The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 by Elizabeth Price (find a book to read txt) 📕

walk. She pointed up to the orbs. “They alert me when there are intruders.”

“Who else has clearance to allow others entry to Gathow?” Danstu asked.

Sedom turned to him, her hands shaking. His eyes turned to her shaking hands. She shoved them in her jacket’s pockets. “I haven’t had the need—“ she gulped.

Danstu took hold of her shoulder, steadying her. “You okay?” he questioned.

She turned away abruptly, frustrated she showed signs of weakness. “Find me pilots!” she ordered as she walked away.

“The cafeteria is that building over there,” Cidele called from behind Danstu. “Enjoy a good meal and I’ll meet you all there in an hour.”

Danstu spun around, frightened when he felt Cidele’s hand on his shoulder. “Everything okay? Things looked like they’re a bit tense back there.”

He nodded, gulping back his own anxiety. “I thought this was normal for around here,” Danstu joked. Cidele returned with a stern glare. “All joking aside, it’s been a strange night. I’ll get over it, thanks,” he admitted. Cidele patted his shoulder and then continued towards the cafeteria. “Hey, hold up,” he called. He hurried beside Cidele. “You’ve known Sortec for a while, right?” he asked. Cidele shrugged. “I hear she’s quite the warrior.”

Cidele chuckled. “She’s a one-girl army, really. Why?”

“Her hands were shaking pretty badly after the Marisheio attempted to shoot her. I’m concerned she’s okay. I’m not as accepted by her as you are. Could you check in with her?” he admitted.

Cidele’s eyes fell to Danstu’s shoes. “It’s her home turf. She feels safe here and probably didn’t expect it. She’s very skittish from living in the forest and probably feels like she let her guard down, which I’m sure upset her. Um, you do know she doesn’t like animal skins, right?” she pointed out.

“Animal skins?” Danstu questioned. She pointed to his shoes. “Oh, yes. Your father informed me. I’m out of luck until the replicators are available. If my shoes are the only thing I’m doing that’s causing her offense, I’ll consider myself lucky,” he joked.

“I suppose so. You are a strange one, Danstu Keriney,” she giggled as she continued to walk towards the cafeteria.

“In a good way or a bad way?” Danstu called out to her. She waved to him, continuing on.

Rosanheer rested his hand on Danstu’s shoulder. “Forget it, man. She only goes for Dormin men,” he mentioned low.

***

When Sedom woke the next morning, she was still in the cockpit of her ship. The murmurings of several people emerged from all around her. She could make out only a few of the voices, mainly those who seemed enamored by the large assortment of ships.

“We flying these things?” echoed an unfamiliar man’s voice.

Sedom sunk back into her seat. What mess had she caused again? Though, what was she expecting? These were hard working and dependable people, but not exactly the most intelligent bunch. Danstu certainly had his job cut out for him on such short notice.

“Now people, Chadon Sortec will be here momentarily to show us how to fly these crafts. Danstu says it’s the only way we’re going to be able to fight against those Marisheio,” called another man’s voice.

Still inside the cockpit, out of the group’s site, Sedom proceeded to massage her temples from a fast-forming headache. “I can’t do this. There’s no way.” And there she remained until everyone gave up waiting for her and left the ship bay.

When the coast was clear, Sedom emerged shaking her head, utterly discouraged at the idea that she would ever find anyone else who could pilot her ships. Danstu came up behind her, standing very quietly.

“They didn’t meet your expectations?” he asked.

She shook her head, her eyes distant. “I haven’t the patience to teach them,” she admitted, even to herself for the first time. Some people were more able to teach, Sedom was not one of those people. “Narkoy ships are still considered the best ships and the most powerful in the galaxy. I can’t give simple people, like those you brought, that kind of technology. I need people who already have knowledge of space flight.”

Danstu remained silent for a long moment, caught in a thought. He took so long to respond that Sedom gave up waiting for him. She returned to her ship and continued schooling herself with its’ operations. She looked down to Danstu, he was gone.

Several hours later, Danstu returned to find Sedom underneath her ship. The main engine doors were open so she could look inside. Sedom was too busy to notice that he had returned. Only when she saw his foot lingering below her did she realize he was once again back.

“Chadon,” Danstu called out. “I have someone I want you to meet.”

What she loved to do most, meet new people. Couldn’t he see she was really in the middle of something? She tossed a wrench at Danstu's foot, hitting it square on his toes. Danstu yelped jumping back.

“I'm busy,” Sedom called in gruff tones. If he was going to be her assistant he needed to learn a few things, like not to interrupt her when she was working on her ship.

“It’s important,” Danstu added with a sense of urgency in his pain-filled voice.

“Fine!” she huffed. She crawled out from the engine department and dusted herself off. As she stood, to her embarrassment, she was covered with engine fluid.

Beside Danstu, who she could tell was having as much difficulty trying not to laugh as when she heard he was to be her assistant, stood a robust, stern-faced Mandicien male.

“Chadon Sortec, meet ex-commander Qilo. He,” Danstu gave a quick glance to Qilo, “used to pilot ships for the Rycal army.”

“Yes, she knows. Chadon, it’s good to see you again,” Qilo stated within a scowl.

Instantly Sedom became amused, but confused. “Well, well, well,” she held out her hand to Qilo. “You certainly know