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Authors: Veronica Scott
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got ourselves and as much gear as we could onto the roof, and we were having some luck picking off attackers stupid enough to show themselves.”
“I thought I heard blaster fire.” Andi adjusted Sadu more comfortably on her hip and kept walking.
“Yes, ma’am, we gave a good account of ourselves.” He bared his teeth in a wolfish smile. Shifting Lysanda a bit on his shoulders, he stood up straighter as he strode forward. “It discouraged the bastards, and they decided to go somewhere else to have their fun. Probably figured we’d die in the burnin’ building. They left two men on guard to make sure. Abukawal snuck up behind and slit their throats. Handy guy, Abukawal.”
“What is a western Shenti doing traveling with Sectors soldiers? Is he a recruit or something?” How can they be so sure they can trust him? Although if he saved their lives, I guess that’s a point in his favor. The world as she knew it was upside down if the Neutral Naranti were murdering Overlord Obati now, while the Shenti Seconds were stepping in to be heroes . She glanced ahead, at the broad back of the Zulairian warrior.
“We don’t recruit locals, ma’am. He’s comin’ to the capital with us to testify to the Planetary High Lord about dirty dealings the Naranti in his area was up to. So anyway, ol’ Abukawal helped get us off the roof. I was ready to take a recon run around the lake to find you and the captain, when he comes up on us from the direction of the big house.” Chuckling, Wilson shot Andi a sideways glance. “Latvik almost shot him. We was pretty keyed up. Sure glad you and the captain made it out of the ambush in one piece.”
Andi glanced ahead to where Deverane led the column. If I’d been inside the dance hall when the terrorists attacked, could I have gotten myself out somehow? Would he have been able to rescue me? Having seen the captain in action, she figured he would have found a way, even against dismal odds.
As if the mere mention of his name had conjured him out of the air, Deverane circled back to check on them. “Save your breath, Sergeant, Miss Markriss. We need to make serious time here, not discuss current events.”
Unable to argue with his logic, Andi trudged onward, obeying orders not to waste energy talking. Between the weight of the toddler and the pack on her back, her shoulder muscles burned and ached. I’m going to ignore that stitch in my side until it just goes away or I fall down .
When Deverane called a halt somewhere in the early hours of the morning, she sagged in relief, sitting on the nearest flat rock. Latvik came to hold the sleeping Sadu for her while she slipped the pack off. Then, cradling the toddler in her lap, Andi leaned against a convenient tree, closing her eyes.
The captain shook her awake. “Sorry to disturb you.” He kept his warm, reassuring grip on her shoulder as Andi tried to reorient herself. She’d been sound asleep, even past the dreaming stage.
“Are we moving again so soon? I don’t know if my arms and legs will take that command right now, Captain.” Determined as she was, Andi couldn’t keep the exhaustion out of her voice.
“No. Relax, I just need a small favor.” He gave her the easy smile, accompanied by a warm glance from his brilliant green eyes. “Wilson and I want you to look at the map. We can’t aimlessly march through the jungle for too long. We need a specific destination.”
She sat up, disturbing Sadu, who whimpered. Deverane lifted him smoothly out of her lap and deposited him on the pile of packs. Scrunching his small body around like a puppy making a warm nest, Sadu went back to sleep.
Andi ran her hands through her now-tangled black curls. Embarrassed to mention such a mundane concern in desperate times like these, she said, “I need a comb or even a set of clips. Don’t suppose you have anything like that in these two-ton packs?”
“Hardly.” Quietly, Deverane laughed, putting his hand under
“I thought I heard blaster fire.” Andi adjusted Sadu more comfortably on her hip and kept walking.
“Yes, ma’am, we gave a good account of ourselves.” He bared his teeth in a wolfish smile. Shifting Lysanda a bit on his shoulders, he stood up straighter as he strode forward. “It discouraged the bastards, and they decided to go somewhere else to have their fun. Probably figured we’d die in the burnin’ building. They left two men on guard to make sure. Abukawal snuck up behind and slit their throats. Handy guy, Abukawal.”
“What is a western Shenti doing traveling with Sectors soldiers? Is he a recruit or something?” How can they be so sure they can trust him? Although if he saved their lives, I guess that’s a point in his favor. The world as she knew it was upside down if the Neutral Naranti were murdering Overlord Obati now, while the Shenti Seconds were stepping in to be heroes . She glanced ahead, at the broad back of the Zulairian warrior.
“We don’t recruit locals, ma’am. He’s comin’ to the capital with us to testify to the Planetary High Lord about dirty dealings the Naranti in his area was up to. So anyway, ol’ Abukawal helped get us off the roof. I was ready to take a recon run around the lake to find you and the captain, when he comes up on us from the direction of the big house.” Chuckling, Wilson shot Andi a sideways glance. “Latvik almost shot him. We was pretty keyed up. Sure glad you and the captain made it out of the ambush in one piece.”
Andi glanced ahead to where Deverane led the column. If I’d been inside the dance hall when the terrorists attacked, could I have gotten myself out somehow? Would he have been able to rescue me? Having seen the captain in action, she figured he would have found a way, even against dismal odds.
As if the mere mention of his name had conjured him out of the air, Deverane circled back to check on them. “Save your breath, Sergeant, Miss Markriss. We need to make serious time here, not discuss current events.”
Unable to argue with his logic, Andi trudged onward, obeying orders not to waste energy talking. Between the weight of the toddler and the pack on her back, her shoulder muscles burned and ached. I’m going to ignore that stitch in my side until it just goes away or I fall down .
When Deverane called a halt somewhere in the early hours of the morning, she sagged in relief, sitting on the nearest flat rock. Latvik came to hold the sleeping Sadu for her while she slipped the pack off. Then, cradling the toddler in her lap, Andi leaned against a convenient tree, closing her eyes.
The captain shook her awake. “Sorry to disturb you.” He kept his warm, reassuring grip on her shoulder as Andi tried to reorient herself. She’d been sound asleep, even past the dreaming stage.
“Are we moving again so soon? I don’t know if my arms and legs will take that command right now, Captain.” Determined as she was, Andi couldn’t keep the exhaustion out of her voice.
“No. Relax, I just need a small favor.” He gave her the easy smile, accompanied by a warm glance from his brilliant green eyes. “Wilson and I want you to look at the map. We can’t aimlessly march through the jungle for too long. We need a specific destination.”
She sat up, disturbing Sadu, who whimpered. Deverane lifted him smoothly out of her lap and deposited him on the pile of packs. Scrunching his small body around like a puppy making a warm nest, Sadu went back to sleep.
Andi ran her hands through her now-tangled black curls. Embarrassed to mention such a mundane concern in desperate times like these, she said, “I need a comb or even a set of clips. Don’t suppose you have anything like that in these two-ton packs?”
“Hardly.” Quietly, Deverane laughed, putting his hand under
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