Page 8 of The Warrior's Oath
“We should dress and move,” he said, releasing his grip and heading for the shore.
That answers that question.
Nyota followed him to the shallows but paused just shy of the rocks.
“Uh, would you mind?”
He looked at her feet, then the ground, and sighed. “Very well.”
Without fanfare, he picked her up once more and carried her to their impromptu campsite, and deposited her beside her clothing.
“Be quick. There is a risk the Raxxians will soon have a search craft out looking for lost cargo.”
“I thought you said we were alone down here.”
“Our compartment contained only you and I, but there will be others that separated during the attack and crashed down elsewhere. And the Raxxians are not ones to readily give up on their cargo. In all likelihood, we should have at least a few days, if not longer, before a retrieval unit arrives, but one cannot be sure.”
“And it’s better to be safe than sorry, right?”
Korvin actually smiled, albeit a tiny one.
“Exactly. Clever woman. Perhaps more than I initially gave you credit for.”
Nyota took the praise, backhanded as it was. Seeing the stoic alien showanyemotion was a win, but to see a hint of mirth? It went a long way toward putting her mind at ease.
“What are you doing? We do not have time to stare off in the distance. We must be on our way,” he said, hastily donning his clothes then turning his attention to the piles of wreckage at his feet. “Hurry. I will gather the best of what little salvage might be of value while you dress.”
“But why?” she asked. “Why carry the extra weight?”
“Because it holds value in trade, which we will most certainly need,” he replied.
“Need?”
“We may not be alone on this world.”
CHAPTERFIVE
The pair moved fast once they finally got underway, and they made good time exiting the immediate area of their unfortunate crash-down. Say what you would about his process, the alien had been correct in his assertion that a refreshing dip in the stream would revitalize them and aid in their trek.
In fact, in relatively short order they had covered enough ground to slow their pace a bit and properly take in the scenery and even forage for edible plants as they walked.
Nyota stared in wonder at the trees. The unusual coloring of the bark and the strange shape and shade of the leaves. Even the shrubbery below was just so alien, and the undulating canopy above was letting enough light through to give it all an otherworldly feel with its shifting illumination.
But then, itwasanother world.
She walked on, studying the tall male silently leading the way. His tan skin that seemed almost golden when exposed to sunlight. That, and the unusual lines covering it.
“Korvin?”
The tall alien slowed his pace and glanced back over his shoulder with an annoyed look. “What?”
Nyota hesitated. He had taken her under his wing, but he didn’t seem too thrilled about it.
Okay, he’s in a mood. Maybe it’s not worth asking, she thought.
“Well? What is it?” he persisted, seemingly more annoyed now that he had responded to her only to meet silence.
“I-it’s just your skin.”
