“Tiny is a blind human female who joined us on the return voyage,” Drafe said, drawing Vic close to him.“I thought her blindness would be intriguing to the Ivoyans.”
Vaen nudged between Drafe and Nenn.“She is a friend of Vic’s, and under the circumstances, we could not leave her unprotected on the ice hauler.”
“And she is Nenn’s vatia sahaar,” Vaen said, squaring his shoulders.
“Is this true, Maed?”Marl Udap asked, peering into Nenn’s eyes.
“It is, My Udaps.”He smothered a wince at the hope tightening a knot in the pit of his stomach.“I did not know this when I offered her healing and refuge.”
“So who has taken her?”Meorri aac Kish Udap asked, summoning warriors to gather around them.
“Ivoyan los and uzes said it was protocol to clear the ship after a long journey.Their focus on Tiny told me they deceived.When I refused to let them take her, they stunned me.I awoke to her gone.”He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, reliving the silence of the ship along with the certainty that he was alone.“She is helpless, at their mercy…”
“We ride at once,” Marl Udap called out.
“Can we track her?”Vic asked, tapping the nodule in her neck.
“Yes.”Nenn offered a tight smile.“She was heading to the Great Library.”
“Warriors, to me,” Kish Udap ordered.“Those with access to velorxes, mount up.Others, file into every available shuttle.”
“I shall reach out to the acting Senate,” Ward Udap said, waving his hand for them to hurry.
Leaving en mass gave Nenn the strength to push through his fear.Tiny didn’t believe him to be a coward, and at that moment, he wasn’t.He’d lay down his life for her.Over the last week, he’d wanted to tell her what she meant to him, but his tongue had tied, or he’d been interrupted.In that, he’d lacked courage.But here, now, she needed him.
He scrambled onto a velorx, fired it up, and propelled it south to the oldest spire in Certorth.It had miles and miles of cellars holding scrolls, tomes, and tablets of ancient knowledge.The many rooms housing los meant finding her would be that much harder.He stroked his nodule, thanking Osnir that he’d insisted she get one.Tapping his wrist activated the flashing locator.When the stun wore off, tracking her had been the first thing he’d done.
Not that he dared talk to her in case she wasn’t alone.He gazed to the right and left of him at the many Qaldreths heading into battle for him.His chest swelled.What this would do to their standing, he couldn’t say.Perhaps Ward Udap would garner understanding and forgiveness with the Senate.He’d known this was a possible outcome, but he’d hoped his respect and reverence for the Ivoyans wasn’t misplaced.Heal Tiny.Send her home.Those were his promises.
He crushed the sadness in his heart.Vic could protect herself.Tiny… No, he’d done this, put her in danger by bringing her here, by promising her healing he couldn’t deliver.He scowled.There was still time to rescue her.But he’d doomed her to a life tied to his by claiming she was his vatia sahaar even if he wished it was true.
Drafe whizzed past, Vic clinging to his back.Her expression said there would be hell to pay for anyone harming her friend.Nenn trailed them then pushed forward until they were side by side.They dipped as one, aiming for the occupied platform.He parked the velorx on the balcony that circled the doors of wisdom and insight, both carved from the oldest tree on Ivoy, or so the legend went.
He curled his fingers into fists.The way he felt, he’d set them on fire to find Tiny.
Thankfully, they opened, allowing them entry.
“What is the meaning of this?”a lo demanded, coming forward to meet them.
“Release the human.”Kish Udap strode across to glare at the Ivoyan.
Marl Udap joined him.Drafe and Vic took up their rear.Nenn did the same.He peered around the hall, searching for a sign of Tiny.The dot said she was here, near.But with so many Ivoyans blocking his line of sight, he couldn’t spot her.He tapped his wrist and followed the flashing signal.Vaen ran before him, clearing the way.
“Tiny?”Nenn called.
“Nenn?”she cried out.
Hot relief had him bolting forward and tossing Ivoyans back in his haste to reach her.He drew to a halt when he found her kneeling on the floor, leaning over an unconscious Ulvus.Nenn dug his med-dev out of his pocket and settled beside her to run it over the male.
“He leaped in front of a shot meant for me,” she sobbed.“Please heal him.”
Ulvus saved her?“Are you well?”he asked as the med-dev beeped.Ulvus’s symbiotes had formed his armor, which meant the male was only stunned like Nenn had been.“He is well,hirihadie.”
“Oh,” she gasped, then glanced at Nenn.
He jerked back, his jaw dropping.Green eyes met his.And across her skin, she shimmered as if she wore armor.
She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him when she buried her face in the curve of his neck.Her tears warmed his skin where they fell.
