“Besides,” Sway continued, looking Vweet over. “Consider me interested in your goal.”
Vweet looked surprised. “You want to help our people too?”
“No. I want to see how well you stick to your morals.”
Vweet frowned. “What?”
“Grace tells me that not all farasie are like my father. That there are those who really believe in true pacifism. I want to see how well you do in keeping to those ideals. Or if you will turn out like him.”
Sway didn’t even need to explain further what he meant. Vweet understood immediately. Which said a great deal.
Maybe Grace was right. Maybe there were good farasie out there that hadn’t twisted their pacifistic beliefs with hypocrisy.
It didn’t take long to work out a deal. They commed Tanin to get his approval, of course, once they had come to an agreement on terms. Sway wasn’t sure what kind of reaction his captain would have, but he approved it right away without any reaction.
They finished their meal companionably. Grace and Vweet controlled most of the conversation, but Sway added his thoughts on occasion. Mostly, he just sat there, basking in the comfort of this situation. His mate, of course, but also one of his own kind. A true farasie. One who really seemed to want to live the ideals he touted.
Sway could never be like him. It was too late. He was too far gone. He had no real desire to even try anymore. But that didn’t lessen his appreciation.
They left sometime later, full and having reached a successful deal. Sway restarted the hover cart – he’d closed and locked the lid and parked it outside the pub along with a few others that were similarly lined up.
They decided to cut back through the same alley that they took to get there so they could return to the street they wereon before. Unfortunately, someone else had taken up that space since they crossed through.
Sway didn’t recognize the male immediately. He was much diminished since he last saw him. Dirty and foul smelling, like he hadn’t bathed in quiet some time. His hair had grown longer, making a shaggy, greasy, wild mess on his head. His horn had been broken off, the jagged tip that remained rough and filthy and dull. His body had begun wasting away, muscles shrunken, skin loosened, bruises adorning his body in random places. The clothes he wore must have been nice once, but they had long been worn down to tattered rags. The shirt in particular was little more than a few scraps of cloth, allowing Sway to see that his entire torso and most of his upper arms were completely covered in scales. Teal scales that had been scuffed, broken, and dulled with lack of care.
He stood in the middle of the alley, his four fists tight, his eyes wide and wild and bloodshot. He was missing a few of his front teeth. And he was panting like he had just been sprinting.
Grace made a soft sound of surprise and fear. But it wasn’t until she breathed the name that Sway realized her knew this wild male.
“Covor?”
The once powerful, wealthy station master flinched at the sound of his name. Like it was a blow landing across his chest.
“Need…” He was gasping, the word rough and harsh in his throat. Like he had been screaming and damaged his vocal cords. It was a sound Sway knew well. “Need… the females… get… the females… do it… do it.”
He took a single, shuddering step their way.
Sway and Vweet moved at the same time, placing themselves in front of Grace. But where Sway lifted his claws, Vweet revealed the shield gauntlet he had hidden under his sleeve. He pushed the edge of his robe up, giving the item the space it needed to expand a rather basic, ovular shield that still would work just fine against that little blade in the male’s hand.
Sway stared at him, surprised to see it. Vweet’s expression was hard and determine as he held the shield up, making sure he remained in front of Grace. Protecting her. Protecting himself. It was not a weapon, so it did not violate his pacifism.
But he was still using to make sure he was strong enough to stand on his own.
Vweet caught him staring and frowned. “What?”
Sway chuckled, stepping forward. “Nothing. Watch Grace for me. I’ll deal with this.”
Yes. Maybe his female was right after all.
Covor was shaking now, tears pouring down his cheeks. The sight was a strange one. One that Sway was very familiar with. It was the desperate look of a person driven to madness. One who saw nothing but the vague, distant hope of survival.
But what could have happened to put that look on Covor’s face?
“What are you doing here?” Sway asked, confused.
“Need them…” he continued, muttering under his breath, but not like he was actually responding to Sway. “I have to… Can’t fail… They’ll… They’ll…”
Sway cocked his head curiously. They? Who was he talking about?
