Rebel Princess by Bancroft Blair

Author:Bancroft, Blair [Bancroft, Blair]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-02-22T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 19

“Report.” Tal lay back against the raised head of his med-bed and glared at Anton Stagg. The lieutenant did not look happy. “Consider Kiolani my alter ego,” Tal added, as the marine glanced in her direction. “Speak freely.”

Until the batani marine entered the room, Kass had been holding his hand, something Tal suspected she’d been doing all night, because she was still wearing the clingy dress that hugged every delicious curve. The one he’d vowed to strip off her before the evening was over. Fyd! The Fates had him on their hit list.

Maybe not. Tal’s lips curled in a secret smile. Looking back on the events of last night, it would appear his little Psyclid had become his personal hidden asset, as well as his secret weapon against the Empire. She’d earned her right to highest security clearance.

Lieutenant Stagg, contrary to his customary military-efficient attitude, appeared to be having difficulty putting his thoughts together. He shifted his stance to parade rest, glanced at a spot above Tal’s head before addressing him face to face in proper military mode. “I don’t know if Dama Kiolani told you, Captain,” he said, “but the Psyclid kid seems to have a built-in scanner in his head—he can locate people he knows, sense the presence of people he doesn’t know.”

Tal nodded. “Kass told me, but it’s not easy to accept.”

Lieutenant Stagg cleared his throat. “Well, evidently, K’kadi is also enough of an empath to sense emotions, particularly violent ones. He led us in an unerring line down the corridor until we reached a Taurian merchant ship. Big, well-armed, and roughed-up, like it had survived more than its share of hostiles. A smuggler, if I’ve ever seen one. The trail stopped there. K’kadi kept pointing at the ship, but when I asked him if he could identify the men by sight, the kid looked like he was going to cry. So no point summoning station security. That was it.

“Sorry, Captain, but you can’t be any more disappointed than K’kadi. I swear he was ready to walk right up to the ship and demand entry.”

Tal turned to Kass. “Is K’kadi reliable? Can I assume we were attacked by hired thugs?”

Propping her chin on her thumbs, her index fingers touching her nose, Kass took several moments to think before she replied. “I did not know K’kadi possessed this skill, but I do know he would never lie. It’s not in him. So, yes, I think you can safely assume he traced the men back to the right ship.

“But,” she added firmly, “I think you should seriously consider the coincidence of being attacked while Scorpio is in port. If Tegge’s defection is a trap, what greater blow to the rebellion than cutting off its head?”

“Kass! Tegge’s bringing us a huntership.”

“You’re so dazzled, you’ve forgotten the Old Earth legends you learned in school. Among them, beware the Trojan horse!”

Anton Stagg broke his at-ease stance, stepping closer to the bed. “There were people on Tat who knew we were coming here, sir.

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