“The reading of the pod is not clear.We could be descending into danger.Cliffs surround—”
Nenn gasped.“How high?”
Drafe shook his head.“Now is not the time to—”
“An hour at the most.Please, Drafe, we have not been on solid ground in weeks.”
“Let him be,” Aehort said from the doorway.“I fear what awaits us is disappointment.”
Drafe grimaced.“Very well.We find the pod, and only then can you do your climbing.”
Nenn grinned and bowed his head at Aehort in thanks.As he’d known, an uz was far smarter than most Qaldreth gave them credit.
“Wear your boots, Maed.You will need them.”
“Again, thank you, Aehort Uz.”Nenn stepped back to allow Aehort access to the console.
“Disappointment?”Drafe muttered.
“You shall see.”Aehort left, his gait graceful as his long legs carried him from the bridge.
Drafe pressed a button on the console.“Vaen and Ulvus, head to the bay.”He straightened.“Caah, travel with or remain behind?”
“With,” Caah said, rising.“I shall place theAroagnion auto.”
“Glad to have you,” Drafe said with a small smile.
Nenn hesitated.The male was under much pressure to succeed for them all.“I can skip the climb if—”
“No, Aehort is right, Nenn.An hour is not much of a delay.And if it is for your well-being, then I insist you do what brings your heart joy.”
“And you are right,” Caah said.“I look forward to ground beneath my feet.”
Drafe strode from the bridge.Nenn followed.
“Why do I get to go?”Ulvus whined.
“I am hoping a giant snow beast swallows you whole,” Drafe said by way of greeting.“Vaen, is everything prepped?”
“It is, Arrak,” Vaen said, placing emphasis on Drafe’s title, no doubt as a reminder to Ulvus.
Nothing any of them said changed Ulvus’s bitterness.Nenn had once asked the male what the source was and received a glare for his efforts.Should any danger befall him, he doubted the sava would come to his rescue.
He smothered a smile.Perhaps Drafe spoke the truth about the snow—
Nenn swiveled on a heel to hang out the door.“Did you say snow?”
“Yes, with cliffs made of ice.”Caah strode past him to settle at the console.
Nenn gaped at the male as he powered up the shuttle amid flicks of his fingers across buttons.“Ice?”Excitement formed a grin he couldn’t shake.He glanced at his boots and nodded.Aehort had been right.His bare toes on the cold surface would make for a hazardous climb.
“Get in,” Drafe said, snapping Nenn from his daze.
He did, then paused at finding everyone seated.The only chair available was to the right of Aehort.He took it and strapped himself in.Caah reversed the shuttle and shot off, veering and dipping toward the planet.The shields endured the breaching of the atmosphere amid flames and sparks with barely a bump registering.Blue skies then thick clouds filled the forevids.Vaen released a sigh.His soft smile hinted at longing.Nenn expected the Riermus male to miss mountains, not air.
“It is the mist-like appearance,” Aehort whispered, dipping his head to Nenn’s to do so.
“My thanks,” Nenn said, trying not to reveal his shock.How had Aehort known what he was thinking?
