Escape From Zulaire (2 page)

When she reached the halfway point, out of sight of both the glade and the house, Andi took a detour to the east to a meadow she’d discovered a few days ago. Heedless of the borrowed dress, which she knew would never be worn again by anyone, Andi hiked the skirt up enough so that she could sit comfortably on the moss under a big malagoy tree and relax for a few moments. Leaning her head against the rough trunk, she closed her eyes and listened to the soothing hum of the pollen-gathering insects and birdsongs overhead.
Just have to get through this one last reception tonight, and then I can return to the capital. I can do that.
 

Close to drowsing off in this peaceful spot, Andi suddenly became aware that the meadow had grown quiet. Opening her eyes with a flash of alarm, she found herself staring at a myth come to life.
 

An entire family of majestic urabu stood in the center of the lush meadow. To Andi’s knowledge, no one had seen a living urabu on Zulaire in hundreds of years.
 

Behind the proud alpha male were three females, a younger buck showing nubs for horns, and a baby.
As if they came just to find me.
Andi chuckled at the idea as the buck swung his head in her direction, nodding once. Standing guard, he watched the perimeter of the small meadow as his brood spread out to nibble the dense stand of grass and flowers. From time to time the buck lowered his head to snatch a few mouthfuls of fodder, before going back on the alert. A vivid green, his eyes were fringed by thick, black lashes.

She wasn’t sorry to claim this incredible experience all for herself.

Trotting forward a few paces, the fawn stopped to check on its mother’s whereabouts, then wobbled straight to Andi on spindly legs. Amazed, she held out her hand for it to sniff before stroking the little urabu’s muzzle and playing with the soft, tufted ears. The fawn’s golden-brown pelt was warm velvet under her fingers.

The buck made an impatient huffing sound. Startled, jerking her hand back, Andi watched as the fawn took three awkward jumps, to press against the biggest doe’s flank. Leaving the clearing, the herd bounded off to the northeast in a flowing line, buck first, fawn struggling valiantly to keep up at the end of the procession.

A wave of longing engulfed Andi as they left her.
I wish they’d stayed longer
. Taking a few tentative steps away from the tree, she peered hopefully into the jungle, but the urabu family had gone on their way without a trace.

With a breathless little laugh, she pinched her forearm. “No, I’m awake all right.” She studied the imprint of the hooves in the rich soil. Crushed, fragrant grass was already springing back to hide the evidence. “When I think how many times I was told the urabu didn’t really exist, or had been hunted to extinction—”

Well, this experience certainly redeemed my day.
Frowning at a grass stain as she dusted stray twigs and leaves from her skirt, she shook her head.
I’m not telling the
Tonkilns about this magical encounter or they’ll be out here hunting the poor things.
My secret, my gift from Zulaire’s god.

Thinking of her imperious hosts reminded Andi to check the time. Whistling at how late in the afternoon it had become, she set out in a slow jog, skirt hiked above her knees. At the forest’s edge, she stopped, planning to put her sandals on again. One of the gardener’s legion of young helpers hailed her. Running along the center of the path, he made big summoning gestures. “Miss, miss, you’re wanted at the house!”

“Why all the fuss? Were they afraid I’d gotten lost?” Andi said.
 

Coming to a halt in front of her, the boy tugged at her sleeve, trying to draw her along the path. “Men have come from the capital for you. Outworld soldiers.”
 

“Soldiers?” Andi was startled, her heart beating faster. “What do I have to do with the military? There must be a mistake.”

“We must
go
. The leader of these soldiers, he demands to speak to you.” Lowering his voice, her companion intoned with relish, “At ONCE!” The skinny boy chortled at his imitation of the outworlder’s less-than-exact accent. “He said it’s important, a matter of utmost urgency.”

Maybe something had happened at the office? Or to her boss? But why send the military out here with the message? The capital was hundreds of miles away, yes, but there were excellent comlinks between here and there. Breaking into a run, she covered the ground faster than the gardener’s assistant’s stubbier limbs could carry him.

