“I don’t see how I can be responsible for who she’s involved with—”
“If you hadn’t let her get shot down, she never would have been a prisoner of war.” Ahnsung leaned forward, pointing at Ridge’s nose. “She never would have met that beast.”
“I wasn’t there when she was shot down. I was following my orders to be elsewhere. Even if I had been there, this is a dangerous job, and it’s possible that something will happen someday, something I can’t stop. You’d better reconcile yourself to that. Or, here’s a thought: why don’t you talk to her about her work and who she’s sleeping with?”
Ridge was tense. Ahnsung was tenser.
Sardelle loosened the barriers she usually kept around her mind, both for her sanity and to give other people their privacy, trying to get a feel for what Ahnsung intended to do, besides scowl. Was he truly a danger?
His mind was more schooled than Sardelle would have expected from the glacial expression fixed on Ridge, and he didn’t give away much, at least on a surface reading. She did catch Tolemek’s face floating around in his thoughts. This confrontation had more to do with Cas’s new friend than the danger she might be in from Ridge’s new mission. Sardelle didn’t dare dig deeper. Aside from the morality issue, some people could sense sorcerers poking around in their thoughts.
He’s a sniper, and he wouldn’t mind putting a hole into your lover’s chest—they seem to have a history of arguments. Even if she had been young—and hadn’t bothered with those final papers—Jaxi had been a more skilled telepath than Sardelle ever would be, and she could slip into and out of another’s thoughts without alerting them, usually even when dealing with sorcerers. Not that they encountered many of those these days. It seems he doesn’t randomly kill people, though. Only if he’s paid. He has contemplated finding someone to pay him to shoot Colonel Zirkander.
Sardelle clenched her hand into a fist. Ridge wouldn’t appreciate having a woman protect him in a fight, but that wouldn’t stop her from doing it if he was in danger. Why?
Because Ridge was the one to encourage his daughter to join the military, and he backed her up when she wanted to attend flight school. Ahnsung wanted her to follow in his footsteps. Join the family business.
The family business? Shooting people?
Apparently he’s quite well known for it.
Lovely.
“I gather you haven’t spoken to her in years,” Ridge said, after they had glared at each other for a while. “She might appreciate it if you stopped by to check on her.” As if the man’s icy stare mattered nothing to him, Ridge offered a wry smirk. “Let her introduce you to her pirate. Maybe they’ll take you out to dinner. Wait, that might not be a good idea. I hear he has a number of strange potions he can slip into a man’s food.”
Ahnsung stood there seething for a long moment, but he finally lowered his finger. “You like to walk the cliff’s edge, don’t you?”
“Just living up to the name Dad stuck me with.”
Ahnsung snorted softly.
“We’re leaving in the morning,” Ridge said. “She’ll be packing tonight. Plenty of time for you to stop by, say a few words. Give her some fatherly advice on staying alive in enemy territory.”
Ahnsung clasped his hands behind his back. He’d recovered his equanimity and didn’t react to Ridge’s words, other than to look past him again, considering Sardelle and the mess around her.
“Your home is in disarray,” he said.
“It must be those keen observational skills that make you such a fine sniper.”
Ahnsung reached under the flap of his jacket. Ridge tensed again, and Sardelle felt the surge of concern go through him as he wondered if he had pushed the man too far. But Ahnsung merely withdrew a business card and extended it.
“Er?” Ridge frowned at it without taking it.
“In case you are in need of my services.” Ahnsung laid the card on the side of an upended bookcase near the door, then walked away without another word.
Sardelle waited for Ridge to close the door before saying, “Did that man just offer to kill your home intruders for you?”
“I believe so.” Ridge pushed a hand through his hair, leaving it in a state of disarray that matched the room’s, albeit the hair was attractive like that, the room less so. “For the right price. I don’t know what he thinks officers make these days, but I doubt I could afford him.”
Sardelle stepped past a potted plant, the dirt spilled onto the carpet, and slipped her arms around Ridge’s waist to give him a hug.
