“This isn’t kidnapping,” Ardin said, stepping between the two women. “It’s protection. You can’t seriously think you can escape a Berganda — which I could have downed, if it wasn’t for your little green friend — and a Kilita, not to mention the entire Solarian fleet?” He took a deep breath. Josmere narrowed her eyes but said nothing. “Once we get to Lockor, you’ll be out of reach of the Solarian government. Hear this man out, and if you’re not comfortable with whatever he has to tell you, we’ll bring you right back.”
“Without your reward?” Layela asked, narrowing her eyes slightly. She looked deeply into his flint-coloured eyes to see if a lie dwelled there.
His voice was soft and strong and his eyes were unflinching as he answered. “Without the reward.”
Avienne swore as they left. Ardin made eye contact with her one more time before locking the door and leaving them in the cold, poorly lit room.
Layela turned around and met Josmere’s eyes, the green reflecting what she herself thought of Ardin’s promise.
It wasn’t a good enough gamble to take.
CHAPTER 11
Layela was ripped from her sleep, sweat beading on her forehead despite the cold, her breath raspy and broken. She struggled to grasp some threads of the unravelling vision, only to feel it disintegrate, Yoma’s deep and intense green eyes vanishing into the cold light of the ship.
Josmere slept soundly beside her, the Berganda having apparently crawled into bed to try to snare some of Layela’s body heat. Bergandas did best in warm, sunny and humid climates, which was definitely not Destiny’s specialty, nor had it been Collar’s.
Layela toyed with the idea of waking Josmere and somehow forcing her to reveal the vision, to show her what had driven Yoma away and perhaps even why Sunrise Flowers now lay in ruins. And why no one seemed willing to leave her alone now.
But looking down at Josmere’s small frame, huddled close to her beneath the ample blankets, only some green hair sticking out, Layela didn’t have the heart to wake her. She remembered meeting the Berganda for the first time, how thrilled and wary she had been when Yoma had introduced the woman who had saved her when a vision had struck her while on a caper.
Little had changed, really. Josmere’s smile and fun-loving spirit still thrilled Layela, but her secrets and the power to keep visions from Layela also left her wary.
The only thing that had changed was that Yoma was no longer here to fill the long, awkward silences.
She lay back down beside Josmere, but slept no more.
i
Ardin clutched his sword, ready to parry the blow. Metal clanged against metal as the blades collided, leaving Ardin with the opening he was looking for. Without an instant’s hesitation, he swung low and hard at his opponent’s knees. His blade was met with a clang.
Armour! Swearing under his breath, he jumped back and raised his sword, the other clanging and bouncing off. The shock reverberated throughout his entire body and he quickly steadied his position again.
He circled his adversary slowly as he allowed the feeling to return to his hands. This wouldn’t be as easy as he had hoped.
His trained eyes observed his opponent’s movements. Knowledge shadowed in every motion, soft and smooth, patiently waiting for Ardin to strike.
But the expectation that Ardin would strike from the left was clear. Ardin carefully controlled his features so as not to show the victory he knew he was about to taste.
Blinking back the sweat from his eyelashes, Ardin lashed out, faking left before swerving his blade right at the last moment, barely avoiding the other’s blade. He recovered faster and brought an end to the match by severing his opponent’s head.
Clapping greeted his efforts. Turning around as he sheathed his blade, Ardin smiled at his sister.
“One less for us to worry about, Avienne!”
Avienne strolled to where he was. She looked at the fallen opponent gravely.
“Great job, Ardin. I wouldn’t want to have to worry about psychotic training androids taking over the ship. I’m sure Travan will appreciate your efforts as well.”
Ardin winced. Travan, the ship’s main engineer, was not renowned for his sense of humour. And he was the only crewmember fully versed in android mechanics.
He shrugged.
“Well, at least this one proved more useful than the last.”
Avienne shook her head. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand you, Ardin.”
Ardin grinned at his sister. “You think you have it hard? I’m stuck trying to understand you!” Avienne guffawed.
“It’s late. Why are you still up and swinging that rusty piece of metal around?” Avienne asked, yawning.
“It’s not rusty, and it’s really sharp,” Ardin replied defensively. “I just... needed to think, that’s all.”
“We need the money, Ardin.” Avienne, as always, knew immediately what he was thinking. “And it’s for her own good. You saw yourself what those government troops did to her shop, not to mention the beating she got at Gullwing.”
Ardin shook his head while passing his hand through his sweat-soaked hair. “I saw, and I know, but it still doesn’t feel right. We should just drop her off somewhere else.”
Avienne leaned against the wall, closing her eyes as she spoke. “Where, Ardin, and how would she protect herself if she was attacked again? The Bergandas’ might seems to have been overblown in all those stories, and she has no money, no ID, and no fresh clothing aside from what I donated, thank you, and no idea of who’s actually after her.”
She paused to breathe in deeply and opened her eyes.
“Look, I don’t like this anymore than you do. Really I don’t,” she repeated when he looked at her sceptically. “I mean, I like the money, but I don’t like feeling like a kidnapper.” She trailed off, letting the silence hang for a few seconds before she could no longer stand it.
“What do you intend to do
