Page 48 of Elas

It’s a terrible combination, especially for a leader.

“The medic?” I ask, clearing my throat and trying to appear disinterested.

“Unless there’s another human hiding in your quarters that I’m unaware of.” His brow makes an irritated hike up his forehead, nearly touching his blunt horn.

“No, of course not, sir. The human is well mannered and doesn’t make waves. He seems to be grateful for the opportunity to work and is eager to help.” Khors snorts, but doesn’t interrupt. “Chief Aeliphis has been pleased with his performance, at least as far as she’s communicated with me.”

“Chief Aeliphis is the one who brought this problem to my attention.”

“And what is the problem? Sir?” I add the last part in a rush, needing to feed his ego. The thin ice I’m walking on cracks under my feet, and a single wrong step could send me plummeting under.

He leans forward, drumming his fingers on his chin again. “He saw something he shouldn’t have seen, and humans aredeathlycurious. Did he mention anything to you?”

“No, sir,” I lie, “but we don’t exchange many social niceties. He’s quiet, and I spend evenings in my bedroom, so I still have some privacy.” I hesitate, but I’m already flirting with disaster. Why not push my luck to the absolute limit? “If I might ask, Commander… what did he see? If I know what to listen for, it will help me identify an issue sooner.”

He hums thoughtfully as he continues to drum those steepled fingers. The longer the silence stretches, the more I think he’s going to shut me down, but he eventually sighs and places his palms on the desktop.

“Chief Aeliphis has the human working on organizing files in one of her storage rooms, since the patients are refusing to be treated by him. There was some paperwork left out that should have never been in that room.”

“What did he learn from it?” I ask carefully.

“Not much, just the subject’s identities and the name of the base.”

I nod as though I’m absorbing the information. “Okay, I understand why you wouldn’t want him to see confidential medical records. The second part confusesme, though, sir. The bases are widely known, even to the humans. Hells, there’s a sign in front of them.”

He nods again, unblinking, and I can almost hear the rusty cogs in his brain as he tries to determine how much to tell me. He clears his throat, sitting up straighter. “Not this base.”

Dread rushes my veins at his vague half-answer, and instinctually, I know something big is happening here. “Sir?”

“There is a base… more of a research facility, really. It’s a small compound, and only those that need to know of its existence are told of it. The ultimate top secret.” I nod, dumbstruck for what might be the first time in my life.

This is it.

The confirmation of my incessant thoughts over the past few days. The evidence that there are secrets hidden from everyone—even a highly respected officer with a century of service. Proof that the highest level of clearance is only a smokescreen for something more.

“It’s primarily scientists and medical staffers that occupy Ljómur,” he continues, as I force myself to listen past the ringing in my ears. “Though there is a heavy guard presence. Most are assigned there for life to keep the risk of exposure as low as possible, but some do eventually get moved, with proper clearance.”

“Chief Aeliphis?” It’s nothing more than a guess, but his lips pull into a tight line as he nods.

“A few medics she trusts came along with her. She continued to study her research here and housed some of the classified documents while she worked. It appearssomeone was careless with their files, and now here we are.”

“Permission to speak freely, Commander?” I ask, and he nods and waves for me to continue. “What is happening at this base that something as simple as its name could be considered a threat? It’s written in the common language, and I guarantee the human couldn’t translate what he saw.”

“You have no idea what they might be studying at Ljómur?” he asks, and it feels like a test I don’t know how to pass.

It seems pointless to lie, though, when we’ve all heard the story. The glow of the Mate’s Mark is common knowledge amongst our people. “I could speculate,” I finally say. Khors’s slow, calculated nod is a far cry from the impulsive man from my youth. Perhaps I’ve been underestimating the danger of his presence here.

“How do you feel about this, Elas?”

“Sir?”

His chin lifts, an indirect threat as he assesses the one across from him. “I’ve just told you that even at your rank, there’s a base that has been kept secret from you.” He nods at my chest, at the three bars that sit on my uniform.

“It isn’t my place to question leadership’s judgement, sir,” I say, the words ashes on my tongue as I force them out, “but to follow the orders you see fit to give.”

The suspicion slowly fades from his face as a long, weary sigh escapes his nose. “This human… he doesn’t leave your sight?”

“Not unless he’s at the clinic, sir.”

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