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

a conversation with Cidele, but she could tell he was thinking out loud more than talking to her.

“What could a political advisor do for Sedom?” Cidele asked, suddenly interested.

Lolum reached for his pipe by his chair and proceeded to pack tobacco into the end. “Advise. Something we desperately need. I researched his background. Danstu has an impressive record with the Windrit High Council. We could use his expertise to help build Gathow.”

A knock at the door caused Cidele to jump up from the sofa. “Well, I wish you luck. First, you'll need to convince Sedom to allow a stranger control over her and her city, which won’t be easy.” She opened the door, revealing Nokinil and Danstu. “Good evening, gentlemen.” She smiled, this time looking directly at Danstu. “I'll leave you to business.” She brushed past Nokinil then Danstu, pausing to look at him. “Run while you can.” She half-joked to Danstu than gave him a flirtatious wink.

Nokinil grabbed Danstu, forcing him into the house before he had a chance to lust after Cidele.

“How is it you came to have such a beautiful daughter?” Nokinil joked, his attempt to break the ice with Lolum, who was standing near the door as if waiting for Danstu to make a move on his daughter.

“Unlucky, I guess. Gentlemen, if you’ll come inside. We have much to discuss. I must apologize in advance. Unfortunately, Sortec is detained on other matters,” Lolum began. “May I offer you two a drink?”

A short time later Nokinil and Danstu exited the house, both scowling. “Cidele wasn't joking, was she?” Danstu asked his uncle.

“Nope, I don't believe she was. We’re going to have to think about his offer,” Nokinil said, his pale face drawn. He glanced over to Danstu, noticing his normally pale face a rosy pink. “Let me rephrase that, I’m going to have to give my answer some thought. You’ve already made your decision.”

Danstu flinched. “Have I?”

“You’d be lying to yourself if you said this isn’t everything you’ve always wanted,” he pointed out. “Gathow? That man in there is basically offering you the keys to the universe. You’re telling me that you’re not going to take him up on that offer?”

Zion walked past the two men, thinking nothing of them at first. He suddenly paused and turned back to Danstu, offering him his hand. “Welcome aboard. If you ever need a good place to scream out your aggressions, the ship bay is a good place. Good sound control. Or level seven has a sound-proof observation room,” he half-joked, gave Nokinil a nod and continued on.

Both men turned to each other. “Is Sortec really as horrible as they make her out to be?” Nokinil asked.

“I guess we’ll find out. She does have a reputation as being a spit-fire. I’ll catch up with you later,” he said with a pat on his uncle’s shoulder. He hurried after Zion. “Hold up,” he called.

Zion paused, allowing Danstu to join him. “Hey, would you happen to know where I can find information about Gathow?”

“Like?” Zion questioned.

Danstu shook his head uneasy. “Lolum offered me a position here to help Sortec, but I doubt she’ll be forthcoming. I need some basic stats, weapons, food, general population, and most important…what this military base is capable of?”

Zion chuckled. “I wouldn’t know. But if Lolum gave you the go-ahead, it’s probably a good idea to introduce you to Sortec.”

Danstu frowned in question. “We’ve already met.”

“She has three types of people she recognizes, those she met, people she calls friends and those she employs. Come on, she needs to know you’re working for her.”

Inside the gym, Sedom’s fist flew, connecting against the leathered punching bag. Before her stood the tanned skin of Talenvanc, filled with sand and crafted into the perfect punching bag. She slammed her fist into the bag again and again until she lost all her breath.

“Sortec!” Zion called out from the doorway, briefly gaining her attention.

She grabbed hold of the bag, leaning over to catch her breath against it. “What?” she yelled.

“You’ve got company,” he called out as he and Danstu approached.

She wiped away the sweat from her eyes then turned to the door. “Tasbola-sotla,” she grumbled noticing Danstu with Zion.

“This is Danstu Keriney—“ Zion began.

“Yes, I know. We met in the tunnels. Again, what do you want?” she barked.

Danstu stepped away from Zion, keeping his distance from Sedom. “Lolum asked that I come speak with you about the job.”

“Job? What job?” she groaned. She slammed her fist into the bag again and continued to as he spoke.

“The assistant position,” Danstu clarified.

“Who’s assistant?” she asked as she continued to punch.

“Yours,” Zion spoke up. Sedom didn’t respond. “You need someone who can help guide Gathow in the right direction. This is your man,” he encouraged.

Sedom nodded, recalling her conversation with Lolum. He had mentioned to her Danstu was someone she should employ. She wiped the sweat from her nose and continued to punch. “What can a twenty-six-year-old Crehail man, with taboo shoes, do that I can’t?”

Danstu started to speak only to be held back by Zion. He shook his head, telling Danstu not to say anything. “I suggest we give him some space and see what he’s capable of,” Zion requested.

“Space?” Sedom grunted. “What kind of space?”

“You have key positions that need to be filled. I have the means to fill them. I know a lot of people who would jump at the chance to join your cause,” Danstu spoke up.

“My cause?” Sedom questioned.

“Our cause, Chadon,” Zion corrected.

Sedom grunted her amusement. “If,” she slammed her fist into the bag, “you hire someone that means to do me or Gathow harm, I will personally cut you up, inch by inch, and feed you to the Gawain. Understood?” she asked. Danstu nodded. Sedom didn’t hear him nod. “UNDERSTOOD?” she barked