Page 54 of Warrior
"Where is everybody?" George glanced around for his comrades who returned over an hour ago.
“Asleep,” I announced. “Where you guys should be.”
Ewok shrugged, pulling away from me. "We got plans to make." He and George wandered toward the table where I'd begun laying out dinner.
“So, we can get to the dock?” I stepped closer to Daicon. He drew me against his side, and I cuddled close, the film of dust and dirt he wore like a suit ignored over the warmth and strength of his embrace.
“The three of us did a bit of recon,” Daicon murmured, brushing my temple with his lips. “The lay of the tunnel allowed me to get a good look at the dock and available ships.”
"Is there one we can use?" My heart jumped. Whether, from excitement at the prospect of escape or the way Daicon's hold tightened, I couldn't tell.
“Yes. The same one the guards are planning to use to leave.”
I cocked a brow, lifting my chin to meet his golden gaze. “Won’t the guards have a problem with that?”
“Yeah,” Ewok called, the wad of bread in his mouth muffling his voice. “What are we going to do with the guards? Kill them?”
“Ewok!” I scolded, pulling out of Daicon’s hold to level my best scolding glare at the boy.
“We’re not going to kill them,” Daicon replied indulgently. Gripping my hand in his, Daicon pulled me toward the table, hooking the legs of a chair with his foot and pulling it nearer for me. He grabbed another chair and settled close, but not before snagging a hunk of bread for himself. Luckily, I baked a lot today.
“How are we going to get past the guards?” George frowned. I could see the wheels of his brain sifting through the logical aspects of our escape.
Daicon took a bite of the bread, giving a grunt of pleasure as he chewed. Who would have thought being sold as a caretaker on an alien moon would improve my cooking skills?
“What are we going to do about the guards?” I pressed.
“Let me worry about that?” Daicon insisted.
“There’s too many.” George frowned. “By my calculations, there are nearly thirty guards in total. Much too many for you to handle alone.”
Daicon snorted, squaring his shoulders, and giving his best cocky warrior glare. Yet the deep golden eyes flickered with concern.
“Aljani guards lack proper training. Their kind depend on technology not skill for warfare.”
“Unless they outnumber someone thirty to one,” I countered, gripping his forearm tightly. The muscles rippled under my touch. I love that I did that to him. “Standing alone against thirty guards is suicide.”
Ewok and George snorted in agreement. Daicon met my gaze, and with just a look, I knew he would consider his life well lost if the children and I got away safely. I couldn’t stand the thought.
"What about a diversion?" George suggested.
“What kind of diversion?” I glommed onto the idea. I’d grab onto anything to keep Daicon from facing the soldiers alone.
"Something big enough to draw the guards away from the dock to give us time to steal the ship.” Daicon gave George an approving nod, and the young Garoot preened.
“What about causing a cave-in?” Ewok suggested.
"The guards are getting ready to destroy the entire mine. I don't think they'd care about a cave-in." George shot Ewok a disappointed glance.
Ewok grunted a concession.
“It will need to be something the guards will worry about.” Daicon tapped his lips with a forefinger.
Despite the danger and worry looming in the air, I couldn't help but remember how those lips felt on my skin. I shuddered, something he mistook as fear, and Daicon scooted his chair closer, laying his arm across my shoulders. George and Ewok looked between each other, pleasure at our togetherness curving their lips. Something warm and perfect floated over me like a pour of warm, spicy honey.
Ewok jerked, his dark eyes going wide. “I know! We could steal some of the explosives from the mines and set them off. Make the guards think we might disrupt their plan to blow up the mine.”
My mouth opened, intent on arguing the defect in his idea. I didn’t want the kids or anyone else near those explosives.
