take at least a quarter turn of the sun to reach the bottom. ” Darton did not break stride. “ Then we must climb up the side until we find a safe place to rest. ”
Aurora stumbled and he automatically reached to steady her. “ I know this is difficult for you, ” he sympathized. “ Females are not used to such strenuous activity. ” He could see her bristle at his deliberately condescending tone, but he had to keep her moving until they reached safety. He clenched his hands to prevent himself from touching his head as a strange feeling washed over him.
“ It is the males of our planet which have forced us to endure such ‘ inactivity ’ . If King Jalon had allowed us the same opportunities, all would be equal. ”
Darton frowned. Aurora ’ s words revealed a world he did not know. Mayhaps a world he would not like. Before he had left, all citizens enjoyed the same status. He had been taught next to females. In fact, they had been smarter and sharper than most males his age. “ King Jalon has forbidden the education of females? ”
“ Yes, ” Aurora said. “ For twenty cycles of the moon. Where have you been all these years? Earth? ”
“ It is of no concern, ” Darton answered, hardening his heart against the look of hurt that entered her violet eyes. He could not tell her anything about his past. Not now. Maybe never.
“ But it is you that concerns me. ” He accepted the unspoken chastisement she gave him by her proud acceptance of his harsh rebuke.
“ How is your head? ” She reached up to touch the purpling bruise.
He bru shed her hand aside, angry the circumstances of fate were now forcing him to keep his distance from a female he felt in his very soul was his life mate. “ I am well. I do not need the nursings of a female. ”
“ Fine. ” Aurora spat the word, her anger overcoming her concern. “ I should have let your life fluids spill to the floor. I ’ ll take back my female nursings. ” She reached out removed the living glove.
Darton caught her hand, holding her captive. “ Do not waste such energy on anger. You will need it later. ” Their eyes met and held.
Aurora tugged her hand free and straightened her seka. He was right. She would need all her energy. As they continued their journey, her mind whirled with numbing speed. How could she climb the huge block of granite and not fall to her death? The very thought was en ough to make her insides shake.
Palermos was a flat planet, except for the Mountain of Life, which every citizen was forbidden to climb. But one look at Darton ’ s rigid back told her she must do it. She did not think he would be sympathetic to a female ’ s fears. Turning her mind from such troublesome thoughts, she scanned the terrain around them. The land was very dry and the air quivered with dense heat. Here and there a small shrub struggled for life in the harsh surroundings. Aurora had always prided herself on her good physical condition, yet now she found herself gasping for the next breath of hot air with each step she took.
It did not lighten her spirit to know Darton was having equal difficulty. His head wound concerned her deeply. She was relieved when he turned and directed Siara to a small circle of shade provided by an outcropping of rock. “ We will rest here for a short time. ” Uncapping the water pouch, he handed her a drink before taking a deep swallow of the cool liquid himself.
Aurora passed a slim hand across her sweating brow. “ How far behind do you think the Sybortron is? ”
“ It is hard to tell. Our ship was faster, but I ’ m sure he picked up our trail once we left hyper speed. He will have no desire to crash land his ship, so that should gain us some time as well. And hopefully, he will go through the ship before coming after us. ” He searched the landscape, his eyes moving slowly over the rough terrain. “ The Sybortron is no more than two turns of the sun behind. ”
“ Then I guess we had better be moving.
Aurora stumbled and he automatically reached to steady her. “ I know this is difficult for you, ” he sympathized. “ Females are not used to such strenuous activity. ” He could see her bristle at his deliberately condescending tone, but he had to keep her moving until they reached safety. He clenched his hands to prevent himself from touching his head as a strange feeling washed over him.
“ It is the males of our planet which have forced us to endure such ‘ inactivity ’ . If King Jalon had allowed us the same opportunities, all would be equal. ”
Darton frowned. Aurora ’ s words revealed a world he did not know. Mayhaps a world he would not like. Before he had left, all citizens enjoyed the same status. He had been taught next to females. In fact, they had been smarter and sharper than most males his age. “ King Jalon has forbidden the education of females? ”
“ Yes, ” Aurora said. “ For twenty cycles of the moon. Where have you been all these years? Earth? ”
“ It is of no concern, ” Darton answered, hardening his heart against the look of hurt that entered her violet eyes. He could not tell her anything about his past. Not now. Maybe never.
“ But it is you that concerns me. ” He accepted the unspoken chastisement she gave him by her proud acceptance of his harsh rebuke.
“ How is your head? ” She reached up to touch the purpling bruise.
He bru shed her hand aside, angry the circumstances of fate were now forcing him to keep his distance from a female he felt in his very soul was his life mate. “ I am well. I do not need the nursings of a female. ”
“ Fine. ” Aurora spat the word, her anger overcoming her concern. “ I should have let your life fluids spill to the floor. I ’ ll take back my female nursings. ” She reached out removed the living glove.
Darton caught her hand, holding her captive. “ Do not waste such energy on anger. You will need it later. ” Their eyes met and held.
Aurora tugged her hand free and straightened her seka. He was right. She would need all her energy. As they continued their journey, her mind whirled with numbing speed. How could she climb the huge block of granite and not fall to her death? The very thought was en ough to make her insides shake.
Palermos was a flat planet, except for the Mountain of Life, which every citizen was forbidden to climb. But one look at Darton ’ s rigid back told her she must do it. She did not think he would be sympathetic to a female ’ s fears. Turning her mind from such troublesome thoughts, she scanned the terrain around them. The land was very dry and the air quivered with dense heat. Here and there a small shrub struggled for life in the harsh surroundings. Aurora had always prided herself on her good physical condition, yet now she found herself gasping for the next breath of hot air with each step she took.
It did not lighten her spirit to know Darton was having equal difficulty. His head wound concerned her deeply. She was relieved when he turned and directed Siara to a small circle of shade provided by an outcropping of rock. “ We will rest here for a short time. ” Uncapping the water pouch, he handed her a drink before taking a deep swallow of the cool liquid himself.
Aurora passed a slim hand across her sweating brow. “ How far behind do you think the Sybortron is? ”
“ It is hard to tell. Our ship was faster, but I ’ m sure he picked up our trail once we left hyper speed. He will have no desire to crash land his ship, so that should gain us some time as well. And hopefully, he will go through the ship before coming after us. ” He searched the landscape, his eyes moving slowly over the rough terrain. “ The Sybortron is no more than two turns of the sun behind. ”
“ Then I guess we had better be moving.
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