He returned it without hesitation, resting his cheek against her hair. “What’s this for?”
“All the craziness I’ve brought into your life.”
Ridge chuckled softly into her hair. “I’m not above accepting affections given out of guilt, but I should inform you that my life was hectic before I met you too. In fact, certain colleagues have suggested that my unique personality and unconventional approach to life attracts interesting people and unorthodox situations. So if you’re some kind of repository of craziness, it was probably inevitable that you found me.”
“Were these colleagues who respected you or were they trying to point out a character flaw?” Sardelle appreciated his attempts to make her feel better—and let him know with a touch to the cheek and a fond smile—even if she couldn’t shirk her guilt that easily.
“I believe so, yes.” Ridge sighed and released her with reluctance. “I need to get up to the hangar. General Ort’s already going to be wondering about my diversion. I need to pick the rest of the team, not to mention visiting Lieutenant Ahn’s pirate.”
It amused Sardelle that Tolemek was still Ahn’s pirate to him, even when the four of them had spent several days together out at his cabin and she had started teaching Tolemek to recognize his talent and apply it to more than the creation of potions. Of course, Ridge had done his best to pretend nothing of a magical nature was going on by wandering out to fish, never mind that he had to break a hole in the ice and sit on a snowy stump in freezing weather to pursue the hobby.
“I have to convince him to come along,” Ridge added.
“Tell him you’ll fly past his sister’s sanitarium.”
“That did occur to me. But it’s a big continent, and I don’t know if our destination and his are within a thousand miles of each other.”
“Your fliers cover ground quickly. If you flew at night and weren’t noticed…” Sardelle shrugged. She shouldn’t push too hard. It would be convenient for her, certainly, if Ridge could pick up the sister while he was there anyway, but she would find a way if he didn’t. It would be interesting to see the world and how much it had changed during her sleep. Granted, her Iskandian complexion would be troublesome for navigating Cofahre, but she could manage.
“Two problems,” Ridge said. “First, we still wouldn’t have a spot for an extra passenger. Second, I’m not in command of the mission. I’m just… the flying rickshaw service.”
“No chance the mission commander can be enticed to deviate?”
“It would take someone a lot prettier than me to entice that man to do anything.” Ridge gave her a farewell kiss and opened the door. “My apologies for leaving you with a mess. I’ll come back and help clean it up tonight.” He waved and jogged down the path to the street, his pace quick enough that Sardelle regretted having delayed him by bringing him back here.
She didn’t want to spend their last night together cleaning, either. Of course, if she could figure out a way to go with him, it wouldn’t have to be their last night together.
We’re going on a trip? Jaxi sounded excited.
I’m not sure. Are you willing to ride strapped to a flier like a machine gun?
The view would be better than from under the bed. And you can escape these people trying to blow you up and steal me.
Yes, but I’d rather solve that problem than run from it. Can you describe the people who were here, throwing things around?
Women in cloaks. Not a un
iform, but they were wearing trousers rather than dresses.
Like the woman who was following me earlier?
Yes.
Sardelle wondered if she had time to do a little research before Ridge returned from work.
It depends. Are we going to clean the house or leave that for him?
I thought you could clean the house while I went to a library. Sardelle smiled. She didn’t truly intend to leave Jaxi again, not with people hunting for her, but it was fun to tease her from time to time.
You know, I don’t have to stay out of your thoughts when you and old Ridgewalker are enjoying your athletic embraces. I could comment on your technique.
Sardelle grimaced. Given that you’ve admitted you passed away before garnering any personal experience in that area, I don’t think it would be fair of you to judge.
Oh, but I’ve read a lot of books. And had some handlers who were much more libidinous than you. I’ve seen much.
Why don’t we just clean up this mess as a team, then go to the library together?
What a marvelous idea.
