Read Online Valour's Choice by Tanya Huff - Free Book Online

be in their best political interest to ride with—she made sure that all the di’Taykan had their temperature controls at the lowest possible setting. The Silsviss did indeed match the Confederation guards with their own and Torin exchanged a glance of recognition with the soldier arranging it. Senior NCOs shared a bond that went beyond species affiliation and could recognize an expression that said, “ Who the hell came up with this brilliant idea?” on any arrangement of features.
    Lieutenant Jarret and the Silsviss officer were standing together off to one side, very probably being polite in that “we’re above all this” way that officers had. The two were of a height, and di’Taykan body language seemed to suggest there had been no determination of which was the superior force. Silsviss body language seemed to be saying the same thing, but Torin had long since learned not to jump to cross-species conclusions.
    As she approached, reinforced bootheels stamping emphasis into the landing field, she saw her reptilian counterpart moving in on a parallel course. Fully aware of what the other was about to do, and under no obligation of rank to make nice, they ignored one another.
    Torin stopped a body-length back of the officers in time to hear the Silsviss say, “...no fear of the crowdsss. The citizensss in and around Shurlantec are very much in favor of usss joining with the Confederation.”
    And did that mean, Torin wondered, that citizens in other areas are less in favor? When the lieutenant turned toward her, she stiffened to attention. “The platoon is in position, sir.”
    “Thank you, Staff Sergeant.”
    “Ret Assslar.” The Silsviss NCO taped the metal band near the end of his tail sharply against the pavement. “Our troopsss are likewissse posssitioned.”
    The translation program left names and titles alone but changed everything else to its closest Confederation equivalent. Torin didn’t know why it had decided to maintain the elongated sibilants, but she suspected all that hissing was going to get old pretty damned quick.
    Ret Aslar acknowledged the information, then turned back to Lieutenant Jarret. “We will, no doubt, have further opportunity to ssspeak at the Embasssy, Lieutenant.” His tail hit the pavement much as his NCO’s had. “Until then.”
    * * *
    “He’s definitely done diplomatic work before,” Jarret murmured as they moved toward their position.
    “He, sir?”
    “Ret Aslar. You can only develop his skill with small talk crammed into a room full of strangers who’ve been told to be polite.”
    “How could you tell he was male, sir?”
    “Smell. The big ones are male. All the soldiers are male.”
    Only a di’Taykan could scent the sex of species not even in the same phylum. Torin made a mental note to keep an eye on Haysole, who seemed determined to be more di’Taykan than most.
    “First impressions, Staff?”
    It took her a moment to realize he meant the Silsviss. “They look like they fought to get to where they are and have no intention of giving any of it up.”
    Lieutenant Jarret shot her a confused glance. “Any of what?”
    “Of who and what they are.”
    “The Confederation never asks that.”
    “When was the last time you went out without your masker?” When he opened his mouth to answer, she added, “In an area not controlled by the di’Taykan. When you get right down to it, sir, the Confederation is essentially an agreement to compromise, and I don’t get the impression the Silsviss play well with others.”
    “You got all that...” His nod somehow managed to take in both the civil servants and the soldiers. “...from watching this lot stand around for an hour?”
    “Yes, sir.”
    His eyes lightened as he glanced down at her. “So staff sergeants really do have super powers?”
    Torin had been about to explain that survivors learned from experience to recognize those species likely to follow up their first shot with a second and a third but