Page 65 of Dark Survivor
He squatted before her instead of sitting beside her.“Vaen’s bringing us in.”
“That quickly?”She lifted her chin.“Thank you for fetching us, Vaen.”
“Not like I had a choice,” he muttered, but to her, he said, “I serve Qaldreth.”
“Did Nenn force you to come?”she asked.
Vaen twitched and cast a glance over his shoulder, his eyes wide.“You heard me?”
“Of course.Heightened senses.”She chuckled.“But vent away.I understand not wanting to do something yet being made to.”
“It is insanity.Caah remains behind, we have females on theAroagni, and yes, the mission is complete, but you are also the same species that killed the Senate.”He growled.“This cannot end well.”
“What happened to the Senate?”she asked, concern furrowing her brow.
“Did I not tell you about the dead humans in the Carne pods?”Nenn frowned.“I shall fill you in on our mission parameters and what dangers lie ahead.If any.”He glowered at Vaen.
The door opened to Gusin and Ulvus.Nenn swallowed a curse.He didn’t need Ulvus to lash out at Tiny with his negativity.
“Welcome,” Gusin said, striding forward to clasp Tiny’s hand.
She offered a tight smile.
“This is Zuphayr aac Gusin Taed.”Nenn slid her hand from Gusin’s and laced his fingers through hers.
She laughed.“Just give me his name, Nenn.I don’t need his last name and rank.”
He stiffened then chuckled.“You are correct.This is Gusin, Tiny.”
“A pleasure to meet you.”She shifted away from Nenn but didn’t release him.“And who is this?”She stared in Ulvus’s general direction.
“Ulvus.”Nenn waited, and as usual, the male disappointed.
“She is blind?”Ulvus spat in Qaldreth.“She is weak and should be killed.This is not how we strengthen our lineage.”
“Oh, he’s a grumpy one,” she said, inching back until she was at Nenn’s side.
“Ignore Ulvus, Tiny,” Gusin said, striding past her.“We do.”
“This is unacceptable.Does Aehort know?”Ulvus demanded.“If he condones it, the new Senate will be most displeased.”
Paying his doomsaying no mind, Nenn picked up Tiny’s bag and led her from the bay.She followed, her trust breathtaking.Not once did her steps falter.
He stopped at her door.“This is your quarters,” he said, tapping the panel to gain access.
“Okay,” she said.“Want to describe it to me?”
“It is unadorned.”He pulled her inside.“On the right is a hard bed.To the left is the indoor waterfall.A bin”—he took her hand and placed it on an indent—“is where you throw your dirty garments.We take turns to do that chore.Above it and around it are storage compartments.”
He dragged her fingers to the left, guiding her to the water nozzle.“To activate, twist the dial to the left for hot, to the right for cold.”
“Are there restrictions in place?”
He frowned, taken aback at her odd question.“In what way?”
“To limit the amount of water we use?”
“No, Ivoy is a planet with water in abundance.The tanks on theAroagnicontain thousands of liters and are often replenished when we pass a non-inhabited planet.”
