Chosen (The Warrior Chronicles #1)(51)

“Where did you hear that?” His gravel voice gave her a shiver. It was the “I’m not happy, and despite the fact that my face is showing no discernible expression, someone will die” tone. In addition, his mental touch slammed against her barriers, giving her a weird, spicy tingle deep in her body.

“Even though I would love to explore that sensation,” Shanti said, crossing her legs in relaxation, “since it is strange but not unpleasant, it’s rude to force a connection. You need to stick out a bare piece of skin to ask for permission, or it is considered a punishable and grave offense. It is like me perching in your window and watching a private moment.”

“Are you saying you haven’t?” The Captain’s voice was now amused. His electric blue eyes hadn’t looked away, but his mental touch backed off.

“No, I jumped through. That’s an entirely different situation that could have been avoided had your door been unlocked.”

“I don’t ask for permission, I grant it.”

“Then I guess you are out of chuck.”

“Luck, you mean,” Lucius said quietly, his eyes on the ground.

“Ah, that makes much more sense. Out of luck, yes. Good expression.”

“Chuck doesn’t make any sense,” the doctor noted, motioning for Lucius to get dressed. “You are sliding backwards in speech.”

“Out of cow. That makes sense! Out of nourishment. Hungry. We have a similar saying, but since your people are rarely ever hungry, the context was flimsy. Luck makes much more sense since your city puts stock in that strange fantasy. Anyway, Captain, was there something you wanted, because I had hoped to introduce Lucius to the pesky boys who will begin their practice in half an hour.”

“I will be accompanying you to this practice.” The Captain finally crossed the threshold. “The men assigned to you are ready for evaluation but no one has seen them work.”

“Oh, they have tried. It has become a game to hide from Sterling—“

“Commander Sterling,” the Captain interrupted.

“—but we have so far done a great job of it. According to Gracas: if you see us, you will have to be killed. Top Secret, he calls it. Something about hidden files.”

The dimples made a brief appearance in the Captain’s face. “You are welcomed to try to kill me.”

“I have tried. It hasn’t gone well so far. But I am still hopeful.”

“Lucius,” the Captain commanded.

Lucius looked up at Shanti. “The Captain has a knack for tracking. He won’t have a problem finding us, and then he’ll just get in the way.”

Shanti smiled. “He hasn’t met someone else who can cheat, but you’re right. That is possibly a game for later. Let’s go, we are wasting time.”

“Fantastic, she is granting hospital releases now. Well, then, what am I needed for?” the doctor asked as he stood.

Cayan didn’t hide his smile.

Down the corridor, a middle-aged man hurried up to their party and stepped next to the Captain’s side. “Sir, he is awake.”

“Give him water but no food. Don’t talk to him or answer questions. I’ll be along later.”

“Yes, sir.” The man hurried away.

Outside into the fresh, though still hot, air, another man approached, holding a clipboard and not wearing the customary blue army uniform army. He was small for this town, and balding. “Captain, the ball is set for Sunday week. I require the name of your date when you have a moment. If you require, I can prime her to match your dress. Also, the trade agreements have been drawn up. Those will need to be gone over. The first delivery is past the Mugdock lands but the cargo is small. The rewards will be plenty.”

“I’ll see to it this evening,” the Captain answered, not sparing a glance as they moved down the hospital steps.

“In your office, sir?”

“Yes.”

“Very good, sir.”

And the man was gone.

Half way through the city someone else approached about repairs to the fence. Further still someone found him and asked about agriculture. Someone else about some mining operation. Shanti realized that this man was the hub of the entire city. Everything went through him. If he were removed, it would cripple the city. It would then become the civilians clashing with each other for power, and the military men fighting for top command. The wealth and prosperity of the city would fall into mayhem.

And the fool had risked everything to pull her from the middle of a battle. Stupid, but also, what an incredibly steep price to repay for her people’s lives.

As they entered the trees, Shanti slowed her pace. The fresh breeze tickled her cheeks as the lush vitality from the trees infused her Gift. Her feet sank into the loosely packed dirt. Shade cooled her sun-kissed skin, her coloring a few shades tanner from the intense sun. She closed her eyes as she pushed her mind wide, seeing in her mind’s eye the swirling colors of Cayan and the Lucius’s steadfast tones. Wider she pushed, finding the boys waiting for her over a hundred spans in the trees, and the edges of citizens going about their business in the town. Wider she stretched, pushing until the whole city looked like a collection of small, pulsing orbs. In the short time since the battle, she’d regained her strength nicely.

When she opened her eyes the Captain was facing her. She hadn’t heard him move. Or Lucius, who had stepped away. Cayan was holding out his hand.