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

Qilo shrugged. “We have the parts, but you’re going to have to talk to the Chadon.”

“The little girl with the big head?” Godwin questioned.

Both Qilo’s and Zion’s faces paled slightly. “Uh, I wouldn’t say that to her,” Zion grumbled. “She is the Tasgool’s leader and deserves your respect. Without her, you’d be in the hands of the Marisheio,” Zion warned.

“Not to mention a bit sensitive about her age,” Qilo mentioned. He helped the man to stand then patted his shoulder as he stood. “She’s more than you’d expect… for a little girl,” Qilo mentioned.

“For now, Cidele arranged accommodations for you and your son while you recuperate. You’re welcome to join us for drinks tonight at Lolum’s,” Zion offered. Godwin turned to Zion in question. “I’ll come get you.”

Godwin offered his hand for Qilo to shake again. “Good to meet you, Captain.”

Zion guided Godwin away, taking a moment to look back at Qilo. “Captain?”

Qilo shrugged. “Sortec upgraded me,” he said within a grin.

Zion shook his head amused as he hurried up beside Godwin. “Things are getting rather odd around here.”

***

Outside the main government building, Sedom took a seat on a rock wall. Her eyes stared distantly at the building. In her mind she kept playing the last message she heard from her grandmother. Even though she couldn’t see her grandmother as she spoke, she knew she was calling Relgid from her office… the office of the Chadon.

Her eyes turned to a small stone in the wall, feeling it wobble slightly as her thin fingers played nervously with it. She was Chadon and doing everything that the position required, yet she still felt that her grandmother would return at any moment to take over.

That is my office, she yelled in her thoughts. She forced her rear off the rock wall and walked into the building.

The main doors slid open, revealing a chaotic mess of noise. People were racing around, delivering computer pads. As she walked down the long hall of offices, she could see several people talking on the coms or in meetings.

One man looked up from his com, quickly standing. “Chadon,” he announced.

The hall and the office grew eerily quiet as everyone turned to watch Sedom. Some of the workers even had gaping expressions on their mouths.

“As you were,” Sedom called out, waving her hand for them to continue their tasks.

The man in the office slowly sat and continued his com conversation. He constantly glanced up at Sedom until she moved on. Sedom took a step back to have a look at the doorframe. Above the doorframe read Empaaki which meant community development in Celibek. She grinned, continuing down the hall. They did have enough people within Gathow to be considered a community now.

As she walked further, many of the people stopped to bow their heads. This unnerved Sedom greatly. She finally had to pause and turn to the group. “Don’t bow. I’m not royalty. A friendly “Chadon” will do just fine,” she announced.

“Chadon,” one of the women said near Sedom.

Sedom pointed to her. “Perfect. Keep up the good work.” She continued on, finally reaching Danstu’s office.

Danstu was inside his office, pacing as he was speaking to someone on his com. She peeked around the corner noticing two other people she didn’t know were seated inside.

“If we’re dealing with as many stones as you say, we’re going to need a better place to house them other than the Chadon’s quarters,” one of the men mentioned.

“I know. I’m not certain where yet though. I also don’t know if that’s all of the stones she has. We—“ Danstu started.

“There is a vault on level six, section…” Sedom paused to think, “eight-four-essa that is large enough to house all of the stones currently in Gathow. And no, that’s not all of them,” she mentioned, walking into the room. All three men inside stood. She offered the two new men her hand. “Chadon Sedom Sortec,” she introduced.

“Chadon,” Danstu began, nearly jumping over his desk to reach her. “May I introduce Armon and Beshe Bockines. The Quice team I mentioned. They are brothers I’ve hired to handle our finances,” he explained.

“Honored, Chadon,” Armon, the shorter of the two men, said with a bow.

“Pleasure is all mine,” Sedom returned. “I’m going to check out my office. When you have a moment,” she asked Danstu, then dismissed herself.

In the hallway, she was met once again with several wide eyes. Sedom turned to them, shaking her head frustrated. “This,” she pointed to the door behind her, “is my office. You are going to have to get use to me being here,” she said.

The group turned back to their tasks, leaving Sedom to open the door. The door opened to a surprisingly clean office. All of the furniture was new and the drapes. She went to the window behind the desk and looked out. Outside had a perfect view of a small park that sat in the middle of the first floor. She could see several children playing in the park just as she did when she was younger.

“First time back?” Danstu asked from beside her. Sedom nodded. “I hope you don’t mind. I thought it could use some spit and polish,” he mentioned.

“As long as it wasn’t your spit,” she joked. “From now on, house families on levels two and three. There’s better facilities for children… more parks and schools. Keep level one available for higher-ranking officers and political advisors,” she ordered.

“Sounds like a good idea. I’m going to have the Bockines brothers start on the stones. What is the pass code?” he asked.

“Two-two-three-nine-five,” Sedom said. After she told him, he left. Sedom turned back to her office chair, grinning. She just gave Danstu her complete trust yet she didn’t blink an eye.

She pressed her thumb to the computer on her desk. A