The Last Narkoy: Gathow: Book 2 by Elizabeth Price (good e books to read .txt) 📗

execution. He was always a coward,” he explained cryptically. Sedom continued to stare. “I was inside the Marisheio for a long time. You learn about your superiors in case you have to work for them. Talenvanc had a reputation of removing his enemy’s eyes. He kept them in a jar on his desk.”

“Why are you a traitor? Not that being against the Marisheio is a bad thing,” Ratisha asked against Zion's shoulder. “Seems rather odd a man, such as you, would suddenly change sides.”

A slight smirk came to Rosanheer's dark lips. “I woke up one day and had a long look around. I didn't like what I saw. You get caught up in whatever task you're given. Seldom does anyone take the time and realize what that task entails,” Rosanheer said. “I'm sure you noticed the same,” he hinted.

Ratisha chuckled. “No. I fell in love with the wrong man.”

Zion smirked. “I hear that happens with doctors.”

Ratisha shook her head. “Not in my case. I met my husband under unusual circumstances. He was still working with the Rycal when we fell in love and I had recently left the service of the Marisheio.”

Rosanheer coughed in a way to cause everyone to believe he thought she was lying. “Leave the service of the Marisheio?” Rosanheer questioned.

Ratisha chuckled. “Okay, not exactly. I was involved in things that questioned my ethics, so I ran. Maybe you were right about not liking what I saw.”

“Was he still with Nercon at the time?” Sedom asked, already knowing the answer.

Ratisha shrugged. “I was a young scientist with raging hormones. I questioned everything except my love affair. It wasn't until later when he brought his young son to live with us that I learned the truth. By then it was too late.”

“Who’s Nercon?” Rosanheer asked.

Zion motioned to Sedom. “She was a Rycal officer who was assigned to protect Sortec after the Marisheio took over Matrador.”

Qilo nodded. “Tomcan Nercon, I met her once,” he mentioned, gaining everyone's attention. He had been silent up until then. “Not someone I'd want to face on the battlefield. If she was your protector, I understand now how you know how to fight.”

Sedom shrugged, trying to distance herself from the conversation. Iya Nercon was the last thing she wanted to think about. It had been nearly two years since the murder of her protectors, yet the image of their dying faces still clung heavily in her thoughts. It wasn’t something she needed to focus on at the moment. What she did need to focus on was reaching Gathow before moonlight.

“She had her flaws,” she stated cryptically, then walked ahead as if to momentarily escape the conversation.

Ratisha looked into Zion's eyes, questioning Sedom strange behavior. “What was that all about?”

Zion looked away from Ratisha, watching Sedom with concern. “Nercon went insane, so I understand from clips of Sortec’s conversations. One of those pieces of her history she doesn’t go into detail about.” He held her tighter against his chest. “Try to relax. The more you tense your muscles the more your body will suffer. Sortec can't block everything from you.”

“You show concern for me, why?” she asked in a whisper.

Sedom allowed Zion to catch up a little, her curiosity piqued. Then she realized the other two men were doing the same thing. Would Zion formally admit to why he was treating her kind?

Zion cleared his throat, unnerved by the group’s curiosity. “You remind me of someone I lost a long time ago,” he said low.

She reached to his cheek, forcing him to turn to her. “Who?”

“Another time,” he said, smiling back. He glanced at the group, his smile turning into a smirk. “You all know me well enough to know I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction.”

“And here I thought we'd have a good story to gnaw on,” Rosanheer griped. “Sortec, how far is it to the tunnels?”

Sedom pointed to the mountain of vines before them. “We’re here. Qilo, would you do the honors?” she requested, pointing to the entry. Vines had already covered the entry over again.

Qilo removed his machete, swiping it over the vines. The vines fell away, allowing them to enter.

SIX

 

Rosanheer carried Ratisha inside the infirmary, setting her on one of the medical tables. Evolanc poked her head out of the office, her face brightening with panic over seeing the two unfamiliar Cloves. She grabbed her pistol. Her aged hands shook as she raised the pistol to aim at the intruders.

Sedom took hold of Evolanc’s pistol, removing it from her hands. “It's okay, Evolanc. They're with me,” she explained. “He’s hurt, see to his wounds also,” she ordered.

Evolanc’s hand flew to her beating heart. “Oh, thank the heavens,” she gasped. “Please, warn me next time. It’s so quiet; I do tend to be a bit jumpy.” She hurried over to Ratisha, noticing the woman's condition. “You must be Ratisha,” Evolanc asked.

Ratisha nodded several times, trying to hold back her pain. Evolanc held an air syringe to her neck. She fell back against the bed, her body relaxing.

Evolanc turned to Rosanheer, her eyes widened when she noticed his tattoos. “And you are?”

“Rosanheer,” he introduced, offering her his hand to shake.

“How bad are you?” Evolanc asked. Rosanheer lifted his shirt to show her his wound. “Sortec healed you, I see. Come back in an hour and I’ll have Dr. Noral look at you.” Evolanc waved him aside. “Meanwhile, go shower. You’re stinking up the infirmary,” she snipped.

Sedom chuckled to herself. “She has a point. Come on, let’s go clean up.” She waved Rosanheer to follow her out of the infirmary. Outside, she noticed the lights were abnormally dim. She would have to ask about that later. “Good work out there.”

“Thanks, Chadon,” Rosanheer replied. “If it’s all the same, I think I’ll grab some food first.” Yes, he might have