Voices by M J Marlow (uplifting novels txt) 📕

to come…”
“Not come?” Durn looked wounded. “I owe you life debt,
Princess. There is no way I would leave you to face such dangers
alone.”
“You are a good and valued friend, Durn,” I smiled at him
and watched him blush. “Perhaps while we are on the Maverick
you can contact the people Aden told me of in his network of spies
and let them know that they should not disband?” I saw his shock.
“You’ve run a Ferengi spy network, Durn. Surely you can handle
Romulans, Hazri, and their Federation contacts?”
“Do you realize how much I could get for such
information, Princess?” Durn asked me bluntly.
“If I did not know you owed me a life debt and that your
loyalty belongs to me alone, Durn,” I said to him; “I would not
have mentioned it. I am counting on you, my friend.”
“They will have to spill my blood before I speak a word of
what you share with me, my lady,” Durn bowed gallantly. I hugged
him and he was lost. “I will see about arranging for my assistant to
run the shop now. If you will excuse me?”
“Do what you must, Durn,” I said to him. “We leave in two
hours.” Once he was gone, my smile died. “I wish I hadn’t done
that.”
“You can only trust a Ferengi so far, Melaura,” Danel said
as he came out of hiding. “I am hoping that what my men and I
have heard is wrong; but we can not pin your safety on hopes.” He
took me in his arms and held me a moment. “Don’t you worry,
little cousin; if you are correct; Durn will prove his loyalty to you
in this matter. The worst he can do is cause the dishonor of the
Romulans own agents here in the Federation if he proves disloyal.”
He felt me stiffen and looked down at me. “I know you care about
the Ferengi, Melaura…”
“As you said, Danel,” I broke in; praying I was right in this
matter, “we can not pin our safety on hopes.” I stepped away from
him. “As you can see, I have packed. My ladies will bring my
belongings with them. Shall we say our goodbyes to our friends on
the station?”
Two hours later, after many tears and heated arguments, I
boarded the vessel that Natan had provided to Danel and I for my
use. I knew he did not agree with my decision; he had made it
quite plain, but he had allowed me to make it. I looked at Danel
and the fifteen other people aboard and I smiled. My protectors!
Each one of them had proven their loyalty to me in ways I would
always treasure. Durn, Maya, Doug Carey, Danel and his team of
four, Drea, Brad, Quinn and Mury; plus my three ladies. We were
traveling under the guise of medical work, but what we were about
to do was battle for an Empire against an Empire. I could only pray
we were up to the challenge.
“Aden,” I sighed as I looked out at the stars as the vessel
headed away from the station. “I promise you that I will keep our
children safe, but I cannot leave you to this struggle alone.”
Imprint

Text: M J Marlow
Images: Bookrix
Editing: M J Marlow
Publication Date: 12-05-2012

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