Part 15 (2/2)
She hesitated. ”Isn't it dangerous for you to fight?”
”I cannot live my life hiding.”
”You could die.”
His lips quirked upward. ”I promise not to.”
”Eldri! It's not a joke.”
”I know.” After a moment he added, ”I had a seizure during a battle once.”
She couldn't believe he said it so calmly. ”How did you survive?”
”My opponent ran away. He thought I was possessed.”
Roca heard the pain under his attempt to sound amused. Before she could respond, Garlin came over.
”Lady Roca, you must return to the fortress now.”
She wanted to stay, but she knew they would insist, just like her bodyguards. Annoyed, she stepped back toward the castle, still gazing out over the windswept plain. Across the open area, about a kilometer from where she stood, a group of riders were exiting the mountain path, riding between the towering statues.
”I only see ten lyrine,” Roca said as the group came out onto the plain. ”They don't look dangerous.”
Certainly not compared to all Eldri's men bristling with their weapons.
Eldri squinted at them. ”I can't tell if those are my men.”
Magnify,Roca thought. Her node accessed her optic nerves, and the riders seemed to jump in size.
”Well, I'll take a launch off a lily pad!” She took off running across the bridge, unmindful of the slush that splashed on her boots and trousers. Her response startled Eldri's men enough that by the time anyone grabbed for her, she had already pa.s.sed.
It took her only minutes to cross the kilometer-wide plain. The riders were dressed like Eldri's men, but without armor, and they carried no weapons. A man reined in his lyrine and jumped down while the other animals milled around him. As Roca dodged among the lyrine, the fellow wove his way to her.
”Brad!” She was so glad to see the port administrator, she threw her arms around his neck as soon as she reached him. He hugged her back, laughing, with no attempt to restrain his relief.
Suddenly a hand grasped Roca's arm and yanked her away from Brad. Startled, she swung around to find Eldri gripping her so hard, the veins in his hand stood out. He stared at Brad with no hint of a smile.
Roca sighed. Apparently male territoriality was the same in all cultures.
Eldri's men had no such reservations about their visitors. Still in full armor, but with their weapons sheathed, they gathered around the newcomers, boisterous and laughing as the riders jumped down from their lyrine. Everyone mixed together, calling out names and slapping each other on the back.
Eldri spoke to Brad with chill formality. ”You have ridden a long way.”
”I'm sorry I didn't come sooner.” Brad gave Roca a look of apology. ”I tried to fix the flyer, but I don't have the parts. And I couldn't raise you on my comm equipment.”
Roca winced. ”I didn't have any with me.” Before he could ask why not, she said, ”Can you get parts for the flyer?”
”I sent an order with the supply s.h.i.+p.” He started to say more, then stopped, the vertical lines between his eyes deepening.
”What is it?” Roca asked.
”It will be a year before another s.h.i.+p comes.”
”A year?” Her stomach seemed to drop. ”No s.h.i.+p puts in here for anotheryear?”
”I'm sorry.” Brad blew out a gust of air. ”The pilot of this one waited several hours, but he couldn't delay any longer.”
”G.o.ds almighty.” This was even worse than she had feared. ”Pray they can find me.”
”Who?” Brad asked.
Garlin was glancing around at the milling people. ”Perhaps we should continue this inside.”
Brad smiled at him. ”h.e.l.lo, Garlin. You look as annoyed as always.”
Unexpectedly, at least to Roca, Garlin laughed. ”And you,” he told Brad, ”will soon lose more chess games.”
Brad chuckled as they all headed for Windward. His breath made blue puffs in the air. ”We had quite a ride here. It took most of the day to bridge that collapsed section of the path.”
Roca couldn't hold back her shudder. ”We jumped it.”
”Good Lord, why?” Brad asked.
Garlin answered. ”It was too late in the day to go back.” He walked at Brad's side with ease, seeming far more pleased than Eldri to see the Allied man.
Roca felt Eldri's confusion. His natural inclination to like Brad was marred by the image, vivid in his mind, of Roca hugging him. Roca wanted to a.s.sure Eldri he had no reason to worry, but she knew an open acknowledgment of his discomfort would hurt his pride.
Eldri spoke quietly. ”We lost Jacquilar at the break.”
Brad's smile vanished. ”Eldrinson, I'm terribly sorry.”
After a respectful silence Garlin said, ”Brad, can you stay long?”
”Not too long. I can keep in touch with the port from here, but I should get back. I don't like to leave it automated.” He glanced at Roca. ”I had to make sure you were all right. Your message said you would only be gone a day. When you didn't return-and given the way you left-” He cleared his throat, avoiding Eldri's gaze. ”I thought I had better check.”
Roca could tell Eldri was upset. ”I am fine,” she a.s.sured Brad. ”Everyone has been an excellent host.”
That wasn't completely true for Garlin, but it would do. ”The snow kept us here.”
Brad gave her an odd look. ”Your English has certainly improved.”
”I have a node optimized for languages.”
His eyes widened. ”Those things are expensive.”
Roca didn't think this was the time to explain. They were crossing the bridge now, so she motioned at the melting snow all around them. ”I take it the storm was unexpected.”
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