Return to Duty by Elizabeth Hollows

Author:Elizabeth Hollows [Hollows, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: LGBT Romance Fiction
Publisher: Totally Entwined Group
Published: 2020-06-19T16:00:00+00:00

* * * *

The next morning Jay woke before sunrise. He checked the perimeter but found no hint of the Kada’rah. He returned to their campsite to make a fire. Tristan was already climbing out of his bedroll and they shared a nod of greeting. Tristan packed up their bedding and secured it on the quaggas while Jay started cooking their morning’s rations. Within twenty minutes they’d eaten and tidied the last of their campsite. Once finished, they confirmed their direction of travel and removed the hobbles from the quaggas. They were already on their way before daylight broke over the sand.

Unlike the previous day, they didn’t fill the silence with conversation. They had crossed into Kada’rah territory and the additional tension left them both wary and on edge. The likelihood of being spotted by syndicate patrols increased and they had to be careful. They took things slower and changed their course if their sensors picked up any indication of Kada’rah technology. Jay often dismounted, using the cover of the high sand dunes to scout the area on foot. Tristan led both quaggas in his wake. The increased care caused slower progress, and by the time night fell, they had veered farther to the east to avoid patrols and weren’t as close to the compound as they’d hoped. It was frustrating, but there was little to be done about it.

They established their camp in the shelter of a dune to keep them hidden from nightly patrols. The risk of discovery meant they couldn’t afford a fire, so they used the light of the moons to help them set up. They placed their bedrolls closer together, with the quaggas positioned behind and downwind from them.

They prepared their meal in silence. It was when they were eating that Tristan broke the quiet to announce, “Cooking it definitely helps.”

He was glaring at his meal and his displeasure made Jay grin.

“A downside of remaining undetected,” Jay said.

He decided not to mention the others—like even with thermal blankets, if it got much colder, they might have to huddle together for additional warmth. They couldn’t risk any heating technology with the Kada’rah so close. Jay squashed the part of him that was hopeful for that outcome. It was stupid and dangerous to give in. They needed someone to maintain watch, and a lack of sleep due to the cold would be a hindrance, not a help.

“Normally,” Tristan said, “I’m meant to be seen but not noticed—or seen, but not discovered.”

He stirred his fork through his dinner but didn’t take a bite. Jay could make out Tristan’s frown with the help of the moonlight.

“It’s different not to be seen at all,” he continued. “It’s a sign of failure if you need to hide.” He stabbed at his meal. “As it is, the attack on Zanik won’t be looked on favorably.”

Jay narrowed his eyes. “You’ll get the blame for what happened?”

Tristan shrugged. “They will examine my actions and anyone else involved in the operation. I’m confident I wasn’t at fault, but we will still need to be reviewed.

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