Laughter came from her tablet. “Well, then, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.”
Chapter Ten
Four hours in the cramped ship and Ariana was questioning why she’d ever thought she was falling for Keirth Transman. Once they were cooped up together, he was incomprehensibly rude. The ship they’d taken from Trioth was much smaller than her own ship. It didn’t have a dining room, just a small kitchen—which wasn’t stocked with any food, of course, meaning Ariana was starving—and the bedchambers were hardly big enough to contain single beds. The ship rattled and made strange noises in hyperspace, which Keirth said were nothing to worry about. Ariana had managed to bring along her blaster, but she’d had to leave her trunk on Trioth, so she was stuck in a jumpsuit again.
Keirth had spent the entire trip pacing around the bridge, muttering to himself. When she tried to ask him questions, he ignored her for half of the trip, but then finally snapped at her to shut up and let him think. Then he went on a tirade about everything being harder with her around and really wishing he could send her back home.
During all this, Ariana was dealing with the fact that at random moments, she’d realize again that Risciter was still alive. He’d given his embellished story to the sector. They thought she’d been ravaged by a kidnapper, and Risciter looked like a hero who’d tried to save her. He’d made everything horrible.
And he was still alive.
Which meant she wasn’t safe. She couldn’t stop thinking about the maniacal way he’d smiled at her, how his face had been twisted like an insane man. And she couldn’t help but remember how much he’d seemed excited at the prospect of killing her. Would he give up now?
The news story had plainly said that Risciter was looking for leads on their whereabouts.
And that was another thing Keirth had yelled at her. He said that the galaxy was on high alert looking for the both of them. Her picture was everywhere. She was conspicuous. Everyone would recognize her already, given that she was a duke’s daughter. But now, with the news story flying around, they’d be looking even more closely for her. If it weren’t for Risciter, Keirth told her, he’d pack her up and send her on the first transport back to Wendo.
To which Ariana had retorted that she didn’t have anything to pack, since she hadn’t been able to take her trunk.
After that, they hadn’t done much talking. Ariana had been too angry to speak to him, and he hadn’t seemed interested in talking to her either. So now that the ship had landed, she had no idea where they were.
As she followed Keirth off the landing ramp, she surveyed their surroundings. They’d landed in a spacedock, but not one of the big public ones like they had in major cities in the sector. Instead, it was little more than an open space with the capability to tether one’s ship to ports. There was no shelter from the elements for the ships. Around the flat slab of concrete that constituting the dock was a field of scraggly, overgrown grass. And in the distance, Ariana could see a group of makeshift buildings, constructed of stone and wood. There was a dirt walkway leading from the spacedock to the buildings.
A woman was coming up it. She waved one hand at the two of them.
“Come on,” said Keirth, heading to meet the woman. Ariana didn’t have any choice. She followed.
As they got closer, Ariana could see that the woman was middle-aged, probably near the same age as Ariana’s mother. She was somewhat plump, but she wore a form-fitting tunic that gaped low, showing off her ample cleavage, and a skirt that hit her around mid-thigh.
“We welcome walk-ins,” called the woman, “but you’d get much prompter service if you had an appointment.”
“Lilla, it’s me,” said Keirth, doubling his speed to cross the distance between them and the woman.
When they were a few feet from each other, the woman burst into a huge smile. “Keirth Transman?” She opened her arms wide.
Keirth grinned back and trundled over to her, embracing her warmly.
She held him at arms’ length. “Well, I don’t believe it. I haven’t seen you in nearly five years. I do believe you grew.” She squeezed his upper arm. “Your muscles sure did.”
Keirth laughed. “You look exactly the same. Haven’t aged a day.”
She winked at him. “Charming little liar, aren’t you?” She peered around Keirth at Ariana. “Well, I’ll be. You do have the Duke of Wendo’s daughter, don’t you?”
Ariana stepped forward, offering her hand. “Miss Ariana Gilit.”
The woman shook Ariana’s hand. “Call me Lilla.” She peered at Ariana. “Well, you don’t look viciously raped and practically dead. Of course, we know better than to trust the Duke of Risciter’s word about anything.”