Read Online Crystal Fire by Kathleen Morgan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathleen Morgan
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another compliment," Brace muttered. "But either Rodac comes along or I don't."
"What?" Marissa cried. "You promised! You gave your word!"
"I gave my word to help you," he replied, struggling to maintain a calm tone. "But I never agreed to not seek extra assistance along the way. Whatever I do, have I not fulfilled that promise if my actions result in the rescue of your sister?"
"Yes, I suppose so," Marissa acknowledged. "But why must it be that stinking, treacherous, money-grubbing Simian? I'll tolerate his presence until Tutela, but no further. That's fair enough, I'd say."
"No, Marissa." Brace's dark eyes bore into hers. "That's not enough. This is a suicide mission. Make your choice and make it now."
Her anger grew. Curse him! In his own way Ardane was as treacherous as the Simian. But why should that surprise her? He was a male, after all.
Yet, in all fairness, she had no right to condemn him for the same intentions she'd had from the start. This quest had always involved deception and coercion. They were necessary evils if she were to lure him into Ferox's trapa trap that would most probably result in his death.
But the admission still changed nothing. Whatever it took, she must continue to use him. In the end, Candra's and her own continued survival were what mattered, not her foolish pride or sense of guilt.
Marissa gave a bitter laugh. "I don't see that you've left me much choice. If I want you, I have to take along a smelly alien. But tell me now. Have you any other surprises in store?"
Something flickered in his dark eyes, then Brace shook his head. "No, nothing that wasn't decided long ago."
"Good."
She reached for the bag and withdrew a parcel of dried cerasa fruit. Unwrapping it, Mar- issa tossed a few pieces to Brace, then scooped up a handful for herself. She tore off a bite of the tart, chewy fruit.
"Then it's settled, once and for all."
Brace's mouth drew into a hard, ruthless line. "Yes, once and for all."
He quashed the brief flare of remorse at his deception, an unpleasant feeling that was rising more and more often of late. Marissa only half knew what he was planning. Once he'd seen her stash replenished by looting the Repository in Olena, and Rodac committed to his anticipated quest to relieve Ferox of some of his ill-gotten goods, Brace intended to leave her.
The little Sodalitas would be furious, but there'd be nothing she could do. He'd be well on his way, transporting across space to some secret hiding place. Then Marissa would be more than grateful for the Simian's aid.
It was all he could do for her, all he dared do. Yet the thought of turning his back and walking away filled Brace with a strange regret. He had never willingly betrayed another. This fledgling self-concept as liar and deceiver, born of the past two cycles in prison, fit like a new pair of boots. Tight, uncomfortable, rubbing him raw in all the wrong places.
But there was nothing in this twisted, demented Imperium worth fighting for. Nothing save his own survival. He'd been forced to learn that harsh reality, and now it was all that matterednot some wide-eyed, alluring little spitfire blithely calling him to a hopeless quest. A hopeless, stupid, fatal quest.
Brace grabbed his meat stick and tore into it savagely, ignoring Marissa's look of revulsion. At that moment the Simian stirred. Both turned toward him, grateful, each in his own way, for the distraction.
Though Rodac was not in the best of moods thanks to his post-stunning headache, they traveled all nocte to avoid detection and reached Marissa's stash by early the next sol. In the rapidly dropping temperatures the extra supplies were a godsend, especially the two long, hooded phoca-fur coats Marissa had thought to pack.
An early snow blanketed the craggy summits, and the frigid wind whistling through made it seem even colder. The chill weather appeared to have little impact on the densely furred Simian, but even with the added protection of their coats
"What?" Marissa cried. "You promised! You gave your word!"
"I gave my word to help you," he replied, struggling to maintain a calm tone. "But I never agreed to not seek extra assistance along the way. Whatever I do, have I not fulfilled that promise if my actions result in the rescue of your sister?"
"Yes, I suppose so," Marissa acknowledged. "But why must it be that stinking, treacherous, money-grubbing Simian? I'll tolerate his presence until Tutela, but no further. That's fair enough, I'd say."
"No, Marissa." Brace's dark eyes bore into hers. "That's not enough. This is a suicide mission. Make your choice and make it now."
Her anger grew. Curse him! In his own way Ardane was as treacherous as the Simian. But why should that surprise her? He was a male, after all.
Yet, in all fairness, she had no right to condemn him for the same intentions she'd had from the start. This quest had always involved deception and coercion. They were necessary evils if she were to lure him into Ferox's trapa trap that would most probably result in his death.
But the admission still changed nothing. Whatever it took, she must continue to use him. In the end, Candra's and her own continued survival were what mattered, not her foolish pride or sense of guilt.
Marissa gave a bitter laugh. "I don't see that you've left me much choice. If I want you, I have to take along a smelly alien. But tell me now. Have you any other surprises in store?"
Something flickered in his dark eyes, then Brace shook his head. "No, nothing that wasn't decided long ago."
"Good."
She reached for the bag and withdrew a parcel of dried cerasa fruit. Unwrapping it, Mar- issa tossed a few pieces to Brace, then scooped up a handful for herself. She tore off a bite of the tart, chewy fruit.
"Then it's settled, once and for all."
Brace's mouth drew into a hard, ruthless line. "Yes, once and for all."
He quashed the brief flare of remorse at his deception, an unpleasant feeling that was rising more and more often of late. Marissa only half knew what he was planning. Once he'd seen her stash replenished by looting the Repository in Olena, and Rodac committed to his anticipated quest to relieve Ferox of some of his ill-gotten goods, Brace intended to leave her.
The little Sodalitas would be furious, but there'd be nothing she could do. He'd be well on his way, transporting across space to some secret hiding place. Then Marissa would be more than grateful for the Simian's aid.
It was all he could do for her, all he dared do. Yet the thought of turning his back and walking away filled Brace with a strange regret. He had never willingly betrayed another. This fledgling self-concept as liar and deceiver, born of the past two cycles in prison, fit like a new pair of boots. Tight, uncomfortable, rubbing him raw in all the wrong places.
But there was nothing in this twisted, demented Imperium worth fighting for. Nothing save his own survival. He'd been forced to learn that harsh reality, and now it was all that matterednot some wide-eyed, alluring little spitfire blithely calling him to a hopeless quest. A hopeless, stupid, fatal quest.
Brace grabbed his meat stick and tore into it savagely, ignoring Marissa's look of revulsion. At that moment the Simian stirred. Both turned toward him, grateful, each in his own way, for the distraction.
Though Rodac was not in the best of moods thanks to his post-stunning headache, they traveled all nocte to avoid detection and reached Marissa's stash by early the next sol. In the rapidly dropping temperatures the extra supplies were a godsend, especially the two long, hooded phoca-fur coats Marissa had thought to pack.
An early snow blanketed the craggy summits, and the frigid wind whistling through made it seem even colder. The chill weather appeared to have little impact on the densely furred Simian, but even with the added protection of their coats
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