a gaggle of grandmothers.
With a sigh, she followed him into her ready room and shut the door. “Why don’t you want me out there?”
“Who do you think is going to be the number one suspect in Skrankle’s demise?”
“Me? Because I had a disagreement with Skrankle? I only kill people I’m paid to kill, no freelance. Besides, I’ve been with all of you.” Vas paced around the small room. She hadn’t taken the time to personalize it yet, so the room still felt cold and sterile.
He nodded. “Yes, and if you hadn’t been poisoned where would we be by this point?”
“Probably half way to Lantaria if Mac had his way….” She swung around. “You think
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