by Anna Hackett
A moment later, Honor saw Colm staring across the meadow, hands on his hips. His gaze was narrowed.
She stepped up beside him. “Problem?”
He shook his head. “I can’t detect anything. I just feel—”
“Twitchy?” She looked across the sunny meadow. “I know that feeling. It usually pays to trust it.”
He nodded. “A warrior always listens to his instincts.”
Honor breathed deep. She didn’t scent anything off, or detect any vibrations under her feet.
Colm was watching her. “You do not have nanami.”
She smiled, enjoying his confusion. “Nope.”
“But your senses are enhanced. And in the arena…you moved fast, were stronger, and you anticipated my moves.”
“Maybe I’m just very good.”
He made a sound like a growl.
She decided to let him off the hook. “I told you about my homeworld, Predia. Well, Predians are hunters. We have naturally enhanced abilities. Not quite as good as what your nanami give you, but better than most.”
He nodded. “Nanami are not always a blessing.”
She detected something sharp in his dark tone, but then there was a splash of water.
They both spun. Something had risen to the surface, tugged upward by the salvage droid. Honor couldn’t tell what it was, but it was covered in a layer of green slime.
A second later, the heads of the archeologists bobbed up beside the object.
Dr. Lev’nan ripped his breather from his mouth. He was grinning. “It’s an ancient escape pod.”
Dr. Brown followed suit. “It looks like a Terran design.”
With the droid’s help, the two archeologists pulled the object to the shore. Honor and Colm waded knee-deep into the lake and helped drag it onto dry land.
The metallic cylinder wasn’t large, maybe as long as Colm and a few meters across. It was a single-person pod.
“Should we open it here and see what’s inside?” Derek asked.
Dr. Brown shook her head. “Even if it’s empty inside, it’s still a valuable historical artifact. We need to get back to the estate.”
Suddenly, she heard a scraping sound.
Honor turned and her eyes widened. Colm had drawn his sword.
“What is it?” She pressed her hand to her holstered laser pistol.
“We have company,” he said grimly.
Honor strained to hear. Nothing…then she stiffened. There. The faint pounding of hooves on dirt.
She pulled out her laser pistol. “Archeologists, stay with the pod and keep your heads down. Security team, weapons hot. We have company incoming.”
She saw four hargon beasts come over a rise.
Colm frowned. “Raiders.”
He said the word the same way she’d say scum.
She shot him a questioning look.
“They are not honorable. Thieves and cowards,” he said.
“Well, they’re not getting our find,” she said. “Everyone stay back.”
The raiders thundered closer. Honor got a brief impression of large warriors wearing a mishmash of clothes and leather armor. She lifted her laser pistol, the lead raider in her sights, and fired.
The man fell under her laser. But before she could celebrate, the rest of the hargons were on them. She saw Colm drag one raider off his beast. She swiveled and shot at another, noting the rest of her team’s laser fire.
Then she turned and saw a beast rearing up above her. Her heart slammed against her chest.
She was yanked violently out of the way of sharp hooves. She stumbled against Colm, looking up into his set face. He tightened his grip on her—one hand on her arm and the other on her thigh.
“Ready?” he asked. “I’ll toss you up. You can take the next one down.”
She nodded, and reached for her staff. With one shake she extended it. Colm lifted her and swung her around. Then he tossed her into the air.
She flew up and slammed into the raider seated on the final hargon. She unseated him, and they flew off the other side of the beast, crashing together into the dirt. Honor was thankful she landed on top. There was a brief struggle, the raider rearing beneath her. She got her staff against his throat. Damn, he was strong. She pushed harder, all her body weight behind it. Ugh, the man smelled like he hadn’t washed in weeks. His long hair was matted around his scarred face.
Suddenly, he rolled, and Honor lost her balance. He shoved her off him, hard. Honor tumbled backward and jumped to her feet. She took two steps back, switching the grip on her staff.
Colm appeared by her side.
Another surviving raider joined hers. They both drew their swords, their gazes on Colm.
“Ready?” Colm asked.
“Hell yeah, warrior.”
Together, they rushed forward. Colm went in high, while Honor went in low. With a few quick slashes of Colm’s sword, and swings of Honor’s staff, they had the two Raiders writhing in the dirt.
Honor dragged an arm across her face. She watched as Colm cleaned his sword and reached up, with a flex of muscles, to put it back in his scabbard.
“Not bad, warrior.”
He nodded. “The same to you. Not bad, little warrior.”
She frowned at him. “I’m not little.”
“You are compared to me.”
“Most people are little compared to you.”
“Everyone okay?” Derek shouted. “I barely got a shot off. You two were incredible.”
The archeologists crept out of hiding.
Honor eyed the raiders’ milling hargon beasts, moving closer to study them. “What do we do about these?”
“Let them go. They’ll find wild packs to join, or be caught by traders.”
She nodded. “I suggest we load this pod up and get back to the estate.” Honor clipped her staff back to her belt. “I don’t want to risk making this a big, juicy target for anyone else.”
“I think that is an excellent idea.”
There was a sudden burst of movement near the hargons. Honor spun…just in time to see a raider leap onto the back of a hargon and charge in her direction.
