gave her a piercing look.
“Then, I would have to reconsider the classification.” She winked.
She couldn’t believe that she was sitting on a couch after recently being stabbed by a lavender male nine feet tall and she was having a discussion about Helsin being her boyfriend. This was beyond the dreams she had had as a hormonal teen.
He helped her to her feet, and they had a charming afternoon tea around the desk.
When Yalio came through the door, he bowed low, his sword at his side. “Leothanak, your father is on the way home. He wishes to have dinner immediately, and I have ordered cook to prepare it.”
Leo asked, “Why are you telling me?”
Yalio walked in and confiscated the sandwiches. “Because I needed to get in here so you wouldn’t spoil your appetite too badly. It appears I may have been late, but I did try.”
They laughed and even the stalwart Yalio cracked a grin as he left with the dainty sandwich tray perched on his enormous palm.
It was an image that caused Dev to giggle until her healed wound pulled slightly. Dinner with the high prefect it would be.
Chapter Twelve
Stellar Storm joined them for dinner, and Dev enjoyed her description of the units that had been planted all over Yagoth. “I would never have guessed it if you hadn’t asked me to look, Dev.”
High Prefect Rasco looked to Dev and fixed her with his gaze, “How did you know?”
She shrugged. “There were many small things and one big thing.”
“What was the big thing?”
“You are a passionate race about many things—food, culture, agriculture. You take pride in your children, pride in your mates. Why would you be unwilling to defend yourselves when you protect all parts of your culture? Also, there are sport team pennants in the hallways and yet you are pacifists. Most sports are high contact. It didn’t make sense.”
“What was one of the small things?”
“Leo didn’t remember the grand hall. She didn’t remember it at all. Not the room, not the weapons. I have done some studying at Udell base. That sort of amnesia is not usually natural in curious teens.”
He leaned back. “What was your next step?”
“Plenai history from the Alliance Archive with a focus on psychic manipulation history. It was all in there aside from the mention that they had attacked Yagoth with the units. That was a little matter they did not record.”
“So you called in reinforcements to do a diagnostic, and here we are.”
She smiled. “Yes. Your daughter is safe and I believe my assignment is over.”
Leo frowned. “I thought I could persuade you to stay.”
“I have only just left my home and gotten training. I want to see more…do more before my time is up.” She smiled. “We will always be friends, and you might one day make your way to the stars.”
“You bet I will. I want to see Bahi, Nazgo, Loricai, as many worlds as I can.”
“Why Bahi?”
Rasco answered, “It is a Yagoth tradition to visit the home of a friend, even if the friend no longer lives there. It’s a throwback from the days of the Plenai raids. You always go and see what has become of the place your friend was from, just to be sure.”
“A morbid tradition, but I see the sense in it. Be prepared to be stared at, Leo. You will be taller than everyone you meet.”
Leo grinned. “I look forward to it.”
The gathering broke into laughter, and Helsin sobered it by asking, “High Prefect, when do you want us to leave?”
“Tonight.”
Leo cried out in denial.
“Daughter, hush. Live or die, you now see us at our best. The disagreement with the Plenai is our affair, and we will deal with it. Feel free to remain in communication with us, but I don’t want you here when the Plenai come down.”
Helsin nodded. “Fair enough. We will leave immediately.”
Dev got to her feet and hugged Leothanak tight. “Send me a message whenever you want. I am leaving the code for you.”
“Thanks, Dev. I am going to
“Then, I would have to reconsider the classification.” She winked.
She couldn’t believe that she was sitting on a couch after recently being stabbed by a lavender male nine feet tall and she was having a discussion about Helsin being her boyfriend. This was beyond the dreams she had had as a hormonal teen.
He helped her to her feet, and they had a charming afternoon tea around the desk.
When Yalio came through the door, he bowed low, his sword at his side. “Leothanak, your father is on the way home. He wishes to have dinner immediately, and I have ordered cook to prepare it.”
Leo asked, “Why are you telling me?”
Yalio walked in and confiscated the sandwiches. “Because I needed to get in here so you wouldn’t spoil your appetite too badly. It appears I may have been late, but I did try.”
They laughed and even the stalwart Yalio cracked a grin as he left with the dainty sandwich tray perched on his enormous palm.
It was an image that caused Dev to giggle until her healed wound pulled slightly. Dinner with the high prefect it would be.
Chapter Twelve
Stellar Storm joined them for dinner, and Dev enjoyed her description of the units that had been planted all over Yagoth. “I would never have guessed it if you hadn’t asked me to look, Dev.”
High Prefect Rasco looked to Dev and fixed her with his gaze, “How did you know?”
She shrugged. “There were many small things and one big thing.”
“What was the big thing?”
“You are a passionate race about many things—food, culture, agriculture. You take pride in your children, pride in your mates. Why would you be unwilling to defend yourselves when you protect all parts of your culture? Also, there are sport team pennants in the hallways and yet you are pacifists. Most sports are high contact. It didn’t make sense.”
“What was one of the small things?”
“Leo didn’t remember the grand hall. She didn’t remember it at all. Not the room, not the weapons. I have done some studying at Udell base. That sort of amnesia is not usually natural in curious teens.”
He leaned back. “What was your next step?”
“Plenai history from the Alliance Archive with a focus on psychic manipulation history. It was all in there aside from the mention that they had attacked Yagoth with the units. That was a little matter they did not record.”
“So you called in reinforcements to do a diagnostic, and here we are.”
She smiled. “Yes. Your daughter is safe and I believe my assignment is over.”
Leo frowned. “I thought I could persuade you to stay.”
“I have only just left my home and gotten training. I want to see more…do more before my time is up.” She smiled. “We will always be friends, and you might one day make your way to the stars.”
“You bet I will. I want to see Bahi, Nazgo, Loricai, as many worlds as I can.”
“Why Bahi?”
Rasco answered, “It is a Yagoth tradition to visit the home of a friend, even if the friend no longer lives there. It’s a throwback from the days of the Plenai raids. You always go and see what has become of the place your friend was from, just to be sure.”
“A morbid tradition, but I see the sense in it. Be prepared to be stared at, Leo. You will be taller than everyone you meet.”
Leo grinned. “I look forward to it.”
The gathering broke into laughter, and Helsin sobered it by asking, “High Prefect, when do you want us to leave?”
“Tonight.”
Leo cried out in denial.
“Daughter, hush. Live or die, you now see us at our best. The disagreement with the Plenai is our affair, and we will deal with it. Feel free to remain in communication with us, but I don’t want you here when the Plenai come down.”
Helsin nodded. “Fair enough. We will leave immediately.”
Dev got to her feet and hugged Leothanak tight. “Send me a message whenever you want. I am leaving the code for you.”
“Thanks, Dev. I am going to
Similar Books
