Page 60 of Hunting the Warlord's Daughter

Her PCD chirped. “They’ve disembarked and are headed up to the briefing room,” someone from the flight deck said.

“Let Captain Rorkken know the admiral is on her way,” Hadley replied and reached for calm.You are the XO of this ship. Do not forget it.She wouldn’t let her personal life get in the way of her duties.

There was a lot to be thankful for. Karbon Mawndarr would never be a threat again. He was responsible for the ghastly attack on the sanctuary on Issenda Crossroads. It was his ship that she and Rakkelle had discovered using 3D mapping, hidden in the woods north of where the cruiser had crashed. The warlord’s daughter was asking for amnesty and citizenship in exchange for turning over a rare artifact. The galaxy could very well be a more peaceful place after this. Yes, plenty to celebrate.

TheUnity’s senior staff filed in. In a flurry of activity, Hadley was caught on the opposite side of the briefing table when the group from theResiliencearrived.

Bolivarr’s elder brother shared some family resemblance, the same coloring. Aral wasn’t as tall, but was broader in the shoulders, and his every step radiated competence. He was clearly tense, his grim wariness broadcasting his distrust of them. The warlord’s daughter was smaller than Hadley had expected, with a round, pretty face and huge violet-blue eyes; but underneath her delicate appearance was something as hard as steel. This woman was not to be taken lightly.

But Kazara… Hadley couldn’t pull her eyes from her. Her skin looked made of marble, contrasting her plump red lips and dark arched brows. There was an air of reserve about her and a hardness—an ingrained military bearing. She seemed a lot like Admiral Bandar, Hadley’s hero. Whereas Hadley was a farm girl with little tolerance for alcohol and a propensity to giggle, Kazara, for all her beauty, looked as if she could down whiskey—maybe even sweef—shot by shot with her shipmates.

Hadley was certain that she liked the color red.

She tried to wrap her mind around how different she and Kaz seemed, and how they both had been with Bolivarr.

Had. First, Tango, now Bolivarr—When it came to love, Hadley was doomed, always picking people not meant for her. Never had her social clumsiness, her inexperience and naiveté, seemed more obvious. Her career was a better bet. It’s where her focus needed to be from now on. Rakkelle always said, “All falling in love does for ya is make life complicated.”

Turned out she was right.

From across the table, Bolivarr caught her gaze, smiling with his eyes, his dark soulful eyes that always used to seem somewhat sad. Now she knew why. He had a brother and a lover and an entire other life she knew nothing about. She tried not to think of him making love to Kaz when he should have been making love to her.

Her smile felt frozen. Her heart was, that much she knew.

Carrying a large book, Wren Senderin walked up to Sister Chara. She paused then said, “Sister, the inner sanctum unlocked for me, the one who is pure and true, the Sacred Key. This was inside. I want you to have it. I think you’ll know what to do with it more than I will. It looks old. And holy.” The warlord’s daughter laid the book on the table in front of her.

Sister Chara’s silvery brows shot up. Her lips parted, and her veiny hand lifted to her throat. Then, as if coming out of a trance, she touched the thick, old book, moving trembling fingertips over the embossed cover. “This isn’t just any old book, child.” She cracked it open. “It is more important than you know.”

Hadley had never heard such silence in the briefing room. They watched as Sister Chara paged through the book with awe. “What was lost is now found.” Then her gaze lifted to Wren. “The fifth volume of the Agran Sakkara.”

Hadley’s gasp chorused with a dozen others. To Hadley’s shock, the sister wept. She felt choked up herself. She was witnessing history. Even Admiral Bandar looked emotional.

Sister Chara exhaled. “Now you will complete the final leg of your journey. As the Sacred Key it is your role to deliver the lost scripture to the Goddess Keep. In the name of the goddesses I so say, go and make the galaxy whole again.”

“That’s the palace on Sakka,” Wren said.

“Yes, child. There, Her Majesty the Goddess Queen Annis will await you.”

For a moment the responsibility seemed to weigh on Wren’s shoulders, and in her heart. Then she swung her piercing gaze to Admiral Bandar.

Aral Mawndarr cleared his throat softly, his hands sliding off the table and into his lap.

“Admiral,” Wren said. “I will go to the Goddess Keep and return the lost scripture. In return, the Triad will allow me to live the rest of my life as a free citizen. Aral Mawndarr and Kazara Kaan too. In addition, the government will transfer a sum of fifty-million queens into our possession.”

A roar went up. “Shut yer traps!” Captain Rorkken bellowed, using his pirate captain voice. The silence was immediate. He exchanged a nod with Bandar, and then Wren.

Aral watched Wren with such a warm look of wonder that Hadley’s breath caught. She found Bo at the crowded table, she couldn’t help herself, but he didn’t notice.

Wren pointed at Aral but kept her focus on Admiral Bandar. “Aral Mawndarr did the impossible.He’sthe reason we’re here at all, on a ship namedUnitycreated in the spirit of unity, crewed by former enemies.He’swhy the Empire fell.Heallowed the Coalition’s prince, desperate to rescue his wife, then the goddess-queen, access to the warlord’s cruiser. He knew where the High Command ran to hide and he gave their locations to the Coalition, every last one. Well, Karbon Mawndarr managed to get away, but we got him in the end.”

Wren took a trembling breath. Not a tremble of nerves or of fear, but of inner fire. It was obvious she loved her man and was determined to see justice done. “Aral Mawndarr singlehandedly brought the Empire to its knees. He’s called himself a traitor, but he’s the galaxy’s savior. Weowe him. The Triad blasted well owes him a lot more than I’m asking. He saved me so I could save the Goddess Treasure. He suffered so I could make the galaxy whole. He found me when even I thought I was lost.” She cast her fierce gaze around the table, lingering on Aral’s—Hadley could practically feel a zing of heat between them—before she turned her focus back to the admiral. “No one deserves to collect the bounty more than Aral Mawndarr.” Wren pounded both fists on the tabletop, daring anyone to argue.

Admiral sat still, observing Wren in silence. Then she pushed to her feet. Everyone else then shot to their feet. Then, slowly, quietly, Bandar began to clap her hands. Clearly, she was impressed, even touched. The officers of theUnityjoined her, applauding the warlord’s daughter.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIVE

TheUnity’sstaff remained behind to discuss the details of securing Ara Ana, the new intelligence they’d gained of loyalists who had assisted Karbon Mawndarr, as well as the details of their return journey.

Lieutenant Garwin and Sister Chara huddled together, murmuring about what archeological wonders might be found under the ruins.

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