Warrior's Valor by Gun Brooke Page B

attended the couple’s wedding only three weeks ago.
    She thought of Armeo and Ayahliss, now resting comfortably at one of the luxury hotels on the SC base. Available only to SC dignitaries and their families, the hotel boasted a top-level security force. They had arranged for Ayahliss to get acute medical attention at the hotel, since Kellen knew that private commercial stations such as Keliera didn’t have the best medical personnel on staff, certainly nobody with specific knowledge of Gantharian physiology.
    She was surprised how Rae had taken time to personally ensure Ayahliss was taken care of. She had been prepared for Rae to leave that to her, since she had never quite accepted Kellen’s determination to bring Ayahliss with them to Earth. The young woman herself had seemed even more stupefied at Rae’s obvious concern. When Rae held Ayahliss’s cheek and promised her she would be fine, she had blinked several times, clearly fending off tears.
    â€œHow are you doing over there?” Rae asked.
    Kellen jerked back to present time and tapped the screen before her with quick fingertips. “I’ve ordered Lt. Commanders Grey and D’Artansis to check in with headquarters.”
    â€œWe better hope they check their messages during their honeymoon.” Rae smiled wryly. “No, I hadn’t forgotten, Kellen.”
    â€œI don’t think Owena is far from her computer,” Kellen said. “Her sense of duty surpasses most people’s.”
    â€œShe’s even more a stickler for protocol and regulations than I am, isn’t she?” Rae patted Kellen’s hand. “Let me know as soon as you hear from them.” She glanced at Alex. “Anything from the team in the forest?”
    â€œNot yet, ma’am. I’m waiting for a cadet to find a Captain Zeger for me. I think I scared that poor kid.”
    â€œIf that’s what it takes.” Rae returned her attention to Kellen. “We need to deploy a small, covert unit to the forest. Start making arrangements and, for now, keep it confidential. The Cormanians could have all sorts of reasons not to want us to enter the forest. The longer they think we’re playing by their rules, the better.”
    â€œUnderstood.” Kellen began her task, but found it unusually hard to focus. Now that she no longer feared for Armeo’s immediate safety, she thought about Dahlia. Rae’s mother possessed a laser-blade sharp intellect and was as resourceful as her daughter, but she was in the hands of one of the most unscrupulous people Kellen had ever known. Only her old archenemy Trax M’Aldovar outranked M’Ekar as the most hated person in her life.
    She drew a deep breath, then slowly exhaled between clenched teeth. If she had one more opportunity to apprehend M’Ekar, she wouldn’t fail. He would meet the same destiny as Trax M’Aldovar. Death.

Chapter Ten

    Dwyn walked behind Emeron, grateful that she pressed the low branches aside carefully. They stayed off the trail and she suspected Emeron had a specific goal in mind.
    â€œWith the risk of sounding like a child, are we there yet?” She raised her voice.
    â€œWhat do you mean, there?” Emeron glanced at her.
    â€œWherever we’re going. It’s been four days and now you’ve scanned the area at least ten times in as many minutes. If you scowl anymore at the poor, innocent instrument, it’ll self-ignite.”
    Emeron smiled and shook her head. “I wasn’t aware I was scowling.”
    â€œPerhaps obvious only to me. I don’t have anything else to do but keep walking and study what’s in sight.” Her cheeks warmed. “Ahem, well. You’re the nearest thing. And Lt. Mogghy went to reconnoiter and hasn’t returned. Makes me think we’re approaching something, or someone.”
    â€œYou’re right. We’re getting close.” Emeron frowned. “And I confess that