Read Online The Devil Incarnate (The Devil of Ponong series #2) by Jill Braden - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jill Braden
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mood to read Grandfather’s reply, he waited for
the message to print, tore off the scroll of paper, and read it.
Have you heard if the
Qui woman was apprehended? TtZ
How like Grandfather to completely ignore his message;
unless the old man had sent his before he received Hadre’s.
The message puzzled him. After Grandfather ordered him to
take the colonial militia, Kyam, and Lady QuiTai to Cay Rhi, he’d then ordered
Hadre to sail back to the harbor. Kyam hadn’t said a word about what happened
on the cay, although he’d hinted that he was under orders to keep quiet. His
questions about Lady QuiTai had been met with averted eyes and a sudden change of
subject. Why would the soldiers need to apprehend her? Did it have something to
do with her escape from the fortress?
When Grandfather had arrived on the Winged Dragon with his odd troop of soldiers, he’d seemed to know a
lot more about recent events in Ponong than Hadre did, but like Kyam and the
colonial militia, he hadn’t shared any information. That was typical
Grandfather.
Answer me. TtZ
That’s Kyam’s
department, not mine. HnZ
Hadre immediately regretted sending that reply, but there
was no retrieving a message once it was sent. At least he hadn’t added what
he’d muttered under his breath: “So ask him.”
Are there any signs of
unease or unrest in Levapur? Is the colonial militia on alert? TtZ
“Again, you’re asking the wrong grandson,” Hadre muttered at
the farwriter. He didn’t know any of the colonial militia by name except
Captain Voorus and didn’t socialize with them while he was in Levapur. Why did
grandfather think he’d know anything? And why did the old man expect trouble?
“What are you up to, Grandfather?”
What the hell, he
was already in disgrace. All Grandfather could do was exile him to Ponong as he
had Kyam. The difference being that Kyam took his punishment. Hadre could sign
on as crew on any non-Thampurian ship. There were plenty of smugglers around
who didn’t care too much about official papers, and they were always ready to
take on experienced seamen.
I wouldn’t know. Kyam
knows Levapur and the colonial militia. Ask him. HnZ
He sent it off.
“Come on, old man. Let’s see how you feel about that.”
Any lesser man would have sweated out the seven minutes
between sending his message and the chime sounding the reply, but Hadre simply
poured himself a glass of whiskey and put his feet up on his desk.
Am unable to discuss
current affairs with KtZ. TtZ
“Unable? You’re too much of a coward to talk to him in case
he asks you why you marooned him on this damn island,” Hadre told the piece of
paper in his hand.
Need insights from
fresh perspective. TtZ
“Why are you always so obsessed with Ponong? You haven’t
been the governor for almost sixty years.”
Remain in harbor. Fix
sails and rudder. Re-tar the hull. Make any other repairs necessary to Winged
Dragon. TtZ
“Now you’re suddenly interested in the Winged Dragon ? Or is this your subtle way of keeping me in port so
I can play spy for you? I have news for you. I’m going to sit on this junk and
never leave the harbor, and even if I do, I’ll be damned if I’ll tell you a
thing about unrest in Levapur. If you want to know, you’re going to have to
talk to Kyam.”
Hadre set down his drink and typed: Message received. HnZ
He was enough of a Zul to know to keep some tiles close to
his chest.
~ ~ ~
A long, curved fingernail hovered over a farwriter keyboard.
She has returned.
A bead of sweat formed at his temple. It wasn’t betrayal if
the message could have been sent by several others, he told himself, but he
knew QuiTai would see it differently.
The return message
came more quickly than he would have thought. Did the old man hover over his
farwriter day after day, hoping for a signal? Had he pounced on the machine
when the bell rang?
What
is her next move? TtZ
This conversation
was a mistake, but it was already too late.
the message to print, tore off the scroll of paper, and read it.
Have you heard if the
Qui woman was apprehended? TtZ
How like Grandfather to completely ignore his message;
unless the old man had sent his before he received Hadre’s.
The message puzzled him. After Grandfather ordered him to
take the colonial militia, Kyam, and Lady QuiTai to Cay Rhi, he’d then ordered
Hadre to sail back to the harbor. Kyam hadn’t said a word about what happened
on the cay, although he’d hinted that he was under orders to keep quiet. His
questions about Lady QuiTai had been met with averted eyes and a sudden change of
subject. Why would the soldiers need to apprehend her? Did it have something to
do with her escape from the fortress?
When Grandfather had arrived on the Winged Dragon with his odd troop of soldiers, he’d seemed to know a
lot more about recent events in Ponong than Hadre did, but like Kyam and the
colonial militia, he hadn’t shared any information. That was typical
Grandfather.
Answer me. TtZ
That’s Kyam’s
department, not mine. HnZ
Hadre immediately regretted sending that reply, but there
was no retrieving a message once it was sent. At least he hadn’t added what
he’d muttered under his breath: “So ask him.”
Are there any signs of
unease or unrest in Levapur? Is the colonial militia on alert? TtZ
“Again, you’re asking the wrong grandson,” Hadre muttered at
the farwriter. He didn’t know any of the colonial militia by name except
Captain Voorus and didn’t socialize with them while he was in Levapur. Why did
grandfather think he’d know anything? And why did the old man expect trouble?
“What are you up to, Grandfather?”
What the hell, he
was already in disgrace. All Grandfather could do was exile him to Ponong as he
had Kyam. The difference being that Kyam took his punishment. Hadre could sign
on as crew on any non-Thampurian ship. There were plenty of smugglers around
who didn’t care too much about official papers, and they were always ready to
take on experienced seamen.
I wouldn’t know. Kyam
knows Levapur and the colonial militia. Ask him. HnZ
He sent it off.
“Come on, old man. Let’s see how you feel about that.”
Any lesser man would have sweated out the seven minutes
between sending his message and the chime sounding the reply, but Hadre simply
poured himself a glass of whiskey and put his feet up on his desk.
Am unable to discuss
current affairs with KtZ. TtZ
“Unable? You’re too much of a coward to talk to him in case
he asks you why you marooned him on this damn island,” Hadre told the piece of
paper in his hand.
Need insights from
fresh perspective. TtZ
“Why are you always so obsessed with Ponong? You haven’t
been the governor for almost sixty years.”
Remain in harbor. Fix
sails and rudder. Re-tar the hull. Make any other repairs necessary to Winged
Dragon. TtZ
“Now you’re suddenly interested in the Winged Dragon ? Or is this your subtle way of keeping me in port so
I can play spy for you? I have news for you. I’m going to sit on this junk and
never leave the harbor, and even if I do, I’ll be damned if I’ll tell you a
thing about unrest in Levapur. If you want to know, you’re going to have to
talk to Kyam.”
Hadre set down his drink and typed: Message received. HnZ
He was enough of a Zul to know to keep some tiles close to
his chest.
~ ~ ~
A long, curved fingernail hovered over a farwriter keyboard.
She has returned.
A bead of sweat formed at his temple. It wasn’t betrayal if
the message could have been sent by several others, he told himself, but he
knew QuiTai would see it differently.
The return message
came more quickly than he would have thought. Did the old man hover over his
farwriter day after day, hoping for a signal? Had he pounced on the machine
when the bell rang?
What
is her next move? TtZ
This conversation
was a mistake, but it was already too late.
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