Page 78 of Lhora
The darkness peeled away a chunk at a time. More sunlight poured in, forcing her to squint. Hands reached in to jerk away the last of the crusted mud, and a familiar face came into semi-focus through the bubble’s hazy exterior shell.
“Father!”
“We’ll have you out in minute!” Gur Fallmin called out, his words muffled but discernible.
She felt the tugging around her suit as she was freed. Once the front of the lifesuit was within his reach, Fallmin ripped open the seals to release her. Lhora leaned forward, and her father reached inside to pull her out. They briefly hugged before she stepped away and looked around them.
“My crew?”
“All accounted for. They’re on theVolo.” He stared down at her. “Are you well? Are you injured?” His joy at finding her pulsed inside her head, but he wouldn’t show it. Not until they were back home and in private.
She almost wilted with relief at the news. “I’m well. Any idea where the rest of my ship is?”
“We tracked the remains approximately twenty, twenty-one huares from here. Don’t worry about it. I’ll send some the crew later to see what can be salvaged.”
“What about theBeccan?”
Fallmin’s face became stoic. “Still battling the Tra’Mell.”
“We have to go back up and assist them!” She glanced behind him at the others who’d been searching for her. “Thank you all.”
“Glad to have you back safe and sound, Esstiss,” Omin told her.
Fallmin patted her shoulder. “Come. Let’s get back to the ship.”
They raced across the short stretch of land, over to where the ship hovered several vares above the ground. Jumping onto the rope ladder that lay in a heap in the dirt, Lhora grasped a rung with both hands as her weight activated the winch. Slowly, the ladder was drawn up into to the ship. She watched as her father leaped onto the ladder beneath her, as well as the rest of his crew who’d descended with him to search for her. Rather than continue to climb, she let the winch do the work to give her a chance to survey the land around them. But first she glanced down to see if anyone else seemed eager to continue climbing. Like her, they appeared to be content to hang on and wait to be hoisted onto the ship.
“Hey! There!” Torfen yelled, pointing skyward.
High above them she caught sight of blue and green flashes. Specks of light that confirmed the battle continued. “Gur, we have to go help them!” She looked to her father, who continued to stare at the display.
He suddenly reacted. “Something’s been hit!” he called out.
She jerked her head back in time to see the red and yellow explosions. Duren’s name burst into her mouth, but she managed not to say it aloud. However, her father caught her agony, and she felt a pat on her foot.
“Little one.”
Tearing her gaze away from the bombardment, she gave him a curious look. He hadn’t called her that in…ages.
Fallmin rested his hand on her boot as her eyes met his. “I know you’re in pain, not knowing if he’s still alive, but there is a way you can find out,” he softly informed her.
“How?” Like him, she kept her voice low to prevent the others from hearing.
“You’ve loved him with your body, yes?”
“Yes.” Even if he hadn’t caught her and Duren together that morning—
This morning? Or was it yesterday morning?
Even if her father hadn’t been aware of Duren spending the night with her, she would have admitted to it. His torgart senses would know if she lied to him, or tried to be deceptive.
A vague thought came to her. Was Fallmin aware when she and Duren were having sex? She mentally shook her head. She refused to be humiliated or embarrassed. What she and Duren shared was honest. And it was real. What they felt for each other…
What we feel for each other…
Like a bright ray of sunshine, she understood what her father was about to tell her.
“So I can feel him now? Even at this great distance?”
