Page 29 of The Warrior's Oath
“I am Korvin.”
“And your companion?”
“She is called Nyota,” he replied.
“And you are new to Molok, clearly.”
“Clearly.”
“Then the magistrate will be most honored to have you as our guest. Have you acquired lodging yet?”
“We were about to.”
“Then please, if you will come with me, I will escort you to meet the magistrate myself. While you talk, the lodgings for distinguished visitors will be readied for your stay.”
“You do not need to—”
“Thank you,” Nyota interjected, stepping in front of him. “We appreciate your hospitality and would be delighted to meet your magistrate.”
Korvin looked at her with a mix of annoyance but also a hint of respect. She was standing up for herself, albeit at a somewhat inconvenient time. He wanted to simply bathe, eat, sleep, and continue the search for his general, but it seemed he would have to play at diplomacy a bit first.
“As my companion said, we appreciate your hospitality. Please, lead the way.”
Walking out of the small side street whispers fluttered through the crowd. All eyes were upon them, now, and the women who hadn’t given him a second glance were now staring with open interest. Nyota couldn’t help but feel a flare of what? Jealousy?
He’s just a man, she reminded herself.And he’s an alien, no less. Let it go. Just let it go. We’ve got more important things on our plate. Like meeting an alien magistrate.
As they walked, she felt the jealousy fade, and her emotions calm. He was just the man protecting her, nothing more. And that was a good thing, right?
In the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder.
CHAPTERTWELVE
Word about what had happened in the relatively quiet city spread like wildfire, the news of an actual Bohdzee Guard in their midst drawing even the most cynical of the residents out to catch a glimpse of the man. There were so few of them, the odds of actually seeing one with your own eyes were slim to none.
There was also an old saying.If you witness a Bohdzee in the flesh it will be the last thing you ever see.
Of course, that was an exaggeration. They were not randomly killing death machines. But the legends served them well, so no effort was made to correct them.
The Bohdzee were among the most elite of fighting forces, sent into harm’s way in seemingly impossible situations to restore the balance of power. Nimenni, all of them, they were marked with a special set of runes, the hidden alterations to the normal designs only known to a very select few Skrizzits—the artists who applied the powerful pigment to their bodies trained in secret to grant their runes the requisite enhancements.
And now one was here in Molok. It set the entire community abuzz.
It would also serve as a warning to any other ruffians with thoughts of criminal behavior when they learned what happened to the band of thugs who had foolishly accosted the newcomer and his companion.
It was for that reason the police captain chose to walk them she short distance to the magistrate’s chambers rather than fly there. Not only would it afford curious locals an opportunity to see what all the fuss was about, but it would also spread the word and thus make the job of policing the city much easier, at least for a short while.
“That is the magistrate’s residence,” the captain said, pointing to the brightly lit, domed building ahead.
It was transparent on the top, and the material seemed almost as if blown like a bubble, though it was anything but delicate. Housing the overseer of the city, it would undoubtedly possess numerous safety elements not visible to the naked eye.
And then there were the guards posted around the building at regular intervals. Not so many as to give the impression an attack was imminent, but a large enough contingent to be more than able to leap into action should the need arise.
“We are going to the magistrate’s private chambers?” Korvin asked.
“She retires from her offices as the sun sets. In the longer daylight of our summer months she works until late, but the sun lowers a bit earlier this time of year.”
“An interesting schedule.”
