“Yes,” she said. “He, my oldest brother, Demetrios, and a young girl from a neighboring village were the only survivors. I remember it well. I was young still, and my father was still my father—not under Stegian’s control. Our race had been dying out long before Stegian ever came here. The ruling elders selected four families. They were to head to Margaidia, study life there and try to discover what could be causing the decline in our birth rates. Pheebes’s parents were both scientists so they were naturally selected. Pheebes was new to the guards but my father knew he was capable. He also sent Demetrios to assist. At the time, Demetrios was one of my father’s top guards.”
Jordan leaned against the cargo bay wall. “Demetrios managed to board a vessel again. I mean, he didn’t just sprout wings and fly off the planet, right? What’s to say Pheebes didn’t overcome his hang-ups?”
She let out a slow, annoyed breath. “Because my brother didn’t have to cut his dead mother’s body in half in order to free a trapped child. Demetrios was busy attempting to fix a damaged escape POD’s life support system. Pheebes was the one left to comb the ship for survivors. He’s the one who found a young girl wedged in place, alive but unable to be freed because of debris and his mother’s body. Could you ever board a ship again if your last memory on one was of something as horrific as that?”
He shook his head.
“Then please believe me when I defend Pheebes on this matter,” she said. “He’s hurt right now but he is one of the most honorable men you will ever meet. And regardless of what transpired in our past, he will forever be one of my closest friends. A man I trust with my life.”
He nodded, putting his hand out to her. “I get it now. If Pheebes didn’t do it, who did?”
“That is a question that answers can be sought to when we are home. We must move quickly. Suns set is within three hours and we are at least five from the nearest village.” She put her hand out to Jordan and he took it.