Page 37 of Legend

Tivek’s gaze remained on me. I had not explained why that would bring us both to the gauntlet and why I would run a guest through the arduous obstacle course, especially a human one.

“I also thought the captain might be interested in some of the unique features of the academy, like the gauntlet.”

By this point, the captain was hurrying to dress and was not adding anything to my weak explanations. Maybe because he knew as well as anyone that I did not have to make him run the gauntlet. Although I had not forced him. I might have challenged him to a friendly competition, but I had not held a Drexian blade to his throat like I might have if he had agreed to go into the sparring ring with me.

Tivek’s brow furrowed, and he finally turned his attention from me and focused fully on the human. “Why don’t I showyou to your quarters so you can rest before meeting the admiral?”

“Thank you.” The captain followed Tivek without another glance back at me, moving swiftly as if he wished to put as much distance between us as possible.

I feared that I might have to answer for my actions later with Zoran. I thought about the human’s face smacking the wall again and grinned to myself. For once, I had no regrets.

Chapter

Thirty

Fiona

Ilet out a long breath as I reached the archway leading into the School of Strategy. That did it. I’d made a complete circuit of the academy, and there was no sign of Vyk and Devon. I hadn’t gone to the maze, but I’d convinced myself that the commander wouldn’t drag a visitor out there. Not after what had happened and his involvement. Especially since Devon was at the academy to assess the human exchange, and that had been a black mark on the attempt to integrate the school.

“No, they aren’t there,” I muttered to myself.

Then where were they? The bigger question was why I cared so much. I’d been anxious about Commander, check that, Captain Gorman visiting, but now I was searching for him like he was a long-lost relative.

It was the look in Vyk’s eyes that had me dashing about like a madwoman. It hadn’t taken an empath to see that the Drexian didn’t like Devon and really didn’t like that I knew him. He’d been much too eager to take the man on a tour of the school, and I did not trust his motives. Since I’d been hunting for them for hours, my concern seemed warranted.

But Vyk wouldn’t actually harm the guy, would he? My stomach did an uncomfortable flip flop as it hit me that I didn’t know. I didn’t know enough about the Drexian to know whether he was truly dangerous, or if it was all hype.

It was true that the warrior had a reputation for being fierce, but he hadn’t so much as touched me when I’d been in his room. He’d made a scandalous wager with me, but then he’d promised he would never force me. So how scary could he be?

I put my hands on my hips and rapped one toe on the stone floor. “Scary enough to vanish a military officer from Earth.”

“That does sound scary.”

I spun at the high-pitched voice to find that Reina had come up behind me. Somehow the willowy Vexling floated around the academy without making much noise, since she didn’t wear heavy battle boots like everyone else. Even though she surprised me, I was glad to see her.

“Don’t mind me.” I tried to wave away my words. “I’m talking to myself.”

Reina big eyes were unblinking as she nodded thoughtfully, her blue twist of hair quivering. “I do that all the time, hon. Sometimes I think I’m the only one who really listens.”

I laughed. “I feel that.”

“Did someone truly vanish?” Reina asked, placing a bony hand on my arm.

“Not really. At least, I don’t think so.” It wasn’t fair to dangle something like that and not explain. “The envoy from Earth arrived this morning. We used to be stationed together before I left for the Academy, so he stopped by my office to say hi. That was the last I saw of him, and I’ve been looking everywhere.”

“Young fellow with light-brown hair and different-colored clothes?”

I thought about the uniform of black pants and a khaki shirt that he’d been wearing. “That sounds like Devon. Have you seen him?”

Reina bobbed her head, smiling brightly. “Not too long ago.”

I exhaled loudly, my entire body relaxing. I’d been ridiculous to worry so much about the guy. I was embarrassed that I’d suspected Vyk of doing something bad to him. Had I really believed that the Drexian security chief would get rid of the visiting envoy? Now that I knew Devon was fine, my fears seemed crazy.

“Were you worried he got lost?” Reina patted my arm. “The Academy can be confusing if you don’t know the layout.”

“Not really.” No way was I going to admit what I’d actually thought. “Commander Vyk took him on a tour and then I couldn’t find either of them. I guess I wanted to make sure the captain was settling in okay.”

Reina nibbled the corner of her lip. “I don’t know about settling in, but the tour must have been quite comprehensive.”

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