AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Horace.”
The healer had served the warrior community for a damn long time. He had long, wavy, brown hair and compassionate, brown eyes.
“You’re safe, Warrior Duncan. Be well.”
He caught Horace’s wrist. “Rachel?”
Please, God, let her be all right.
“She’s fine. Distressed that you were unconscious, but fine. Her brother has been with her while you recovered. And in case you’re wondering, you’re at Militia HQ in the med-bay.”
Duncan let out a deep sigh of relief. Everything was okay. Rachel was safe and Gideon was with her. He was at Militia Warrior Headquarters in Apache Junction Two and for now he was free of Yolanthe.
“I thought … ” He was sure when he’d blacked out on the gravel path in Rachel’s garden that Yolanthe had actually found him again, that she’d once more taken control of his mind. But that hadn’t happened.
“Do you want me to bring Rachel to you?” Horace hovered his hands just an inch or so above Duncan’s head as he continued to work his healing magic.
“No. That’s okay. As long as … was she injured?”
“She’s perfectly fine. Untouched. She did say that wreckers had arrived then fired at the same moment she folded you to the landing platforms here at HQ.”
With those words, he finally allowed himself to relax. Militia HQ was one of the most secure locations on Second Earth, and Rachel was safe.
He breathed deeply, feeling better and better.
Horace cleared his throat and for a split-second his healing power faltered, as he said, “I feel I should warn you that She Who Would Live is here.”
Endelle, the ruler of Second Earth, bitch on wheels, had come to see him.
Great.
“And, I feel I should also warn you that she’s in a state.”
At that, Duncan twisted slightly to meet Horace’s gaze. “More than usual?”
“Her hair is writhing.”
Duncan shuddered. No one wanted within throwing distance of Endelle when she was in one of her moods. “What’s that sound, like coins shaken in a can?”
“Her shoes. She’s wearing her scorpion motif.”
Duncan shoved Horace’s hand away and sat up, maybe a little too fast since he listed sideways. Horace had to catch him to keep him from toppling over.
“I’m okay.”
He wasn’t, but he had to pull himself together.
He took another deep breath and planted both fists on the bed on either side of his hips, struggling to regain his balance. He wore two hospital gowns, one tied in front and the other in back, but like hell he was going to meet Her Supremeness in anything other than his uniform.
She might have turned over the army to Thorne, but she was still, in his mind, one of his commanding officers.
With everything he had, he slid off the bed and fortunat
ely, he was able to stand up. He focused on the closet in his lakeside home in Paradise Valley Two. One more deep breath and he folded on his uniform: black leather kilt, matching weapons harness with daggers in place, battle sandals, shin guards, and studded wrists guards.
He heard voices at the same time. One of them was Endelle’s.
He threw back the medical bay curtain. The plastic rings glided back with a sigh.
