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safe place.
There was no real safe place. She had to get through the soldiers to get back to
the cave she blinked.
 You know a place, Heddam stated quietly.  Good.
 Yes. Well  She caught sight of the changing expression on his face and
hastily said,  Yes, I do. But I can t impose 
  Tis no imposition, lass.
 But 
  Twould be our honour to drop you off to a place you deem safe, Simon
reassured her from where he still sat at the table.  Just tell me the co-ordinates, or
the place.
Tasi glanced back up at Heddam uncertainly.
 Please, he said softly.
It would be to her advantage. She didn t have to let them know exactly where,
but they could save her hours of walking. Time was so very important and it had
been so long already.
Tasi nodded.  I accept your kind offer.
She didn t imagine the relief in Heddam s eyes and when he smiled warmly
down at her, she could swear that warmth went right through her.
~ * ~
The Major of the New Guard entered the throne room.  A sighting has been
made of the missing Guardians.
The High Emperor looked up from the viscomm on his desk.  Where?
 A planet called Ceron in the Lawful Sector.
52
 How many?
 Four. Three are dead and one is missing.
 So the last three are unaccounted for. The High Emperor smiled slightly.  But
three are dead. Good, very good. Have their heads sent back immediately to join
the ones on the spikes. It will show the people we mean business.
And the rebels that the Guardians were being hunted.
There would be no mercy for anyone found to be loyal to the Old Ways. There
was only one way now.
His way.
~ * ~
She listened in silence before hurrying back through the corridors. The news she
carried was bad, but they had to know what they were up against.
Old Ways were good, the New Way was bad.
It was time for the Third Way.
~ * ~
Sitting in the cargo hold, Heddam studied Tasi. Perched on a barrel, she had the
small pack hanging loosely between her knees, the bottom of it silently brushing
against the side of the barrel. Inside it was a small parcel of food he d made up for
her. He d tried to talk her into waiting in the dining cabin but she d insisted on
waiting down in the cargo hold, ready to disembark when the trade ship landed.
The co-ordinates she d given hadn t revealed much information. It would land
them in the middle of a forest. That was all he knew.
The rest of the traders had drifted through the dining cabin, or passed them on
their way to their cabins or various other chores. All of them had smiled at her,
greeted her in their normally friendly fashion, but had asked no questions. They
had all looked at Heddam, and it didn t take a genius to figure out why. He just
knew he was in for some serious ribbing later.
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 Twas the least of his worries. His concern was now for a Guardian on the run.
A Guardian he didn t know, a wench who d spiked his interest in a way he d never
experienced before in his life and he d known a lot of wenches.
Tasi angled her head down slightly and the light overhead caught the golden
glints in her white hair.
 Pretty, he commented.
 Hmm? She glanced up.
 Your hair. It was beautiful, all white with gold glints. He d have liked to slide
his hand through the tresses but somehow doubted she d appreciate it.
 Oh. Thanks. She wrinkled her nose a little.  A pain in the arse colour right
now, though.
 Because your hunters can spot it.
 Exactly. That was why I had the wig on. She gave the pack a little shake.
Crossing the space between them, Heddam leaned back against one of the big
crates within a few feet of her.  Why were you in the settlement, lass?
Idly she thumped her heels back against the barrel.  Sight seeing.
 You can t tell me.
 Whatever gave you that idea? Her brown eyes twinkled.
Even in the midst of the horrors surrounding her, the wench still had a teasing
sense of humour. It drew Heddam like a moth to a flame.
This flame could end up burning him severely if he wasn t careful.
But what a way to go. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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