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

of sight. “Ten years of school with the Windrits didn’t teach you a damn thing, did it? His daughter? Come on, Danstu. Could you be any more blatant?”

“What? Her? Cidele?” He glanced in the direction where Cidele ran off to. “Oh hell, I didn't know. That’s his daughter? He’s Mandicien, she’s Crehail,” he protested.

“I believe she’s adopted. I didn’t ask,” Nokinil mentioned.

The two started towards the cafeteria, but as Danstu turned the corner he ran directly into Zion. He backed away, pointing to Zion. “You’re Zion,” he announced. Zion paused, stared down at Nokinil and then continued on without so much as an apology.

“Yes, that’s Zion. What I’ve come to understand he’s Sortec’s protector. That man scares the hell out of me,” Nokinil admitted in a whisper to Danstu. “After she rescued us, he really laid into her about risking her life. She got right back in his face and—“

“Sortec rescued the city? The child?” Danstu interrupted.

Nokinil nodded grimly. “Yes, pretty much single-handedly. She must have killed fifty Marisheio last night. It was a real bloodbath,” Nokinil said, his eyes distant. “I’m glad I had the sense to send you away before all hell broke loose. Who knows what the Marisheio would have done to you.”

Danstu released one long, deep gasping sigh. “I know what they would have done to me and it wouldn’t have been pleasant.”

Zion continued to the infirmary. Inside the infirmary, he looked around for any signs of Ratisha. Evolanc and Noral were busy helping patients they had rescued. Rosanheer sat on one of the beds, holding a small child to his shoulder. He glanced over at him, who motioned for Zion to join him.

“What’s with that?” Zion asked.

Rosanheer rubbed the child's back. “Orphan. He’s the boy Sortec gave you to rescue. He was scared and needed a hug. Let’s say I have a soft spot for damaged children. Everyone secured?”

“Cidele was running around, frantic over losing Alree. I happen to know he went to the arboretum,” he explained. “I figured it would give her something to do for awhile.” He grinned, his lips puckered into a half-moon shape.

“You’re bad,” Rosanheer laughed. “I don’t know what prompted the war between you two, but neither of you fight fair.”

Evolanc wandered over to Zion, a scowl to her coffee-colored lips. “Tell Sortec to stop bringing us injured. I'm starting to forget what my bed looks like.”

“You'd have a better chance convincing her to hire more medical staff. Where's Ratisha?” Zion asked. Evolanc pointed to Noral's office. “I’ll catch up with you later,” he told Rosanheer and hurried off to the direction Evolanc pointed.

To his surprise, she was in Noral's office, sitting in a hover chair. Next to her sat a stack of computer pads. Zion cleared his throat, causing Ratisha to jump.

“Oh, it's you,” she gulped. “Zion, right? I haven't seen you since I came here.”

“Sorry. I wanted to stop by sooner. Nice chair,” he mentioned as he continued further into the room.

Ratisha rolled her eyes. “Don't remind me. Sedom won't let me have the surgery to fix my legs until I cure this damn disease.”

He leaned against the desk next to her. “Think you can cure it?” he asked.

Ratisha shrugged. “I was just out of med school when I was assigned to Lord Wyice to create it. Half the compounds I can't even remember anymore,” she sighed, rubbing her eyes. “I need some fresh air. You want to join me?”

“Food?” he grunted. “I can handle that. Come on, I'll take you.” He grabbed hold of the handles of her chair, guiding the chair to the main doors.

“Now that we’re alone, I have to know, who did I remind you of?” she asked as he guided the chair into the streets. Zion frowned uncertain of what she meant. “On the way here, you said I reminded you of someone dear. Who was she?”

“A lover. My first, actually,” Zion spoke softly.

“She died?” she asked.

Again Zion grunted. “Took her own life when her father refused our pairing,” he replied distantly.

“He risked his own daughter's happiness because he didn't like you?” Ratisha gasped.

Zion shook his head. “No. He liked me. My family was wealthy and had some governmental power. When I asked for her hand, he returned with a request for a large sum of money.”

“You're Zalmin? I didn't think Zalmin's paid for their women,” Ratisha mentioned.

Zion nodded. “We don't… it's considered demeaning and not to mentioned illegal. But without payment, he denied our marriage… and she took her life. For a long time, I blamed myself until I learned the truth. He had numerous gambling debts. To repay some, he offered her services as a concubine to a Marisheio Lord. One way or another he was determined to sell her.”

“What happened when you found out?” Ratisha asked.

“There was a price on his head for not paying his debts. I collected on the bounty. It’s what led me to where I am today.” He guided her chair into the cafeteria. “The best and the only food in town.”

“Working for Sedom?” she questioned.

“Working as a hired gun,” he corrected. “My family didn’t approve of my choices and denied me any inheritance. I served in the Dormin military for a time, but when it was time to renew my contract, I was offered a more lucrative opportunity by Braum Daveric’s house. I took it.”

“Sad story,” Ratisha admitted solemnly.

“Yes, well… I do ask you don't mention it to the others. It would be a shame to learn that I have a history and emotions like everyone else,” he said behind a grin.

He rolled the chair up to one of the dining tables. The cafeteria was filled with refugees from the city. Across the way, he noticed Danstu and Nokinil. “Danstu...” he mentioned, motioning for Ratisha to look. “He’s an…