Night Song (The Guild Wars Book 9) by Mark Wandrey (best ereader under 100 .txt) 📕

fighting had shown, one could get used to nearly anything with enough exposure and the proper motivation. Even Human behavior.

“We have been in search of the Gheshu as you have been for your Starbright. I hope both our searches find success in this system.” A’kef gestured the sincerity of his words, though the twist of his wrist as he lifted a hand showed his doubt.

After all, something had thrown them out of hyperspace directly into a battle raging through the exact corner of the system they’d been dragged into. Coincidences were not impossible, but to find battle, and the Gheshu, after such an unheard-of occurrence? The gods would laugh to make such a thing only coincidence. They were here because they were meant to be here. The gods spoke where impossibilities piled on top of each other. A wise Zuul listened, even if they were Fi, and not Sei.

“Your lips to god’s ears,” the young Human responded, and Veska snapped her head back to regard him. This was the one who always managed to put himself in the presence of Sonya. Hewers? Had Sonya told him of the gods?

No, she reminded herself, flattening the bristling fur around her face. Rex and his littermates had been with Humans since before their eyes had opened. They were part of the gods, but had no way to know of them. Rex had mentioned the time they’d spent with Isgono, a Sei of Cho’Hosh, and the gods were not yet a part of those conversations.

Though Shadow…she thought Shadow might know more than some small part of the gods, though that path had never been hers. She forced her gaze away from Hewers, shaking her head roughly to clear it.

“Indeed.” A’kef touched the tips of his own ears, though he must know the Human didn’t speak of proper gods. He lifted a hand and clenched his fist to quiet the chatter in the assault shuttle. “We are going to run this assault shuttle to its limits. Everyone, save your breath.”

The Humans took a moment for their translators to do their job, then the one in charge, Tucker, gave an order. Veska didn’t envy what lay ahead for them—the shuttle at its limits would put the Humans far past their own. Even nanites couldn’t make that enjoyable.

* * *

Veska let her breath go in a wave of relief when their assault shuttle connected with the Gheshu’s deck. Perhaps strangers would wait outside with their guns, but at the very least, she could die howling with a weapon in her hand, not harnessed to the ship like a pup on moving day.

Indeed, as the doors opened, there were strangers with guns outside their ship, but the scent of them was familiar. Home, clan, family. Insho’Ze.

A’kef unbuckled and floated free first, and the Humans, still woozy from the punishing journey, had the sense to hold still.

“Rei’Shin,” one of the outside mercenaries said, slamming his fist to his chest and tilting his head to expose his neck.

“Bring me to the captain,” A’kef said. He paused at the entrance, and Veska knew he saw the sudden rapid twitching of the two guards’ noses.

“Are those—do you have Humans on board?”

“We do. They are allies—”

“Rei’Shin, with all respect and honor to you, Humans are not allies on this contract, and these are under arrest at once.”

Veska’s lip curled, and the heat of brewing violence climbed her limbs. Clan should not speak to her Rei’Shin this way. Only the captain herself, on her own ship, in the midst of battle, could countermand…

“The captain could not have known we had Humans on board, and therefore could not have extended such an order.” A’kef’s words carried a warning growl that flattened the guards’ ears. “They are allies and traveled with us for their safety under I’kik’s invitation.”

“Rei’Shin.” The smaller guard bared his neck again, tilting his head further back to demonstrate how little he wanted to push the matter. “There are standing orders from our captain that any Human is to be killed or captured on sight. They have been a most deadly enemy in this contract. For your honor, we will arrest rather than shoot.” He wrinkled his muzzle, likely scenting both the number of Humans he’d need to take in and the mood of the Zuul who’d come screaming through a missile field with them. “Confiscate their powered armor immediately, before they can don them!”

Neither A’kef nor I’kik, were she here, could force the captain of the Gheshu to choose another path that might endanger her ship while they were under attack. Veska felt the unfairness of it, for the Humans, but the way of things was irrevocable. Only the Kal’Shin, or a Hosh, could make any difference before A’kef spoke to the captain.

She took a moment to be grateful Rex wasn’t here. He didn’t yet know enough of their ways to know when to bow to authority. Rather exciting, in certain moments, though potentially disastrous in a situation like this.

“Makori, attend the Humans.” A’kef turned back and bared his neck slightly to the Humans. Would they recognize the honor and the apology embedded within? “I can’t stop you from being arrested, but you will be treated as honored enemies, and no harm will come to you.”

Tucker, the senior officer of the squad, floated closer, his face red in Human anger. “Is this Zuul honor?” he spat.

“You will live, so yes,” Veska replied. She could see he was considering, looking back into the assault shuttle where his men had all manner of weapons within easy reach. “Please, accept the situation until I can understand what is happening,” she asked. Something in her manner got through to him. Maybe all the time he’d spent with the young raised in their midst? She wasn’t sure, but he nodded slowly.

Veska pricked her ears forward, glaring at the guards outside the assault