Page 79 of Lorran
“I’ve never been here before. I don’t know anything about that,” she said.
“How fortunate for you it was near your ship when you were forced to leave.”
“Fortunate? My son lost his father. I lost my data. I lost my specimens. There is no point in continuing my research.”
“Yes, let us discuss your specimens.” Mylomon leaned forward, and Lorran did not know how, but he swore the shadows shifted with the male. “You are aware that research on viable Suhlik young is a crime against sentient beings and punishable by the Council, which is why your mate was so far on the fringes of Sangrin territory.”
“They do worse to us.” She refilled her cup, taking extra time to fuss with adding sweetener and a spoonful of powdered milk. “I’ve heard rumors about a shadowy warrior with no name and no clan. A foundling with unusual abilities.”
“I have a name, and I have a clan,” Mylomon said in a flat tone.
“It seems that such a male would find our research relevant. Very relevant.”
“You would be incorrect. How did your mate acquire the eggs? Did he discover a hatchery or someone so craven as to sell them? Did Ulrik think his research would not bring the Suhlik’s wrath upon him? Who funded Ulrik’s research?”
“Ulrik’s research, Ulrik’s research,” Saavi said in a mocking tone. She slapped her hand against the table, rattling the cups. “Ourresearch! Do not erase my contributions because I am female. We worked on it together, and I intend to continue.”
She had a hard gleam in her eyes. Lorran had seen it before on the previous warlord, Omas, before he had been challenged by Paax.
Obsession, dangerous and without reason.
“Is the Council funding you?” Lorran asked. Could it be his father knew of such crimes? He wanted to believe his father was a good male, that he would not fund crimes against sentient beings, even the Suhlik, but Oran was one of the few proactive Council members.
“Those craven old males…” Saavi said. She drained her cup and set it down on the table with more force than necessary. “No. The Council did not give us funding. Our donor is generous but insists on remaining anonymous.”
“You must have a means of contacting them,” Lorran said.
“Encrypted messages. The donor contacts us.”
“The hard drives destroyed on the ship…”
“Old messages. I needed to quickly destroy our navigational history,” she said.
“Tell us who supplied the eggs,” Mylomon interrupted, “or are they an anonymous donor, as well?”
“I supplied the eggs.” Caldar stood in the doorway. He sauntered over to the table and picked up Saavi’s mug, sniffing the tea. “Saavi…you know that poison does not work on a Mahdfel.”
“Poison?” Lorran stood abruptly, knocking his knees into the table.
Saavi sighed and reached into a pocket. She displayed a blue pill. “The antidote.” And swallowed the pill.
“Female, explain yourself,” Mylomon growled, his fingers gripping the dingy white cup tightly. Perhaps too tightly, as Lorran swore the male’s fingers sank into the cup.
“A new invasion is coming, warriors,” she said. “The Suhlik encroach on our territory. They build hatcheries in our territories. Must we cover our eyes and pretend that we do not see them? They raid and bomb as they please. They crush us under their heels because we are nothing but insects to them. Must we pretend we are thankful for their foot on our throats?”
Caldar took the cup from Mylomon’s hand, along with the rest of the poisoned tea, and dumped it into a sink. “A touch dramatic but accurate. I found a hatchery in Sangrin territory.”
“Why did you not inform the Council?” Lorran asked.
“What makes you think I did not?” He sounded so bored and condescending, like he needed a punch in the face to realign his attitude.
Lorran really did not like this male.
“Did your father not tell you?” That smirk. Yup, Lorran was going to punch Caldar in the face.
“Is my father the donor? Is he funding this atrocity?”
Caldar shook his head. “No. I informed the Council that I located a hatchery, but it had been abandoned. The Council told me they were not interested in old intelligence.”
