Page 7 of Warrior's Reign
Reign spent the trip combing the datasphere for what Ibukay had been up to the last several years and . . . damn. This was against the plan to live a quiet life and get fat as a bank guard. Someone in the universe was laughing at her right now, though not Haeemah because that would break Silence.
Her transport ejected her on a corner two blocks from the rooftop café where Ibu wanted to meet.
Reign pursed her lips. Outdoors, and on a rooftop. What hack was in charge of Ibu’s security? What a nightmare. That kind of exposure left all kinds of opportunities for mischief. Palace pampered amateurs.
After scouting the area, she entered the café and took the lift to the top floor. Ibukay wasn’t hard to spot. The light reflected off her earrings, brilliant white crystals with flecks of multicolored rainbows. Her long-nailed fingers, painted in pearly pink lacquer, tapped the table, the same restless energy Reign remembered. They’d fed off each other, though Reign had spent years trying to learn to contain herself, to develop some modicum of stillness.
She sucked at it. Numar would be disappointed. And the other one.
Reign slid into the seat opposite Ibukay. “Your security is embarrassing.”
Ibukay’s face lit up and she surged out of her chair, grabbing Reign out of the seat and enveloping her in a hug. The female was stronger than she looked. “It’s been so long! Why did we ever get out of touch?”
Reign returned the hug, blinking rapidly. “My job is dangerous, it isn’t good for you to be linked to me. Look, I can’t watch everything while you’re hugging me. Sit down, female. Couldn’t you have picked a place less exposed?”
TheBdakhun’ssmile flashed. “You can’t turn it off for even a second can you?” She sounded pleased. “Just like Vykhan. Always on alert.”
“Focus.” Reign sprawled in her seat, deceptively relaxed. “You said you’re in trouble. And who is Vykhan?”
“FirstAdekhanof my personal guard and Director of Aantif.”
“Your anti alien trafficking foundation. So where’s he at?”
“In the vicinity, undoubtedly. My security doesn’t hover, Reign. An average citizen won’t know they are present unless someone does something naughty.”
Reign set her skepticism aside. She was of the school of visibility, herself. “What’s so wrong that you have to reach out to a college pal when you have the best warriors at your side?”
Ibukay’s expression grew grave. “We have a vacancy. I need someone I can trust, who we don’t have to spend months vetting.”
“I saw reports on the news vids. Someone died during an attack?” The feed hadn’t said that, of course, but Reign had recognized the signs of the palace tampering with media coverage. A shadow crossed Ibukay’s face, answer enough. “I’m sorry for your loss. I’ll make obeisance at Haeemah’s altar for your fallen one.”
“You honor him,” was the quiet reply. “Serving me caused his death.”
“That’s not on you. Your warrior died saving your life. Best way to go.” She meant it, too. “Do you trust Vykhan?”
“Absolutely.” The response was definitive. “His family has been with mine as long as we’ve ruled. Centuries, millennia.”
“So not long.” Reign smiled a little, trying to lighten Ibukay’s spirits. “You really do have access to the best budget on the planet.”
Ibukay lifted a brow. “You can’t line item loyalty.”
“Sure you can. Everyone is loyal for a price.”
Ibukay shook her head. “It doesn’t work like that in my province. There’s money, but then there isdaht.Dahtis worth more—finding someone free of it takes months.” She grimaced. “It’s a conflict of interest.”
Reign frowned. “Why can’t you find warriors who don’t owedaht?”
The word Ibukay used was close to the Standard word for debt, butdidn’t mean owing someone money. It was more like a blood debt, payment due for a favor owed to one’s family, short of the repayment of a life debt.
Ibukay rolled her eyes. “Everyone owesdaht. If you’re breathing, you owedaht. It’s a provincial pastime outside the city. They write poems about it, then set the poems to music and the best become operas. It just goes way too far.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“What you do for other clients. Only. . .this would be a lifetime position.”
Reign stared at her.
“The remuneration is very, very good. There are perks, too. And your co-workers are allhot. I don’t discourage—”
