The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

preparation for it, but then it never comes.

Though they felt guilty for thinking it, many wished for news, any news, so that they could take action.

Nameless hadn’t seen Volka since they all said goodbye to Escrya, Helena and Kaylee. But that was normal these days. Most of the time he didn’t know exactly what the Dominar got up to, though he suspected that the council still did not approve of her taking independent action.

Especially after he learned that Lilly and her Wolfen pack had gathered at the Valkyrie’s side, having so recently been expelled from the Aegis.

Nobody said anything to him about any of it, it was just a feeling he got; he was good with feelings.

With the drudge-work he had been assigned it almost seemed to him like the council was playing an awkward balancing act between keeping the rookie Aegis member under their thumb and not pissing of his glorious bond-mate.

He shook off the sudden somber mood and looked to his lunch.

With so much on his mind he was just glad to be able to enjoy the simple comfort of a good bowl of soup.

He winced though when a familiar voice called out to him.

“Hey Nameless!”

Ginger Bennett, a perpetually talkative redhead that had graduated the academy with him, had evidently decided that now was the time for them to catch up, plopping her own tray on the table across from his.

“Hi... Jenny.”

He did his best not to seem displeased with the company, but it didn’t matter as she was already launching into a longwinded recounting of her experience with her training officer during her internship.

“-really respected her, but she never shut up! I mean, let a girl get a word in ya know?”

While she spoke she dolloped a healthy amount of butter on a thick slab of bread before dunking it into her soup.

Nameless was the very definition of tolerant, but the chatty redhead strained even his limits. Though today she seemed especially agitated, almost manic, so when she stopped talking long enough to take a bite of her food, he spoke up.

“Are you alright?”

“Arm frine!” She protested around a mouthful of soggy bread, making him wince before she swallowed; “I’m fine, probably.”

“Probably?”

She wiped at her mouth with a napkin and he noticed her face flush a bit.

“I... It’s the job, Nameless. I was expecting to be hanging out with sexy monster girls like my Celeste all day, getting fingered after swooping in and rescuing them, you know?”

“Can’t say as I do, but go on.”

She stirred her soup absently with her bread, gathering her thoughts.

“I completed my medic certification at the academy. Third-tier, like your butterfly, so I knew I’d be dealing with... bodies. Sometimes. Part of the job right? But not like that.”

He drew in a heavy breath when he realized what she was getting at.

“It was a shitty day for all of us.” He offered sympathetically; “I think about it a lot too.”

Ginger sniffed, then turned her attention back to her soup.

They ate in silence for a minute, until he began to grow uncomfortable, even concerned.

So he extended one hand without thinking to rest on hers.

“Hey, look, if you need someone to talk to or-”

Before he could finish she jerked her hand out of his as if he had burned her.

“Whoa, hey, man. Look, you’re cute and all, but I’m kind of dealing with my own stuff right now so I couldn’t possibly think about starting another relationship.”

His eyes boggled and his jaw fell open.

“That isn’t what I- No!”

But as usual, she kept right on speaking over top of him.

“I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but I’m into taller guys, or shorter ones with tits. Not that you’d look better with tits or anything, but maybe a dress-”

“Ginger!”

As his indignation made war with his compassion though, she suddenly grinned at him.

A few seconds later he adopted a scowl when he realized that she was having fun at his expense.

“Gotcha!” She stooped over her bowl and crowed; “That was for your golden girlfriend shrinking my bra!”

Nameless pursed his lips as he watched her, it was plain to see that she had chosen to put on a brave face about her experience at Lipton Falls, but it wasn’t his place to unmask her if she didn’t want him to.

So instead he went along with her game.

“Har har. Here I was thinking we were having a human moment.”

“Nope! No moments. Though if you want to go put on a dress I’d be happy to peg you!”

“No thanks.” He declined drily; “I should finish eating though. My break will be over soon.”

He hunched over his bowl to practice what he was preaching, but her eyes widened as she looked over his shoulder at something behind him.

“Looks like it already is.”

He turned to see Theo Holbrook, the criminal law instructor from the academy, weaving his way through the tables towards them with purpose.

“Armstrong, Bennett.” They got to their feet and snapped salutes to their chests at his greeting, waiting at attention; “At ease. I have an assignment for you.”

“Both of us, sir?” Jenny asked with some interest.

Since Lipton Falls they had been operating mainly in Garland and with less oversight than they would normally.

Evadne’s actions had essentially cut their internships short, so Nameless and his former classmates were now acting, and being treated, as if they were well into their probationary periods.

Whether they were ready or not, the world wasn’t waiting.

“Not you Bennett, sorry. We need a cadet with a rather unique skill-set.”

Technically they were third class operatives, but since Theo had taught them both at the academy they didn’t bother correcting him.

Ginger’s eyes widened and her mouth fell open as she grasped what he