Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine by Jeanne G'Fellers (reading tree TXT) 📗

“This one’s skull had been crushed.” The cadet indicated one of the shrouded bodies. “The other one has a broken neck. They were dead before they hit the water.”

“Is it possible they were caught in a landslide?” asked Chandrey.

The cadet pointed to the boot toe not covered by the shrouds. “There’s no mud, dirt, rocks, or anything else matted into their clothes. No other pre-death injuries we could detect. There would have been if they’d been caught in a slide.”

“In other words,” said Belsas, “you believe they met with foul play?”

“It appears so, Grandmaster.”

“And one sister from the party is still missing?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“You’re dismissed.” Belsas moved to stand beside Chandrey. “Murder on a recovery operation? Chandrey, I swear if—”

“Grandmaster Belsas?” The cadet scrambled back to where they stood. “Another thing you might find interesting.”

“That is?”

“One of them was found without her boots and leggings.”

Chandrey waited until the cadet shuffled off a second time then turned to Belsas, astonished. “Without clothes?”

“Odd.” Belsas considered the two dead Taelachs, edging back one shroud then the other for analysis. “Very odd indeed. What would someone want with boots and leggings from a dead sister?”

“Could they have washed off in the flood?” asked Chandrey.

“It’s possible,” replied Belsas. “In fact, it’s probably what happened.” The morning breezes tugged at the back of their cloaks, flicking off some of the water that had collected along the hemlines. Scents of fresh tea and hot bread mingled in the air, prompting their stomachs into growls of discontent.

“Too little dinner the night before makes the gut angry in the morn.” Chandrey placed a hand over her stomach. It growled even louder.

“I don’t think you’ll quiet it by any means except filling it.” Belsas chuckled. “You haven’t eaten enough as of late.”

“I haven’t had the spirit,” she replied after a moment’s silence.

“It’s not the spirit that requires food, my dear. It’s the body.” Belsas took her by the arm and led the way to the cook tent.

“The spirit needs nourishment, too,” said Chandrey as they walked. “Mine’s been starving.”

Belsas stopped midstep to face her. “I haven’t been there much lately, have I?”

Chandrey looked down and away to shield her sad face from her lover. “You’ve been on post day and night since—”

“Well, I’m not now.” Belsas lifted her, holding her suspended at arm’s length.

“What are you doing?” exclaimed Chandrey in midspin above Belsas’s head.

“I’m giving both our spirits something to nibble on.”

“Everybody’s watching!”

“So? Since when is it wrong for a guardian to show her lady a little affection?” Belsas spun her around one more time then set her lightly down. “Let’s grab a quick breakfast and take it back to our launch. It seems ages since we last talked.”

“Or anything else,” Chandrey snipped as they entered the canopy where the morning meal was being served.

“That too can be remedied, my dear woman.” Belsas held open the tent flap. They waited their turn in the serving line then, food in hand, walked back to their launch.

It was a simple but nourishing meal, the Training Grounds having provided a generous supply of fresh fruits for their consumption.

“You’ll have to thank Yeoman Qualls for her thoughtfulness.” Chandrey finished off a slice of peeled green melon. The succulent round fruit was her favorite, and she took it whenever it was offered, which was never often enough for her tastes. Belsas had chosen two of the small, pale-fleshed vine plums to accompany her bread and tea.

“I will, as soon as all of this is over.”

Chandrey clasped her mug. “When? When will it be over?

We’ve searched two days for some sign of a crash site. I would give anything for one clue, something, any piece that would let us put LaRenna to rest.”

Shhhh. Belsas pushed a calming pleasure phase. I know this is hard and Mother knows I haven’t been any help. You should have been my priority from the beginning. A second, stronger phase followed the first, bringing a sensual glow to Chandrey’s worried face.

We’re in mourning.

Mourning, yes, Chandresslandra Belsas. Dead, no. I need you desperately right now and I think you need me, too. Belsas set their mugs to the side then pulled Chandrey close, kissing her ear and her neck before dropping to one knee to kiss her upturned palm. Shivering at the incredible sensation the touch created, Chandrey allowed herself to be pulled across Belsas’s lap then lowered to the launch’s floor, welcoming the surrounding warmth their pleasure phase offered. Each knew exactly what the other enjoyed, what the other needed. Thirty passes together had made the physical manipulations of lovemaking unnecessary for satisfaction, but Belsas sometimes asked for them, as she did now, smiling down at Chandrey through the joy that encased them. Chandrey swatted Belsas’s dangling braids from her face until they finally tickled out an uncontrollable sneeze at the peak of their lovemaking.

“I’m sorry.” Chandrey wiped the moisture from Belsas’s face. Belsas’s nose wrinkled when it was touched and she returned the sneeze.

“Confounded rain,” she griped. “It’s given everyone the sniffles.” Belsas tried to hold back another, but caught Chandrey full in the face. “Oops.”

“You meant to do that.” Chandrey laughed as she cleaned her face on Belsas’s tunic. “Get off me, you beast. You’ve made a proper mess of my skirts.”

“Are you complaining?” Belsas pulled a rolled jumpsuit from their baggage. “Forget the skirts and put this on. It will be easier to manage in the mud.”

“You know I don’t wear trousers.”

Belsas held out the jumper insistently. “Times are changing. LaRenna wore them whenever she could.”

“LaRenna was Kimshee. They always do things out of the norm.”

“Make an exception. We’re heading out.”

Chandrey removed her skirts and shouldered the oversized coveralls. The garment was cut for Belsas and hung loosely. She rolled the legs and sleeves until they fit then retied the mourning sash about her middle. “Where to? I thought you were staying in camp?”

“Sometimes,” replied Belsas softly, “even the Taelach of All has to bend the rules a little. It makes little sense for me to sit here waiting