Read Online Emperor's Edge Republic by Lindsay Buroker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lindsay Buroker
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to some trouble this winter beyond her studies, trouble she hadn’t mentioned to her parents.
“I called Dak back from his post at Fort Deadend to head the intelligence office here,” Rias explained.
“Fort Deadend...?” Tikaya remembered the remote military installation well; it was the northernmost outpost in the empire and had its nickname because everyone knew no career advancement happened there.
“I didn’t get along well with those Forge snails spying from within the intelligence office in the Imperial Barracks,” Dak said. “Someone whispered in the right ear, and I was sent north two years ago.”
“An extreme posting,” Tikaya said. “What did you say to the, ah, snails?”
“I punched them.”
“Multiple times, I hear,” Rias said mildly.
Tikaya couldn’t decide if there was censor in his statement or not. If so, it seemed odd. Yes, Rias usually came up with creative ways to solve problems, but he wasn’t above fisticuffs. That seemed to breed true in Turgonian men, no matter what their intellect.
“They deserved it,” Dak said. “Send a few men with your girl. Some of the rumors about that plant aren’t as farfetched as they sound.”
“Yes, Mahliki had an... experience with it this afternoon. She’s aware of the danger. She also said Sespian would go down with her.” Tikaya had found the dreamy-eyed look in Mahliki’s eyes as she mentioned this amusing, though she had seen her daughter infatuated a few times before and didn’t know what to think of this new selection yet. Tikaya hoped to return home after Rias finished his five years here, but what if Mahliki were to fall in love with a Turgonian? To marry one and want to stay?
“I could find a couple of big, burly types,” Dak said.
“It wouldn’t hurt,” Rias said, “though Sespian might surprise you.”
“As I recall, he mostly surprised his own weapons training instructor with all the creative ways he discovered to get out of practice.”
“He’s a decent fighter now,” Rias said, “Quick, agile. Given who his father is, it would be surprising if he weren’t .”
Dak grunted. “Blood doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”
Tikaya tried to gauge if that was some comment about their own shared blood, but his craggy features didn’t reveal much.
“My Lord?” the earnest man from before called. “The Nurians?”
“Yes, yes.” Rias smiled at Tikaya. “See you shortly.”
“I’ll arrange for the suits and the men.” Dak grabbed a shirt and pulled it over his head.
Rias gave him an acknowledging wave. Tikaya was surprised he had volunteered. If Dak was running the intelligence department, he had to be every bit as busy as Rias. This ought to be the sort of task that could be delegated to a lower-ranking man.
“My lady,” Dak extended an arm toward the hallway. “I’ll come with you. If your daughter’s upstairs, she can give me some measurements and her opinions on whether she wants a couple of bright officers or a couple of dull muscle-heads that she can order around.”
“I imagine she’ll end up in charge of any young men you send her, rank regardless,” Tikaya said as they walked toward the lift. “Her physical attributes are much better proportioned for that than mine ever were. I haven’t decided yet whether that’s a kindness or a handicap for her.”
Dak’s grunt rang neither of agreement nor disagreement. She hadn’t been fishing for a compliment so didn’t mind that he didn’t prove a flatterer. When they stepped into the lift, she watched him out of the corner of her eye, still wondering if he had a motive for volunteering to come up with her. He didn’t seem the type to curry favor with an uncle—or anyone—to improve his military career; indeed, the dark smudges under his eyes suggested he wasn’t getting much sleep in his new position, so she wondered how much of a reward it was.
Dak cleared his throat. “My lady?”
“Yes?”
“You know him a lot better than
“I called Dak back from his post at Fort Deadend to head the intelligence office here,” Rias explained.
“Fort Deadend...?” Tikaya remembered the remote military installation well; it was the northernmost outpost in the empire and had its nickname because everyone knew no career advancement happened there.
“I didn’t get along well with those Forge snails spying from within the intelligence office in the Imperial Barracks,” Dak said. “Someone whispered in the right ear, and I was sent north two years ago.”
“An extreme posting,” Tikaya said. “What did you say to the, ah, snails?”
“I punched them.”
“Multiple times, I hear,” Rias said mildly.
Tikaya couldn’t decide if there was censor in his statement or not. If so, it seemed odd. Yes, Rias usually came up with creative ways to solve problems, but he wasn’t above fisticuffs. That seemed to breed true in Turgonian men, no matter what their intellect.
“They deserved it,” Dak said. “Send a few men with your girl. Some of the rumors about that plant aren’t as farfetched as they sound.”
“Yes, Mahliki had an... experience with it this afternoon. She’s aware of the danger. She also said Sespian would go down with her.” Tikaya had found the dreamy-eyed look in Mahliki’s eyes as she mentioned this amusing, though she had seen her daughter infatuated a few times before and didn’t know what to think of this new selection yet. Tikaya hoped to return home after Rias finished his five years here, but what if Mahliki were to fall in love with a Turgonian? To marry one and want to stay?
“I could find a couple of big, burly types,” Dak said.
“It wouldn’t hurt,” Rias said, “though Sespian might surprise you.”
“As I recall, he mostly surprised his own weapons training instructor with all the creative ways he discovered to get out of practice.”
“He’s a decent fighter now,” Rias said, “Quick, agile. Given who his father is, it would be surprising if he weren’t .”
Dak grunted. “Blood doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”
Tikaya tried to gauge if that was some comment about their own shared blood, but his craggy features didn’t reveal much.
“My Lord?” the earnest man from before called. “The Nurians?”
“Yes, yes.” Rias smiled at Tikaya. “See you shortly.”
“I’ll arrange for the suits and the men.” Dak grabbed a shirt and pulled it over his head.
Rias gave him an acknowledging wave. Tikaya was surprised he had volunteered. If Dak was running the intelligence department, he had to be every bit as busy as Rias. This ought to be the sort of task that could be delegated to a lower-ranking man.
“My lady,” Dak extended an arm toward the hallway. “I’ll come with you. If your daughter’s upstairs, she can give me some measurements and her opinions on whether she wants a couple of bright officers or a couple of dull muscle-heads that she can order around.”
“I imagine she’ll end up in charge of any young men you send her, rank regardless,” Tikaya said as they walked toward the lift. “Her physical attributes are much better proportioned for that than mine ever were. I haven’t decided yet whether that’s a kindness or a handicap for her.”
Dak’s grunt rang neither of agreement nor disagreement. She hadn’t been fishing for a compliment so didn’t mind that he didn’t prove a flatterer. When they stepped into the lift, she watched him out of the corner of her eye, still wondering if he had a motive for volunteering to come up with her. He didn’t seem the type to curry favor with an uncle—or anyone—to improve his military career; indeed, the dark smudges under his eyes suggested he wasn’t getting much sleep in his new position, so she wondered how much of a reward it was.
Dak cleared his throat. “My lady?”
“Yes?”
“You know him a lot better than
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