New Shores: The Eden Chronicles - Book Three by S.M. Anderson

Author:S.M. Anderson [Anderson , S.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MCE Press
Published: 2020-03-17T22:00:00+00:00

Jake, in panic mode, desperately wanted to say “Louisiana” and stick the barrel of his Glock into the man’s gut.

“Tersala,” he answered. He knew it was what Arsolis had called the largest of the islands in the bay.

“You know this woman?”

“Hyrika,” he answered with a hesitant nod. He only had one option that he knew he could sell. “She will be my sister, when I wed Tama. When do we get to eat?”

Jake did his best to stay relaxed when the Gemendi’s head pulled back in shock as he spoke.

“Prelate,” Arsolis jumped in. “Forgive him, he’s . . .” Arsolis rapped his head with his knuckles. “It was a wound; he’s been slow ever since.”

“Yet you will wed your daughter to this man?”

“I’m hoping for strong sons, Prelate. As I said, it was a wound. I understand from his people that he was not always this way.”

“What way?” Jake added with his best look of confusion.

The Gemendi looked at all three of them a moment and then just shook his head in frustration.

“Your family is your business, Arsolis of Varsana.” The Gemendi glanced once more at Jake before looking back at Arsolis. “On your honor and that of the Hatwa; do you swear you have told me true as concerns the killing of the Strema?”

“You would have me swear?” Arsolis barked back. “I have spoken. Do my words not weigh?”

“They do, but we are talking of a Strema trader. There will be questions that I will need to answer if I am to release you.”

Arsolis gripped the fold of his tunic and pulled it down, exposing the tattoo of the Hatwa raven on his chest.

“I swear it.”

Jake let out a breath of relief as the Gemendi seemed to be satisfied. The man gave a short nod of respect. “I thank you.”

The Gemendi turned his gaze to Hyrika. “Your oath as well.”

Hyrika’s gaze came up slowly. “Prelate?”

“I don’t wish to gaze upon you, woman. I would see your mark and hear your oath.”

Shit . . . Jake knew full well the Jema women bore the same eagle of the Jema as did their men.

Hyrika reached up, unbuttoned her own tunic, and pulled it down far enough to expose the black ink of a bird’s head. Even from where Jake stood to the side, he noticed right away that it was a different head, facing the opposite direction from the Hatwa crow. The Gemendi noticed, too.

“Show me, woman.”

Hyrika went from scared village girl in mourning to Jema warrior in an instant. She jerked her tunic open, exposing the Jema Eagle beneath her collarbone with what Jake recognized as genuine “F-U” glee.

The Gemendi’s reaction was one of confusion for the short moment it took Jake to reach behind his back, draw the Glock, and stick it into the man’s gut. He stepped in close, using his own body to shield the gun from the guards he knew were behind him.

The Gemendi tore his gaze away from Hyrika and looked down at what had to be a very strange yet recognizable weapon pressing into his stomach.

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