Freedom, Humanity, and Other Delusions (Death's Handmaiden Book 3) by Niall Teasdale (best summer reads txt) 📕

‘Right. And when is this happening?’

‘It’s–’

‘Sunday, July twelfth,’ Melissa said without looking up from her work. ‘About two weeks.’ Courtney frowned at her and, apparently, Melissa detected this through ESP because she went on. ‘I got an invitation to be Naomi’s plus one. I’m not totally sure about going, but I guess if you are…’

‘I am,’ Courtney said. ‘Aside from anything else, Kyle will get a week off before he’s deployed. We can all come back here together.’

‘That means staying overnight. I’m not sure–’

‘They’ll provide accommodation,’ Mitsuko said. ‘Married officers can have their partners stay with them, but they don’t allow that kind of thing for unmarried officers. Sorry, Courtney.’

‘I can cope for one night,’ Courtney replied.

‘Well, I’ll need a suitable dress,’ Melissa said, presenting her next objection.

‘Not a problem,’ Mitsuko replied.

‘I’ve seen the kind of dresses you and Nava come up with. I’d rather have something that isn’t going to leave my boobs hanging out.’

‘I am capable of matching wardrobe to an occasion. A little flesh will be expected, however.’

Melissa sagged. ‘I know.’

‘If this is going to become serious,’ Nava said, ‘you should get used to this kind of event. Naomi’s a Himura. They have around the same status as the Trentons. That means social events. Naomi’s obviously not aiming for a central role within the family, but his partner would be expected to entertain.’

‘I know.’ Melissa sagged a little further.

‘Naomi has clan rank,’ Mitsuko said. ‘It’s worse than you might think.’

A whimper came from Melissa. ‘I just don’t see what he sees in a nobody from Avorna.’

‘That is almost certainly one of the things he sees in you. Most of the young women he’s likely been targeted by know exactly what he should see in them. A modest girl is bound to be a novelty. A refreshing novelty.’

‘Oh. Well. Looks like I’m going. This should be fun.’

236/7/5.

Melissa soared upward into the sky, searching out the dot which was Nava and aiming for it. She was grinning the whole way.

‘Ten minutes,’ Nava said when Melissa was alongside her. ‘I told you that Gather Quintessence would give you more time in the air.’

‘You did. I knew it would. Now I just need to work out how to have two spells in my head at once and I can stay up here forever. Like you.’

‘It makes all kinds of extended sorcery use possible. And being able to have two active spells is a very useful skill.’

‘I know that. I also know it’s not easy. And you can do four of them at once. That has to take some amazing mental gymnastics.’

Nava gave a shrug, which was an odd sort of movement when hanging in the air at a thousand metres or so, watching the ground below. ‘I suspect my weird genetics help. I’ve always been able to, well, think faster than other people.’

‘I know I’m not supposed to envy you, but I envy you. I won’t hang around for long. I know you like your alone time. I just wanted to show you your constant nagging to learn this spell has paid off.’

‘I do not nag.’

‘You don’t?’

‘No. I do something else which may, to the uninitiated, seem like constant nagging. And you don’t have to go so soon after you went to all the trouble to get up here. I can cope with you being here until you need to go back down.’

Melissa smirked. ‘Oh, thank you. I feel so wanted.’

‘I persuaded you to learn Gather Quintessence, hence your ability to pester me more often when I’m flying. Doesn’t that indicate that I’m willing to entertain your presence?’

Melissa shook her head and floated over to lie in the air beside Nava. ‘That did not sound better at all.’

Admiral Aurora Trenton Advanced Training Centre, Alliance City, 236/7/12.

Apparently, Aurora Trenton Sonkei had been one of the first admirals of the ASF and had essentially formulated the curriculum for basic and advanced training in the organisation. Naomi had supplied the information when Melissa had asked about it. The base handled officer training as well as several specialist training activities and was known either as the ATC or as “Aurora’s Base.” The name you used tended to depend on how official you were being.

It was a large, somewhat sprawling facility on the outskirts of Alliance City surrounded by high fences and accessed via three gates which were guarded. Guarded, but generally open. The reception centre was where the ball would be taking place, and it was situated right beside the main gate. Melissa and Courtney were staying in a hotel just outside the base, and they were met just inside the gate by their partners for the evening, who then escorted them into the building.

Externally, the building was grey and rather institutional. Internally, things were a little different, especially in the ballroom and dining room. Both were vast and done up in baroque mouldings and draped curtains. There was a lot of dark blue and silver on display. Somehow, Melissa had expected more black and gold to go with the uniforms. She had not expected to have her name announced at the door to the dining hall.

‘Second Lieutenant Naomi Himura Sonkei,’ the chief petty officer said in a voice quite loud enough for everyone in the hall to hear it, ‘and Miss Melissa Connelly Avorn.’

Melissa felt her cheeks heating as, arm in arm with her giant suitor, she continued on to find their seats.

‘Second Lieutenant Kyle Maynard House and Miss Courtney Martell Garavain.’ The announcement sounded from behind them as Kyle and Courtney followed them in.

‘We should be sitting together,’ Naomi commented. ‘They do take preferences into account.’

‘That’s something,’ Melissa replied. ‘You know, I’m not really used to making small talk with perfect strangers who happen to be important.’

‘It’s unlikely you’ll need to worry too much about that. We’ll probably be sitting beside other recent graduates, not generals and vice admirals.’

‘Oh. Good. Am I going to have to worry about which cutlery is right?’

Naomi’s