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

waited a moment longer to see if she had anything else to say. She didn’t. Quietly, he walked out into the hall, finding Zion and Rosanheer waiting for him. Both watched Danstu with concern and amusement.

“She’s sorry,” Danstu returned with a shrug.

***

Sedom raced through the streets of Gathow, heading in the direction of the infirmary. In mid stride, one of the Crowarl's citizens jumped out in front of her, blocking her route. He was a husky man, carrying a large bag of fruit.

“Get out of my way!” the man demanded, shoving Sedom aside with a heavy arm.

Sedom fell back, landing on her rear. Moments later, Tremble hurried to Sedom. She grabbed the man, tossing his bag of fruit to the sidewalk. “That is the Chadon! You will show her respect,” Tremble demanded.

“A child?” the man growled. “I will do no such thing!”

Sedom slowly stood, waving her hand for Tremble to back away. With two quick steps, she forced the man to his knees. “You got those from the arboretum?” she asked the man, pointing to the bag of fruit.

“Why should I tell you?” he growled back, spitting towards Sedom’s feet.

Sedom stared down at the glob of spit next to her. With closed eyes, she turned to Tremble. “And it begins.” She had two options. The first, rip him apart and make him an example to the others or… she called down one of the orbs. “Remove this man from Gathow. If he returns, shoot him on sight,” she ordered.

“There is no way—“ the man began in protest. The orb grew closer to him, its top glowing red.

“Mr. Morril, you will follow or be destroyed,” the orb demanded. When the man failed to move right away, the orb shocked him.

By now, a small group of people had begun to form around them. Sedom turned to the group, taking in a deep breath as she addressed them. “All I require is your loyalty, respect and that you obey the rules. If you can’t handle that, you will be ejected from Gathow,” she called to the group.

The group moved aside, allowing the orb to escort the man from Gathow. Several of those which surrounded her bowed their heads, whispering, “Chadon.” Sedom bowed back and continued towards the infirmary.

Tremble remained behind her. “Are you alright, Chadon?”

“Ungrateful…” she grumbled under her breath. “Yes, fine. I knew something like this was bound to happen. I just… just don’t want to be considered a tyrant,” she admitted low to Tremble.

“You saved their lives and are allowing them to live in your city. You’ve already earned their respect. There’s always a bad bean in every stew. Hopefully there was only one,” Tremble advised.

Sedom paused, turning to Tremble. A slight smirk rested on her lips like a hammock. “I finally figured it out. You remind me of my mother. She wasn’t a warrior or anything remotely like that, but she always had good advice. Remind me to thank Zion for assigning you to me.”

A puckered grin appeared on Tremble’s thin lips. “With pleasure, Chadon.”

They continued inside the infirmary, finding Evolanc standing beside a locked glass room. Inside, Alree was pounding on the glass to be allowed out.

“I did as you requested, Chadon,” Evolanc said. She crossed her arms over her heavy chest. “I caught him sneaking around the computer systems. Your man,” she pointed to one of the men who were part of Tremble’s group. He was standing guard near one of the computer counsels. “He managed to shut off all computer information running to this room.”

“So he was gathering information,” Sedom surmised. She turned to Alree, glaring at the man. “Not only do I have to worry about the Marisheio Empire and the Rook Empire, now I have to worry about some crazy Windrit genius.” She shook her head in frustration as she began to pace.

“Sortec, please, I’m here—“ Alree called through the glass.

She rushed to Alree’s room, slamming her hands against the glass. He jumped back, fearing her anger. “Save it! Just… just shut up! If I were you, I’d be grateful I don’t have the energy to skin you right now,” she cawed back. She turned to Tremble. “Have someone throw him in a cell on level three. I want his brain dissected for every scrap of information he may know,” she spat back to Alree. “Zion will deal with him when he returns tomorrow,” she ordered Tremble. “No, make that Rosanheer.”

“Immediately, Chadon,” she answered. She motioned to the guard by the computer to do as Sedom ordered.

“Now, where is Ratisha?” Sedom asked Evolanc within a heated sigh.

“Asleep. I sent her home. She’s been up for three days working on that project of hers,” Evolanc explained.

Sedom let her head fall backwards, her mouth open and ready to scream. “Fine!” she groaned. “Tell her to hold off on finding a cure. Instead, I want a detailed report on everything, and I do mean everything, she can remember about Lord Wyice.”

“I’ll let her know, Chadon,” Evolanc returned submissively.

Sedom rushed out of the infirmary, ready to scream. “It was so much easier when no one was here but me,” she said to herself out loud.

“Pitfalls of command, having to deal with people,” Tremble spoke up from behind.

“That’s the truth. I’m going back to my quarters and intentionally bury myself under a mound of paperwork. It’s better than dealing with all this,” she said, nearly running once again into another man. This man was sitting on the sidewalk, staring at the street in a daze.

FIFTEEN

 

The next morning, Sedom returned to the bridge. The bridge had an odd smell in the air, much like hot electronics mixed with sweat and stale coffee. Only one light shown on the bridge and it was directly above the com station where Bri was still sitting. He