Honor felt her interest sharpen. “What?”
Nera shook her head. “I can’t share yet—” she held up a hand when she saw Honor’s face tighten “—I’m sorry, it isn’t my call. Niklas wants the Markarians to be the first to hear it.”
“You have to give me something,” Honor protested. “I’m your second, and this really hampers my work. How does it affect the mission? Does it make it more dangerous—?”
“Yes.”
When Nera didn’t add any more, Honor released a breath. “That’s it?”
“For now. You’ll get all the details on the ground when we meet with the Markarians. All I can tell you is that Niklas got his hands on some ancient records about the ship that crashed here. There’s more to the story.”
Honor raised her brows. She felt a slight electric buzz through her body. It was the feeling she got when a tightly planned mission was about to spiral out of control. “So, what now?”
“We’ll take a shuttle down to the surface shortly to meet Niklas’ cousin, Aurina, and her bondmate.”
Right. Nik’s cousin Aurina, a former deep-space scout, had discovered Markaria when she’d crash-landed here. She’d since mated with a barbarian warlord and made her home here. Honor couldn’t imagine giving up technology for a man—no matter how good he was in bed. Honor loved hot showers, laser weapons, and twenty-four-hour VelocityBall channels.
“Unfortunately, we won’t get to work straight away.” Nera’s face didn’t change, but Honor got the impression the woman wanted to grimace. “We’re to be welcomed with a sword-fighting display and feast in our honor.”
Sword-fighting? Honor hid her smile. That didn’t sound too bad. Maybe she’d find a few moves she could incorporate into her training. “It at least gives us a chance to scope out our hosts before we head out on the mission.”
Nera nodded. “Assess their strengths and weaknesses.”
“Ah…they aren’t our enemies, right?”
One of Nera’s brows rose. “Everything can change in an instant. Be prepared. Always.”
Right. She’d forgotten that Nera Darc trusted no one…except Niklas Phoenix.
“Oh, Nera, there was one other security issue I wanted to discuss with you,” Honor added.
“Yes?”
“The explosives sensors keep going off in Lala’s cabin. I’ve searched the girl’s room numerous times, and I can’t find where she’s hiding the damn stuff.”
Nera’s lips turned up for the briefest second. The closest she got to a smile. “Our student assistant won’t blow the ship up, Brandall. She’s an expert with the stuff.”
“It’s against protocol to allow a student to bring uncatalogued explosives aboard.” Honor didn’t care if Nik’s ward was an explosives expert. She was a teenage girl, and Honor didn’t think teenagers and explosives were a good combination in any situation.
“I’m sure,” Nera said, that smile threatening again. “I’ll talk with her. Now, back to our trip to Markaria. Ensure you gather as much data on the planet as you can. We know it’s home to some unpleasant beasts. I want to know the best ways to take them down if we come across any.”
Honor snagged a towel from a nearby shelf and blotted her face. “Surely you faced worse on old Earth?” Nik and Nera’s expedition to the war-ruined planet that gave life to most of the systems and planets throughout the galaxy was legendary. As were the wild, mutated beasts they’d discovered there.
Nera shot her a bland look. “Let’s hope so. Now, while we’re on Markaria, we’ll be assigned a warrior guide.”
Honor groaned. “I get the impression, from what I’ve read about Markarians, that they like to be in charge.” Not to mention appeared to be more brawn than brains. They carried giant swords, for star’s sake.
“Brandall, all men think they want to be in charge.”
Nera wasn’t wrong. But Honor had seen Nera with Nik. He respected her—her skills, her opinions, her intelligence. If he had trouble letting Nera take the lead in a fight or a security situation, Honor didn’t see it.
“All right,” Nera said. “Let’s go meet some barbarians.”
Honor glanced at the planet again out the window. Weeks with primitive, testosterone-ruled men on an undeveloped, wild planet.
Wonderful.
He sensed his prey was close.
Colm Mal Kor crept through the trees, keeping his foot treads silent. The Forest of Brandar, a favorite hunting ground for warriors, rose above him.