Chapter 3
Ridge knew he had dawdled too long when he found General Ort—scowling as usual—and the bland-faced Captain Nowon waiting inside the hangar door, along with a third officer, who wore the elite troops silver badge on her uniform. Yes, her. Ridge blinked and looked twice. Women weren’t allowed into the infantry units, and while the elite troops were a somewhat different creature, since some of the operatives were trained for spy missions as well as for fighting prowess, he wouldn’t have thought many—if any—could pass the rigorous physical tests. She was taller than Captain Nowon, though—only an inch shy of Ridge’s own six-foot-one—and had the lean rangy look of an endurance runner. Her nametag read Kaika, and she wore captain’s tabs on the collar of her uniform. Ridge expected a rigid attention stance and a snappy salute when she turned toward him, figuring a woman would have to be the model of military professionalism to be considered for the elite troops, but she gave him a perfunctory salute, followed by a handshake and a sultry smile that seemed out of place on a rawboned face without a speck of makeup softening the features.
“Colonel Zirkander, it’s a real honor to have been chosen to work with you and your team.”
Despite the sensual smile, she didn’t hold the handshake longer than appropriate, nor did she do anything so brazen as giving him a head-to-toe look of consideration, such as he occasionally received from women. Still, something about the cant of her lips and the twinkle in her gray eyes said she knew how to have fun on the weekends. Her hair was short enough to be regulation without pins, but she managed to give it a flirty sway as she turned her head toward her comrade. Captain Nowon was in the middle of something that almost looked like an eye roll, but the movement was so slight, it might have been part of his perpetual scanning of the area around him—and above him.
“Well,” Ridge said to Ort, whose scowl was definitely directed at him and not anyone else in the hangar, “I like her better than Therrik.”
“I’ll bet,” Ort said.
“That’s not much of an accolade,” Kaika whispered to Nowon, and clasped her hands behind her back in a loose parade rest.
“Where have you been, Ridge?” Ort snapped. “Your elites are packed and here—” he waved toward a couple of duffel bags near the wall that, judging by the bulges, were loaded with weapons rather than clothing, “—and you haven’t even picked your team yet.”
“Sorry, General. Had a break-in at the house I had to check on, then I needed to make a quick stop for a necessary purchase.” Ridge rattled a brown paper bag in his hand.
“Break-in? What do you mean, break-in?”
Ridge shrugged. For all that he would love to hurl all of the army’s forces after the intruders, he wasn’t about to explain that someone was after Sardelle and her sword. That would raise far too many questions as to why. “I don’t know who was responsible, but I’ll be having a word with General Domhower about installation security. My house was demolished, and I’m not certain yet if anything was stolen.”
Ort’s scowl faded and was replaced with a faintly hopeful expression. “Was your couch irreparably damaged, by chance?”
“Nope, just tipped over.”
“A shame.”
Ridge arched his brows.
“About the break-in, I mean.”
“Careful, General. Make fun of my couch, and I won’t invite you to my next beer, blood, and brisk-ball summer gathering. You won’t get to take your shirt off and flex your muscles for Lieutenant Colonel Ostraker’s grandmother.”
“I still have a scar from your last gathering,” Ort grumbled.
“That’ll teach you to play drunk. The ground crew officers are feisty.”
“I think they just like an opportunity to throw an elbow into a general’s ribs.”
“That’s what feisty means, isn’t it?” Ridge asked.
Ort grimaced and rubbed his side.
“What’s in the bag?” Captain Kaika nodded toward the crinkled paper with curious eyes.
“Just something to watch over the house while I’m gone.” Ridge kept it shut. As captains, these two probably wouldn’t mock him to his face, but he didn’t need any rumors about his quirkiness floating around the intelligence units.
“Break-ins regardless, I need you to pick your team and get ready,” Ort said. “You’ll need to leave two hours before dawn if you want to time your arrival to cruise into Cofahre after dark but with most of the night still ahead of you. That’s why I told Therrik to send his gear and team early, so you can get everything sorted out today.”
“Yeah, yeah, got it.” Ridge ignored Ort’s customary bristling at the lack of honorifics and military courtesy, and waved to the captains. “Before I do anything else, I’ve got to tell you two that half of that—” he pointed to the lumpy duffels, “—will have to stay here.”
