There was no need to specify who Veral meant. His cousin knew very well that the pirate was lurking in the shadows just outside the room where Veral had asked her to wait. He would signal her to go in, and Veral would engage in the next step necessary for departure.
With the registrar gone, Veral slanted an approving look to the medic as he stood from his chair. Tarik watched him cautiously as he approached and stiffened further when Veral set a hand on his shoulder spine. The gesture was one that could preclude an attack or a mark of trust and closeness between Argurma… It was a paradox that guaranteed no one knew for sure where they stood and demanded trust of the recipient. Caution was smart, but in this case unnecessary.
“You honor me. I thank you,” he grunted before releasing the male and walking away to the opposite side of the room, peering out the window that overlooked the entrance of the compound. A genuine smile curled his lips as he watched Larth give the male a non-too-gentle nudge that came too close to sending the registrar sprawling into the sands. “Is everything ready?”
“Yes, Ahanvala. I have loaded all private data regarding Harahna’s medic records into your personal AI system aboard your starship and have deleted everything within our own systems in case the council forcibly accesses our systems.”
“Good. Return Harahna to Terri and tell her that I will be there soon.”
“Yes, Ahanvala,” Tarik murmured.
Veral did not watch him go, his attention on the vast sand dunes that flowed out from the compound as far as his enhanced vision could see. The red sands of the Quarnet’safet rose and fell in their graceful peaks and valleys. He had trained in the dunes, suffering the strains of deprivation from food and drink, facing the harsh climate there. He had even trained at the edges of the Galithilan to earn his marks in the worst of what their world had to offer—an accomplishment few of Argurumal’s warriors could claim. A flicker of something that he processed must be excitement flickered in him.
He would be out there again… away from the petty control of the council, back in the wilds.
It wasn’t space, but he looked forward to introducing Terri to the rare and deadly beauty of the Galithilan. He would comm Hitani and ask that she see to it that he and Terri enjoy a night alone at one of the hidden oases.
The soft sound of feet against the floor met his ears. The pirate was good, but no matter how lightly she stepped, she could not get by an Argurma’s enhanced hearing if he were not distracted.
“Azan,” he greeted, without turning around.
She sighed, and her footsteps altered to their normal rhythm as she strode the rest of the way across the room, stopping just a short distance behind him.
“You rang?”
He looked over his shoulder at her in confusion. “What?”
The female grinned unapologetically.
“Something my human says. From what I understand, it is from an old Earth vid. I do not understand the reference… something about a household of peculiar humans who delight in the unusual. I have been curious for lunars, so do not be surprised if we raid your vids while we have your starship in orbit,” she informed him gleefully.
“You remember that this is not a pleasure excursion,” Veral growled as he turned to face her.
“As if you won’t be tasting a bit of pleasure yourself,” Azan snorted mirthfully, and he felt heat rise into his scales. How did she have such insight into his thoughts? “We will keep to the plan, but it is many days of waiting, so we will entertain ourselves as well. But do not worry, we will not sully your bed overmuch.”
“You will use the furbished crew quarters. Do not enter our rooms,” he hissed in abhorrence.
The idea of anyone lying where he intimately held his mate made him itch.
Laughter burst from the pirate.
An annoyed growl vibrated through him. He was not in the mood to be toyed with.
“Relay your instructions to me so that I know you will stay on task,” he grumbled.
Azan stretched her upper arms lazily. It was deceiving; there was nothing lazy or fickle about the pirate, despite her eagerness to cultivate such impressions. He was not surprised, though satisfied, when she produced a flawless recital of her instructions.
“We are to takethe Wandererand set down in an obscured landing zone on the dark side of the smaller moon Gali’sowren. There, we await further orders. We are to employ no outer lights or leave the ship for any reason other than an emergency. Once we receive signal from you, we will drop down into orbit heading to the coordinates you will provide. We will pick you and your nice little family up and meet with my crew at our agreed-upon location.”
Veral grunted.
“We will be leaving tomorrow night after dusk, but I want you out of Argurumal orbit before sunrise, during the shift changes. You will have exactly twenty minutes to be clear of our planetary tracking. The coordinates you are going to is an emergency facility kept by my line and a few of our closest relations. Once you are there, it will keep you off the long-sweep radars,” he grumbled. “And one other thing,” he said as Azan turned to leave. He shot her a dark glower. “Try not to get too overeager with the replicator. I do not wish my mate to lack in her favorite sweet things and drinks.”
“No luxuries… Heard and obeyed,” the female said with a precise salute.
“You have your orders then… Now leave, Blaithari. I wish to return to my mate” he ordered. “I will see you in two spans.”
Azan’s grin widened knowingly, but tucking her hands into her numerous pockets, she sauntered out without another word.