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

Danstu took the items from Cidele one at a time, a look of amusement on his thin face. “You… didn’t have to.”

“And what were you going to use to bathe with or sleep on?” she replied motherly, looking into his eyes. For a brief moment, they found each other caught in their gaze. Cidele shied away. “Um… it’s my job to keep everyone comfortable. And I hear you all will be staying her longer than we all thought. You might as well be comfortable.”

“How comfortable?” Danstu questioned flirtatiously as he set his bedding on his bed. He turned back to Cidele, who was staring at him with stern eyes.

“Ah, yes, well,” she paused to release a grumbling sigh. “Sedom calls me her welcoming committee. I’m in charge of housing, so I’ve recently been informed,” she explained. She went to his bedroom door, watching him make his bed. She grabbed a pillow case, stuffing his pillow into it. “Also, I was informed we’ll be working together placing everyone in positions around Gathow. I thought we could meet in the library tomorrow morning and get a jump on it.”

He set the bag she gave him on the coffee table and crossed his arms over his broad chest. “I’m not exactly sure what you’re talking about. This is the first I’ve heard of anything. What else have you heard?”

“Oh…” Cidele giggled. “Oh, my father hasn’t spoken with you yet. So, um, forget what I said. I’m a bit excited having so many new people in Gathow. On another note, Dranium has finally fixed the power to the food replicators in three restaurants. As soon as we clean them up, we’ll have more food options,” Cidele replied excitedly.

“Restaurants?” Danstu asked amused.

Cidele half-grinned, realizing how silly she sounded. “Well, when you’ve had to eat in that cafeteria long enough, anything sounds like a better option. I better go before I say anything else stupid. Enjoy.” She rushed out just as fast as she came in, leaving Danstu standing by the doorway dumbfounded.

“Ah, bye,” he whispered.

Nokinil hurried down the hall from the same direction Cidele had come from. He turned to watch Cidele leave as he approached Danstu’s unit. “I have to say, she’s just the right amount of crazy. No wonder you like her. She reminds me of your mother.”

“Uncle, we’re seriously having this conversation? Your city is in ruin—“ Danstu began to argue.

“Our city, Danstu, our,” Nokinil corrected.

“Okay, our city is in ruin. The last thing I’m thinking about is…” he paused, turning away, blushing. “Okay, maybe I was thinking about it a little bit. But she was only here to drop off some bedding,” Danstu grumbled back.

“Sure she was,” he returned with a wink.

“Are you ready for this?” Danstu questioned.

Nokinil shrugged. “He does have me curious. If Sortec gives us any opportunity to remain here, I’m going to have to take it. I saw the city, there’s nothing left. And if the rumors are true, we won’t have any land to rebuild on. We’re at the Chadon’s mercy.”

Danstu closed the door behind him. “After a rather strange conversation with Cidele, something tells me Sortec will allow us to remain here. But at what cost, I’m not certain.”

They continued down the hall of the building, both noticing that no one else was present in the building. “At least you could return to the Windrit council. No-nee will take you back,” Nokinil pointed out.

Danstu released a deep, body-quaking sigh. “Yes, but I don’t think my knees would last long with the amount of groveling I’d have to do. There’s always the Underground or head north. Well… let’s hear what they have to say. After, we’ll decide what to do.”

NINE

Inside Lolum's quarters, Cidele plopped down on the sofa. She looked around the spacious apartment for signs of her father.

“Father, you home?” she called out.

“Shower,” Lolum called back. “You find Alree?”

Cidele laid back again, wrapping her arms around a pillow. “Oh, that? We found him in the arboretum. Noral helped me get Alree to the infirmary. Apparently, he's not quite level, you know, in a mental way. I guess whatever lord he served did a real number on his head. He was talking to a tof when we found him.”

Lolum emerged from his bedroom dressed in a loose shirt and slacks and brushing his long, white beard. “What I hear, Alree spent six years as Lord Sidoc Wyice's advisor. Lord Wyice is known for his abilities to manipulate the mind. So it doesn't surprise me that Alree’s a little off.”

Cidele sat up, the pillow still on her lap. “I wonder if he and Ratisha know each other?”

Lolum scooted off towards his kitchen, setting his brush on the counter. “I never realized that the two might have worked together. I'll ask Ratisha. It’s a small galaxy. Important people do tend to run into each other now and then. And speaking of important… have you seen Sedom?”

“The orbs informed me she wants to be alone,” Cidele grumbled. “It’s typical of her to leave behind a huge mess for us to clean up.”

“I’d rather clean up a mess of finding three-hundred lost people new homes than battle a hundred Marisheio. Especially having seen the way you fight,” Lolum pointed out as he sat.

“Hear tell it was only fifty. Regardless, I just wish we had more control over Sedom. She's going to get herself killed,” Cidele grumbled. “I know Zion is really upset with her right now, not that he’d actually tell her. I understand why she does it, but does she have to personally save everyone?”

“Nokinil and Danstu will be stopping by soon. I’m going to talk to them about our situation, get some advice. Maybe I can convince them to stay on and help, especially Danstu,” he said as if he were still in