Read Online Warrior of the Ages (Warriors of the Ages) by S. R. Karfelt - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: S. R. Karfelt
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from his mind.
“Lover of religious art work? Oh, are those statues of Saint Longinus? The one at Saint Peter’s Basilica is inspired, have you seen it?”
“What do you want?” Again the words were clipped and rude.
Beth leaned back in her chair and examined him. Clear blue eyes slid from top to toe and back again. Kahtar was used to being looked at. He was a giant, even among his own. What he was not used to was being seen. Beth White looked at him like she knew him—and knew him well. He crossed the room then, to hide behind his desk, pausing only long enough to close the screens on the computers. There was something unsettling about having those images juxtaposed next to him under Beth’s knowing gaze. When he met her eyes he had the feeling she had seen too much anyway.
“I’ve asked you repeatedly what you want, Miss White?”
“Despite the enthusiasm of Mr. Sherman Kelts, and Kelts, Phelps and Associates, I’m not going to get a license to operate my business in town.” Tugging at her ear she looked into his eyes as she spoke to him, not many people could hold Kahtar’s gaze, Beth apparently was one of them.
Though expert at hiding his emotions, he knew Beth saw the surprise in his eyes, because she continued.
“I’m right aren’t I?”
“I really don’t know what you’re getting at. How am I supposed to know about licensing for businesses in this village?”
“This isn’t a professional question, I’m asking for your personal opinion. I bought 35 Pearl Street because I need to open my shop in it, I’ve spent six years preparing to do this and I will do it.”
Her statement had the certainty of someone on a mission and he found himself silently rooting for her. Then he pressed his hands onto the desk in front of him so hard that something inside it cracked.
No. She can’t be here! She is not one of us and she is an exposure danger so close to the Arc!
“And you’re telling me this because?”
“Because I think they’re stonewalling me, I think that the village doesn’t want my business here. Look I’m not Walmart. I’m willing to follow all their nitpicky laws and don’t get me wrong, I’m not even complaining about them. Those laws allow you to have this lovely little village instead of a pile of strip malls. All I need is a license, but I have reason to believe no matter what I do they aren’t going to issue it.”
Kahtar found it impossible to meet her sincere eyes. She was absolutely right. She would never get a license to operate her business. Settling on staring at the smooth brow above the candid gaze he kept his voice bored.
“Were you hoping I’d go arrest the city council because you can’t get what you want?”
“I was hoping,” she scooted to the edge of her seat, “Chief Costas…” She said the name as though she knew perfectly well it was an alias. “That we could discuss nepotism in this city, surely you’ve been around long enough to know if it goes on.”
He looked into her eyes then, and fought the faint touch of connection he felt when he did it, forcing his gaze to remain cold and his heart to ignore the way Beth’s heart bounced against his heart like laughter.
“I’m not a lawyer, Miss White.”
“No, but you can tell me if it’s true. Does the city only issue permits to the in-crowd around here?”
Kahtar’s eyes darted immediately away from her penetrating, honest ones. He settled for staring at a wisp of the summer blonde hair that framed her pretty face.
“Oh, I see, of course. You’re one of them. I don’t know how I missed it before. So was he, wasn’t he?”
Kahtar’s eyes were drawn back to hers as though he no longer had control of them.
“That handsome officer that showed me in? The one with good manners and the blood sugar problem? He’s part of the in-crowd too.”
Kahtar couldn’t help it, his heart sank. This Orphan of the Inquisition was drawn to them, to the town, to her own people, and they were giving
“Lover of religious art work? Oh, are those statues of Saint Longinus? The one at Saint Peter’s Basilica is inspired, have you seen it?”
“What do you want?” Again the words were clipped and rude.
Beth leaned back in her chair and examined him. Clear blue eyes slid from top to toe and back again. Kahtar was used to being looked at. He was a giant, even among his own. What he was not used to was being seen. Beth White looked at him like she knew him—and knew him well. He crossed the room then, to hide behind his desk, pausing only long enough to close the screens on the computers. There was something unsettling about having those images juxtaposed next to him under Beth’s knowing gaze. When he met her eyes he had the feeling she had seen too much anyway.
“I’ve asked you repeatedly what you want, Miss White?”
“Despite the enthusiasm of Mr. Sherman Kelts, and Kelts, Phelps and Associates, I’m not going to get a license to operate my business in town.” Tugging at her ear she looked into his eyes as she spoke to him, not many people could hold Kahtar’s gaze, Beth apparently was one of them.
Though expert at hiding his emotions, he knew Beth saw the surprise in his eyes, because she continued.
“I’m right aren’t I?”
“I really don’t know what you’re getting at. How am I supposed to know about licensing for businesses in this village?”
“This isn’t a professional question, I’m asking for your personal opinion. I bought 35 Pearl Street because I need to open my shop in it, I’ve spent six years preparing to do this and I will do it.”
Her statement had the certainty of someone on a mission and he found himself silently rooting for her. Then he pressed his hands onto the desk in front of him so hard that something inside it cracked.
No. She can’t be here! She is not one of us and she is an exposure danger so close to the Arc!
“And you’re telling me this because?”
“Because I think they’re stonewalling me, I think that the village doesn’t want my business here. Look I’m not Walmart. I’m willing to follow all their nitpicky laws and don’t get me wrong, I’m not even complaining about them. Those laws allow you to have this lovely little village instead of a pile of strip malls. All I need is a license, but I have reason to believe no matter what I do they aren’t going to issue it.”
Kahtar found it impossible to meet her sincere eyes. She was absolutely right. She would never get a license to operate her business. Settling on staring at the smooth brow above the candid gaze he kept his voice bored.
“Were you hoping I’d go arrest the city council because you can’t get what you want?”
“I was hoping,” she scooted to the edge of her seat, “Chief Costas…” She said the name as though she knew perfectly well it was an alias. “That we could discuss nepotism in this city, surely you’ve been around long enough to know if it goes on.”
He looked into her eyes then, and fought the faint touch of connection he felt when he did it, forcing his gaze to remain cold and his heart to ignore the way Beth’s heart bounced against his heart like laughter.
“I’m not a lawyer, Miss White.”
“No, but you can tell me if it’s true. Does the city only issue permits to the in-crowd around here?”
Kahtar’s eyes darted immediately away from her penetrating, honest ones. He settled for staring at a wisp of the summer blonde hair that framed her pretty face.
“Oh, I see, of course. You’re one of them. I don’t know how I missed it before. So was he, wasn’t he?”
Kahtar’s eyes were drawn back to hers as though he no longer had control of them.
“That handsome officer that showed me in? The one with good manners and the blood sugar problem? He’s part of the in-crowd too.”
Kahtar couldn’t help it, his heart sank. This Orphan of the Inquisition was drawn to them, to the town, to her own people, and they were giving
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