Leaving the winded lad well behind, Andi sprinted the last few yards of the path, onto the main house’s driveway. Skidding to a stop to catch her breath, she craned for a better look at a pair of military vehicles parked off to the side, between her and the mansion. One was a squat, two-passenger groundcar with an ominous-looking blast cannon mounted on the rear. Behind that was a much larger armored personnel carrier, also bristling with weapons, lights and scanners. Both vehicles were the gray, green and black camouflage design favored by Sectors troops on this planet.
 

Offworld troops seemed jarringly out of place in this idyllic playground of the Obati elite.
I can see why the kid was so excited.
Catching her breath, Andi put her shoes on before walking across the driveway.

Four Sectors soldiers sprawled on the blue-green grass beside the vehicles, taking advantage of the shade. Although armed, the men appeared at ease, happy for a break. Lounging against the back of the APC was a hulking Shenti warrior, who gave her a small nod as she drew even with him. Andi didn’t recognize his sub-Clan insignia, which meant he was from the far western reaches of Zulaire, where Loxton didn’t do much trade.
What’s he doing with Sectors soldiers?
The Shenti wasn’t a prisoner, and he probably wasn’t a guide, not in this half of Zulaire. Western Shenti tended to be superstitious, didn’t travel too far from their sub-Clan boundaries.
So
why
is he here?

Studying the open engine compartment, a tall, lanky sergeant and a corporal bent together over the front flank of the APC.

Probably hearing her footsteps crunch on the gravel, the sergeant laid down his tools and turned to eye her in a friendly but distant manner. “Miss Markriss?”

“Yes. What’s the matter? Has something happened at the Loxton office?” Andi’s heart pounded as she voiced her greatest fear.

“Easy, ma’am, not that I’m aware of. Not exactly.” The sergeant held up a hand to stop her next question. “I’m Sergeant Mitch Wilson. Pleased to meet you.” Automatically, Andi shook the hand he offered. “Captain Deverane is waiting inside to explain the situation. I’m glad you’re here because he has a short fuse this trip.” Hooking his hands in his pockets, tilting his head, the sergeant eyed her up and down. “No one knew where to find you, ma’am. Upset them to admit it, too.”

Lady Tonkiln’s probably irritated at outworld soldiers intruding on her social event, along with everything else that’s happened today.
Hands on her hips, she leaned toward him. “It’s no one’s business to monitor my comings and goings. I wasn’t expecting company.”

“Well, you’re here now.
 
Problem solved.” He grinned at her. “The captain wants to get going as soon as possible.”

“Yeah, if this piece of junk holds together long enough to get us back to the capital.” The corporal, who had been looking Andi over from head to toe with more appreciation than the sergeant had showed, kicked the APC’s shielded wheel housing with his heavy combat boot. “It can slag itself then, for all I care.”

“Go on inside, ma’am, please.” The sergeant nodded toward the house. Then his attention switched to the engine and the swearing corporal, who was tugging at something deep in the guts of the APC. Wilson pushed back his hat with his thumb. “Yeah, okay, soldier, we all know anti-grav would be better, but the brass don’t issue high-tech stuff to operators on a backwater planet like this. Find the damn problem before the captain’s ready to leave, because I’m not anxious to tell him we can’t.”

“Might be tomorrow, Sarge. This engine needs a lot of work.” The corporal held out a misshapen part. “I’ll have to recalibrate this for sure.”

“Miss Markriss!”

Hearing the familiar, stentorian voice, Andi flinched and walked away from the APC. Iraku, the Naranti who was chief of household staff for the ruler’s family, stood at the top of the stone stairs, flanked by the massive, carved columns supporting the impressive facade of the “simple” summer dwelling. As Andi toiled up the steps, he steepled his fingers and glared down at her. “Lady Tonkiln has been looking for you. She was most displeased when you disappeared.
Not
the behavior we expect from a guest in
this
house.” He sniffed.

Much to her own annoyance, Andi stumbled on the last riser, betrayed by the ill-fitting shoes. Iraku grabbed her elbow to keep her from falling, holding on too long, until Andi jerked herself free. Stepping onto the terraced patio, she moved as far away from the man as she could.
 