Dammit. The man must have been hiding among the beasts. She heard Colm shout, was reaching for her laser pistol—
The raider leaned down and snatched her off her feet, yanking her onto the galloping beast.
***
Colm let out a sharp whistle. A second later, his hargon raced up beside him. He gripped the reins and while the beast was still moving, swung onto its back.
He set his heels into the hargon’s side. “Yah. Find your speed, my friend.”
Ahead, he saw the dirt flying up behind the raider’s beast. The bastard had Honor and Colm had no intention of seeing her raped, murdered, or sold into slavery.
His face turned grim and his hands tightened on the reins. He would get her back.
He leaned forward over the neck of his hargon, the wind blowing his hair back. He could see Honor struggling with the raider.
By the Warrior’s fist…if she fell off at this speed she’d break her neck. He was certain skyflyer technology couldn’t heal that.
Colm urged more speed from his hargon.
Soon he gained on the raider. As he neared, Colm felt his eyes widen.
Honor was slamming hard punches into the raider’s face. The man was trying to protect himself, but from the heat in her cheeks, it looked like Honor Brandall was beyond furious.
Another vicious hit and Colm saw the raider lose his grip on the reins. The man lurched to the side, grabbing at anything to stop his fall. He let out a terrified shout.
Honor jammed an elbow into the man’s neck.
The raider toppled off. He hit the ground and tumbled over and over.
Colm slowed his hargon and leaned to the side, holding on with his knees. He drew his sword and it took one swing to take care of the raider.
When he looked up, he saw the other hargon was still racing away at breakneck speed, Honor clingi
ng to its back.
By the warrior. Colm kicked his beast and they took off in pursuit.
He pushed his hargon hard. Its hooves pounded on the dirt and flames poured from its nostrils.
He pulled alongside the raider’s animal. He saw Honor’s hair had torn free from its tie and it covered her face in a golden cloud.
He reached over and yanked her off.
Her weight hit him hard enough to make him grunt, but he kept his arm wrapped around her and jerked her into his chest. Her arms clamped around him.
Colm slowed his hargon. It took some time, but finally the beast slowed to a walk.
Colm urged Honor’s face up. “Are you all right? Did he hurt you?”
She held up her hand. Her knuckles were red. “Nothing I can’t fix.”
Any other woman he knew would be upset and hysterical after being snatched by a raider. Not Honor Brandall.
“I raced all this way to rescue you,” he said.
“Well, I was almost done rescuing myself.” She looked smug.
He fought back a smile.
“I just couldn’t get the damn hargon to slow down,” she added.
Colm wheeled his hargon around to head back to the others. “You’re sure you’re okay?”
She nodded, her hold on him easing. He felt a flash of disappointment as her arms slid away.
He helped her settle in front of him. With her snuggled in his arms, her round backside pressed to his stomach, he decided this wasn’t too bad either.
Honor fitted in his arms perfectly.
“I would prefer you avoid being kidnapped by raiders in the future,” he murmured to her.
“It isn’t on my To Do list.” She paused. “But thanks for coming after me, warrior.”
He smiled, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. “You’re welcome. Perhaps next time, you will leave me something to do.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
His smile widened. “Now, how about we let your friends know you’re okay—” he saw them ahead now “—and return to the estate?”
“We’re on the same page, warrior.”
He raised a brow at the unfamiliar expression, but he understood her meaning. “You could ride back with me.” He slid his hand down to her waist.
She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away. “I don’t think so.” She arched her head back to look at him. “The last guy who rode with me didn’t enjoy it much.”
Colm tipped his head back and laughed. “Very well, little warrior.”
She sniffed. “I’m not little.”
Chapter Five
The sun was setting and the first of Markaria’s moons was on the rise when Colm’s group made it back to Kavon’s estate. Hooves clattered on the cobblestones and some of the Institute team looked exhausted.
Looking at Honor, sitting straight and tall on her hargon, you wouldn’t have guessed she’d made such a long journey and then, on top of that, fought off a band of raiders. Especially not with a skill Colm found breathtaking.
The strange droid moved behind them, carrying the escape pod. He glanced at it, still marveling that such a small thing could carry something far larger than itself.
As they pulled to a stop, a crowd came down the steps of Kavon’s house. Kavon and Aurina, Niklas and Nera, the young girl, Lala, and a bunch of others.
“Well done,” Niklas said. “A Terran escape pod.” The man hurried over to look at the artifact.
Kavon nodded and Colm returned his friend’s gesture.
“Any problems?” Kavon asked.
“Raiders. They won’t be a problem anymore.” Colm slid off his hargon and handed the reins to the waiting stable boy.
“Good work protecting our visitors.”
Colm shot him a small smile. “Actually, they did an admirable job of protecting themselves.” His gaze caught Honor’s. “Agent Brandall is a formidable fighter.”
Nik stood. “There’s an ID plate here. It was hidden under the slime.” The man smiled. “This pod is from the Valhalla.”
There was a small round of cheers.
Nik held up a hand. “It proves the Valhalla made it here, but we still have to find it.”