“That is mission-essential gear, sir,” Nowon said. His facial expression didn’t change much, but his words came out rapidly. That probably passed for urgency from him.
“If it’s half as heavy as it looks, it’ll be too much weight. Even the two-seaters—especially the two-seaters—have very strict maximum loads, and if we don’t pay attention to them, we’ll be sailing over to Cofahre instead of flying. I’m already going to have to lose half of my ammunition to make room for all of Therrik’s muscles.” Ridge gave Ort a sour look before heading into the hangar.
“Find a lighter pilot to take him,” Ort called after him.
Ridge waved his hand in acknowledgment but wasn’t sure he could justify tormenting any of his people with that personality. He had Lieutenant Ahn in mind for the mission—she was the lightest of anyone on the squadron—but planned to assign Tolemek to her plane. He hadn’t been joking when he had told Sardelle he couldn’t see any of his other pilots flying across the Targenian Sea with Deathmaker in the seat behind, not without sixteen hours of tense shoulders and quiet suffocating terror.
It was a maintenance day, without any drills scheduled, so all of the Wolf and Tiger squadron fliers were in. Tiger squadron had their physical efficiency tests today, so Ridge’s pilots had the building to themselves. The men and women had their checklists and technical manuals out as they ran through inspections of engines, wiring, and cabling, though they had all been glancing toward the door while he and the colonel talked. They had to be wondering why the elite troops were here and if the squadron was heading off on a mission. Ridge wasn’t sure whether to feel bad for those who had to stay behind or not. He would be enthused about this adventure if he were in charge, but he had misgivings about Therrik.
No, he admitted to himself, he just didn’t like Therrik and didn’t want to work with him—much less under him. Most likely, he was a perfectly competent commander and very good at skulking around behind enemy lines and setting bombs or whatever these people did. Ridge glanced back, catching Nowon and Kaika with those duffels open, arguing over the contents. Several
pistols and boxes of ammunition lay on the floor around the bags, while wires and bulging apparatuses poked out of the top. Bombs, yes, that appeared likely.
“Morning, sir,” Lieutenant Ahn said as he approached. She glanced at the paper bag in his hand but didn’t comment on it.
He should have left it by the door, but then one of those other officers might have peeked inside.
“Is it still morning?” Ridge asked. It seemed like he had been awake for hours and hours.
“I think so, sir.”
“Up for a special mission to Cofahre?”
She hesitated, but then nodded firmly. “Always, sir.”
He mulled over that hesitation for a moment. She hadn’t said a word about what she had endured during her weeks of being a prisoner, but it couldn’t have been anything pleasant. He had spent time in a Cofah prison himself a few years back. He doubted the guards had grown any more accommodating. Still, she had proven herself capable in battle three times since returning, and he didn’t doubt that she could handle any lingering nightmares.
“If everything goes well, we’ll slip in at night, drop off our cargo—” Ridge waved to the two captains, “—and then slip out again the next night, without ever getting into a battle. In fact, I think the king is hoping we won’t get into battles. It’s something of a spy mission, and there’ll just be a handful of us going.”
“Oh?” Ahn perked up, clearly intrigued. Or pleased to be picked for an elite task force.
“Yes, and I’ve been asked to talk Tolemek into coming. I thought you might be willing to help.”
Her expression grew a little wry. “I assumed you were picking me for my unique skills, rather than who I’m sleeping with, but I suppose I want to go along if he’s going, to keep him out of trouble.”
Ridge stifled a grimace at the words “sleeping with.” It was true that Tolemek had acted like a perfectly decent human being so far, but Ridge still felt protective toward Ahn, probably because he’d first met her when she was barely more than a kid, and some notorious pirate was not who he would have picked for her to fall in love with. The decision wasn’t his, of course, and the fact that her dad loathed the idea almost made Ridge want to champion it. None of that was important at the moment, though.