War Torrent by Daniel P Douglas

Author:Daniel P Douglas
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
ISBN: 9780692450048
Publisher: Geminid Press, LLC
Published: 2015-06-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Operations

Taulan leaned over in bed, his eyes moist with tears of sadness for his lover. He frowned and put a hand on her shoulder. “Kraj, you don’t need to be the one to do this. Stop trying to live up to—”

Krajenar reached up and held Taulan’s wrist. “You know that’s not the case this time. There is no other who can do this. Who else can try and collate it all if this works?”

“Qev’arc, Tikmort, or Souhlins. I could. Anyone of us can.”

“You probably could. But I won’t let you do this.”

Taulan blinked at the expression of tenderness in Krajenar’s voice. “You can’t pull rank on me just to protect me.”

“Yes, I can. Just like I can with the others. No, this is one job that I can’t ask or order anyone else to do. But that isn’t why, at least, not the only reason why I have to do this.”

“For your pride?”

“For what’s left of it? Maybe. Maybe for my family, or for living up to my family’s history. To satisfy my father’s expectations. For Mokisia. Maybe. Maybe, I can’t let myself be a failure. Maybe that is all part of it. But none of it is the real reason.”

“Then why? Why must you go on this mission and risk your very life? I may never see you again. I may lose you. You know how much that hurts me to think about?”

“I know, and I am so sorry.” Krajenar kissed Taulan’s forehead. “When my age of service arrived, I chose my path based on the real me. That was a long time ago, but I do remember it. Somehow very quickly it changed, and it became about my reputation. Obligations and responsibilities set in and I focused on fulfilling those and forgot about me. I forgot what called me to my path.”

“What was it?”

“Well, somehow I must not have lost it entirely because you noticed it. I think that I was so taken by you that you must have brought it out in me, at least enough for you to see it.”

“Your intense curiosity and inquisitiveness.”

Krajenar hummed and rubbed her nose along Taulan’s cheek. “Yes. It is who I am, and I have neglected it for far too long. It is calling me, and I’ve decided to listen.”

Curling up closer to Krajenar, Taulan nuzzled her neck and stroked her blue-streaked belly. “That is good, but I still don’t understand why that means you need to go on this mission.”

“Ah, remember what you said about the Sekkalans seeking salvation in technology?”

“Yes.”

“So, who in the name of our ancestors gave them that technology? They certainly didn’t create it themselves. They were beaten and no more advanced than us. Find the answer to that question, and it will explain a lot. It will explain what this war is all about.”

Taulan nodded. “Please come back to me. You mean more to me than you can ever imagine.”

“I love you, Tau, so I have to be honest. I may not come back.”

“Don’t say—”

“Shhh.

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