Breathing Space by S. J. Higbee

Author:S. J. Higbee [Higbee, S. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781911139089
Goodreads: 40726227
Publisher: Griffinwing Publishing
Published: 2018-07-08T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

His eyes glittered. “Whenever I get myself hauled into the middle of your messes, you always find a way to make me deeply sorry—ˮ

“My team are as solidly loyal as I could wish. But mercs are different to civvies—ˮ

“Prodding right they are! Murdering monsters, most’ve them!”

Get a grip! You dropping limp-witted phrases like that to the man whose family were rubbed out by Norman’s finest will get us nowhere fast.

I took a breath, trying to act on Jessica’s advice. “I’m sorry. That’s a crass thing to say to you, of all people. But you go on claiming I’m some sorry weakling, they’ll likely toss us both out’ve the nearest handy airlock.”

“They all but genuflect as you pass by.” Wynn pinned me to the seat with those Earth-blue eyes. “What put such a tilted notion in your head?”

“How many merc leaders d’you know have walked away from their band and gone on to live a long, happy life?”

“Haven’t given it much thought. Mostly they don’t walk away though, do they? Most’ve them hang on tight to their powerbase till they’re offed by one’ve their subbies.” His mouth twisted with disgust.

I leaned forward. “Yet here I am – an ex-merc leader with a contract on my head, thanks to Eddy. With my face plastered galaxywide, thanks to that sodding song and all the misery going down on Hawking. And still, my people haven’t left me waving in the wind. Indeed, they’ve publically announced they’ll keep me safe till I track down my putrid bro—ˮ

“That’s something else you need to start practising if you want to survive this mess.”

“What?”

“Stop dropping those English words into your talk. Even before you became mega-famous, Cerans zeroed in on that trick of yours. Thought it a real rib-tickler if you want the truth.”

Man’s gotta point, Lizzy. You always sprinkle your speech with English slang when you’re nervous. Like when you’re being interviewed, for instance. I believe I’ve given it a mention, before…

Thanks, Jessica. I didn’t bother to tone down my sarcasm.

You mean ‘thank you’ – no more ‘thanks’, remember.

I gritted my teeth and turned back to Wynn. I was running out of time – his robes were now merely swirling around his legs as if ruffled by a stiff breeze. If he wanted to storm out’ve the room, he’d be able to do so. “Thanks— thank you for mentioning it. But please, no more making me out as some victim. Mercs can’t stand weakness. The minute they think I’m a pointless drag, they’ll cut loose. Or tidy me away.”

He stared at me as if I’d sprouted horns and a tail. “No they won’t. Big Blue knows I hate the prodders, particularly Major Marchstep. But ʼless you start murdering their babies, they’ll go on thinking you’re the greatest thing since starlight.”

I pressed my hands against the skirts of my robe as I tried to figure how I could make Wynn understand that loving me wouldn’t necessarily stop them from tidying me away.

Not sure that’s a good strategy.

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