“And our scans don’t show anything ship-sized on the planet,” Nera said.
Nik nodded. “Tomorrow, Kavon is taking us to see the wreck of the Excalibur. Perhaps we’ll find more clues there.” He eyed the pod. “Or in here.”
Honor stepped forward. “There is another possibility. I’m no astro-archeologist, but I’m good at analyzing the facts. The Valhalla was clearly in trouble if they released an escape pod. Markaria has two moons. Could there be a chance the ship crash-landed on one of them?”
Colm’s gaze went up to the night sky. He could see the first of Markaria’s moons—Ansar—hanging in the sky. The smaller, Myrine, would follow shortly.
“With your permission,” Nik said, “we’d like to run scans of the moons from our smaller expedition ship, the Drake.”
“One moon is rocky with little atmosphere,” Honor said. “It should be quick to scan that. The second moon, however, has an atmosphere, but it’s covered in snow and ice. It might take a little longer to check that one out.”
Kavon nodded thoughtfully. “Very well. Again, Colm will help your team.”
Colm felt his gut harden. “Go in a ship? To the moons?” He’d never once considered stepping foot off Markaria. He wasn’t sure warriors were meant for space. Sure, after he’d met Aurina and her brothers, he’d thought about it, but the reality of it…
“What do you say, barbarian? You up for some flying?”
The challenge in her voice made him straighten. “I think I am, Agent Brandall.”
“All right,” Nik called out. “I need archeologists to stay and open this escape pod. Everyone else, we all have a busy day planned for tomorrow, so get some rest.”
Honor shot Colm a small smile. “Thanks for your help today, warrior.” Then she walked away. But not in the direction of the personal rooms assigned to their visitors. He knew she was headed for the large room Honor had asked for, to use as a training room for her security team.
Colm checked in with his men. The training he’d assigned for Kavon’s warriors had gone well.
“So, how was your mission to the meadows?”
Colm turned and saw a young warrior, Kian, grinning at him. “Fine.”
“I’ve seen the security agent you’re working with.” A look of appreciation crossed the man’s face. “I would trade you for the task in a heartbeat.”
An ugly feeling rose in Colm. “Have you finished work on those breathing exercises I left for you?”
The young warrior’s face cleared. “Uh…not yet, I was planning to—”
“Finish them, Kian. I think you need to hone your control.” And your thoughts.
Colm headed off, planning to go to his rooms.
Instead, pulled by a force he didn’t seem to be able to fight, he found himself in the hallway leading to the security team’s training room.
He reached the doorway and paused. He sucked in a breath.
Honor’s discarded Institute uniform was draped over a chair. All she wore were tight, black leggings, and a tiny top that cupped her breasts and left her toned stomach bare.
She was working with her staff. Lunging, swinging it, moving like she was dancing.
She was gorgeous. And he wanted her. Deep inside he felt a flicker, his nanami buzzing. And today, she’d almost been hurt. The nanami felt like they were ebbing and flowing, pushing at him.
He could have lost the chance to taste her because he hadn’t been fast enough, hadn’t protected her.
He dragged in a deep breath.
She spotted him and paused. “Hi.”
He cleared his throat. “Don’t stop on my account.”
She nodded, and moved her staff again in a long swing above her head. She lunged to the side, dropping low, one leg bent under her and the other out straight. Then she
pushed upward, swinging the staff again. Colm found her moves almost hypnotic.
Watching her for a few minutes, he felt the intensity inside him settle. Soothed by her fluid movements.
Suddenly, he disliked the distance between them. He crossed the mat on the floor, moving in behind her until only an inch separated their skin.
He felt her go still.
“Will you show me?” he asked.
“How to use the staff?”
“Yes.”
She nodded. He reached around her and wrapped his hands over hers on the staff. She moved and he followed, their bodies brushing together with each slow swing and step.
He scented her arousal and his own surged. He closed the inch between them, pressing his chest against her back. She went still again—like prey scenting a hunter closing in.
But this woman was no prey. She was a warrior in her own right.
He leaned down and pressed his lips to her sweaty throat. “I can sense the blood rushing in you.”
She pulled in a shaky breath. “You know I’m attracted to you. There’s no point in me lying about it.” She shivered. “But I don’t think involvement with you is wise. And I’m not interested in a one-night stand. I’m told no woman shares your bed more than once.”
It was true. He could never risk feeling more for a woman and the truth was, he’d never felt any desire to keep a woman longer.
But something told him one night with Honor wouldn’t be enough.
“I’ll show you how to use the staff, Colm, but that’s all.”
Okay, so his little warrior needed some more coaxing. He could be patient. He placed his hands on hers again and pulled the staff in to her chest. It nestled between her breasts.
He moved it, the slick surface sliding against her.
She let out a breath with a hiss. “Colm.” She pulled away. “I think you’ve had enough of this lesson. Let’s move onto sparring.” She strode across to some large bags against the wall. She rummaged around for a moment, then moved back to him.
She handed him a retracted staff.
He mimicked the way he’d seen her shake the weapon and it extended.
She raised her staff in front of her, holding it with both hands. “You showed me some sword-fighting, it’s only fair I show you some staff fighting.”