Disavowed (Legacy Earth Book 9) by Ross Buzzell

Author:Ross Buzzell [Buzzell, Ross]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Archimedes Books
Published: 2024-03-16T00:00:00+00:00

27

JAILBIRD

Lance sat on the cold, metal floor of his cell, arm through the bar, stroking Loaf’s head. She lay flat, keeping her eyes on the elevator while occasionally looking up at Lance.

“The beds are surprisingly comfortable,” Buzzro Shrod said.

With the ship being in ‘night mode,’ the lighting was dim, each cell dark, barely illuminated by a light at the guard post.

“That’s a surprise,” Lance replied. “Madam Devris isn’t known for being soft.”

The mercenary moved through the darkness of his cell. He pressed his face against the bars, starkly lighting one side, casting a deep shadow on the other.

“Why do you stay sitting on the ground?” Buzzro asked.

“Because my companion is on the ground,” Lance replied.

“She’s just a dog.”

Loaf’s head perked up, her ears folded back as her upper lip quivered at the mercenary.

“Careful, those bars won’t protect you from her,” Lance warned. “Down, girl.”

Loaf returned to her previously lying position. She kept her ears back and her eyes on Buzzro.

“She may have the appearance of a dog, but she’s a companion,” Lance replied. “She’s more than just a dog and has saved my life more than once. She deserves every courtesy any other member of my crew would get.”

“You’re telling me if any crew member were here, sitting on the ground, you’d be there with them?”

“It would be rude not to be,” Lance replied. “Besides, if my people are going to put themselves in any position for me, it’s only fair that I put myself in the same one for them.”

Buzzro Shrod scoffed. He looked at the guard, sticking an arm out, motioning to Lance.

“Can you believe this guy?”

“Yep,” the guard replied, not looking up from his book.

“You’re not even listening to me. Look at me when you address me!” Buzzro Shrod demanded.

The guard scoffed and put the book down.

“I heard you, but you’re a prisoner. I owe you nothing.”

Buzzro snarled, grabbing the bars of his cell tightly. He stood to his full height.

“What’s your name?” Lance asked, cutting the tension.

“Nathan, sir,” the guard replied.

“Nice to officially meet you, Nathan.”

“We’ve met before, sir, unofficially.”

“Please, no need to call me sir,” Lance replied, sitting up straighter against the wall. “Where’d we meet?”

“I was one of the guards assigned to guard Kolar’Tul when he was incarcerated. I saw you work with him. It’s what made me get a job on the Gladius. Someone like you is the kind of person I wanted to work under.”

“Him?” Buzzro scoffed. “You actively wanted to work under that maniac?”

Loaf let out a soft growl, silencing the mercenary. Lance looked from the guard, back to his fellow prisoner, then back.

“And why aren’t you still serving on the Gladius?”

“Because I watched the man who claimed to be you, sir. Even before Valdivia announced that the Gladius was overtaken by an imposter, I knew something was off.”

Lance looked at Buzzro Shrod, raising his eyebrows and smirking.

“May I ask what you’re saying, Nathan?”

“I’m saying I would follow you, Captain Warder, into the jaws of the abyss. Whoever is on the Gladius is not you, and if you ask, I will throw him into that abyss myself.

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