Something about him always sets my teeth on edge. Pompous, officious—as if he was the Planetary Overlord, not a servant.

For a moment, Andi was afraid she’d voiced her dislike out loud. Then Iraku did a jerky half-bow, rubbing his fingers on his robe as if to remove any taint from the contact with her. Biting back a smile at his instinctive reaction, she knew his antipathy toward her was as deep as her loathing of him. Iraku gestured at the stairs. “Polished yesterday. Perhaps the staff was too generous with the wax. My apologies, Miss Markriss. I’ll have the entire job redone, to prevent any further such incidents. It would have been a tragedy if you’d fallen.”
 

As if you cared.
She was sure Iraku would have enjoyed the sight of her taking a header on the stairs.
The staff will hate me for having to redo the steps
. Massaging her tender elbow, Andi was conscious of the immense strength Iraku had in those long, slender fingers. She resolved to stay well away from him at all times in the future.
Thank goodness, the summer will be over soon
. “Where’s this officer who’s here to see me?”

“I put him in Lord Tonkiln’s library. Follow me.” Billowing silver and green robes made a graceful circle about the servant as he spun on one foot. Not bothering to see if Andi was behind him, he stalked into the house.

As a neutral Naranti, Iraku was well schooled in dealing with both the tempestuous, demanding highborn Obati and the subordinate Shenti population. He was also supposed to be expert at establishing cordial relations with any stray outworlders, such as her.
He must have missed that seminar.
Andi glared at Iraku’s back.
 

Maybe running the household for the Planetary High Lord gave Iraku the right to be arrogant.

But does he have to walk so damn slowly?
Reining in her annoyance, Andi paced behind him.

Iraku paused to adjust a spray of scarlet flowers in one of the urns beside the main doorway, shifting it an inch or two and bringing a second bloom up beside the first. Exasperated, Andi maneuvered around him. “I can get to the library by myself, thank you.”

“Escorting you is not a problem, miss.” Sidestepping neatly, Iraku blocked her path. She had to stutter-step and let him go ahead of her to avert an unseemly collision. This hallway was too narrow for Andi to walk anywhere but behind the chief servant as he continued his ponderous march to the library wing. Reaching for the elegantly curved brass door handles, he pushed the panels open. Muttering a curse, Andi brushed past him to step inside the room.

The Sectors Special Forces captain awaiting Andi in the library stood with his back to the door, hands on his hips, staring at one of Lord Tonkiln’s prized abstract paintings. Well over six feet of hard warrior, he’d rolled his camouflage uniform sleeves up, revealing muscular arms matching the rest of his physique. Andi glimpsed the hint of an intriguing tattoo, a black sword wreathed in comets, on one bicep. His hair was sandy brown, a bit shaggy for military correctness. He tapped the toe of his boot against the expensive mahogany floor. The captain’s whole attitude suggested a man poised for decisive action at a moment’s notice, reinforced by the way he wheeled at the sound of the door opening.
 

“
Finally
.” His glance at the military chrono on his tanned wrist was an unconscious gesture of annoyance at time forever lost.
 

 
Green eyes in a tanned, ruggedly handsome face. Andi’s knees went a little wobbly for a moment.
My particular weakness in a man.
Classic square jaw, straight nose, high forehead with a small scar on his cheek.
 

His eyebrows drew together in a frown. “Miss Markriss?”

“Why are you here?” Andi snapped out of her fascination with his features, feeling her cheeks grow hot.
Wow, was I blatantly staring or what?
“Has something happened to Dave Flintmay? The Loxton planetary agent?”

Flashing very white teeth in that tanned face, he smiled at her, but the too-easy grin didn’t reach his tired eyes. “Don’t you people get the news out here? Comlinks broken?”

She blinked, trying to follow this unexpected conversation starter. “What?”
 

Lady Tonkiln received a stack of messages each morning, from either her husband or friends in the capital. Lysanda also had many messages, filled with inconsequential social gossip. Nothing for Andi, but then, everyone knew she was on an extended vacation from the office. The Loxton operation was on its summer hiatus along with most of Zulaire. “Of course we get news. What does that have to do with anything? Captain, what are you
doing
here?”