Warlord's Mercy - Cynthia Sax Page 0,69
the fiercely protective, caring male beside her. “I’ll remain in your sight at all times.”
“I’m holding you to that vow, little human.” Her Warlord bent his head and brushed his lips over hers, his kiss frustratingly brief. “Go.” He released her. “Show the other gerels your designs.”
“Thank you, my Warlord.” She gave him a saucy smile and reluctantly moved away from him.
The completed garments had to be retrieved. Lea knew exactly which warrior she’d assign to that task. She approached Eight-Two.
The young male had recovered fully physically from having been stunned. His self-confidence and his image of himself as a great warrior had, however, been severely damaged.
“My lady.” His head bowed slightly. He wouldn’t meet her gaze. “I failed you. I should have protected you, and—”
“You were ambushed by one of the best Chamele warriors in existence.” She stopped what she suspected would be an almost endless stream of apologies. “He was heavily armed and prepared for an attack.” That wasn’t a lie. Berke was the type of being who would always be prepared for an attack. From any direction. “No warrior—except, of course, our great Warlord—would have remained unscathed.”
“Our Warlord would have defeated the Chamele.” An adorable tinge of hero worship lilted Eight-Two’s words. “Wouldn’t he have do that, my lady?”
“Yes, he would have defeated him.” Her male would have been badly wounded, but he would have emerged victorious if she hadn’t stopped his battle with Berke. She was certain about that. “Our Warlord is a great warrior, and if you train hard and you focus, I believe you’ll be a great warrior also.”
“I will train extremely hard, my lady.” The young warrior’s head lifted.
She noticed he didn’t say he would focus. Lea stifled a smile. At least he was aware of his limitations. “I know you’ll make our Warlord proud.” Eventually. In the short run, he might turn Tolui’s hair gray. “I have a mission for you.”
“I’ll complete this one, my lady.” Eight-Two’s spine straightened. “You can depend on me.”
“I am depending on you.” Lea nodded. “You must return to the first tunnel.”
Everyone now had access to that space.
Her alarm system had been dismantled before the ships containing the unmatched Chamele females and the orphaned children landed. It was no longer necessary. The home she shared with her Warlord was guarded by his huge clone warriors.
“There’s a massive pack of boots, decorations, and assorted garments situated in the private chambers there.” She’d readied another delivery for Har, using her excess inventory. “I need that pack conveyed here.”
“My mission is to convey…garments?” The excitement in Eight-Two’s eyes dimmed.
“They aren’t merely any garments.” She strived to frame the mission as being important, seeking to rebuild the young warrior’s confidence. “I’ve crafted each chest covering, ass coverings, boot, and decoration by hand. I’m hoping the Chamele Warlords and their ladies will accept them as gifts.” She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “That could seal the negotiations.”
“It could win us Chamele 4.” The youth’s eyes widened. “You can count on me, my lady.”
“I am counting on you.” She was speaking to his back.
Eight-Two had rushed out of the tunnels.
The male hadn’t learned anything from being stunned. She shook her head, bemused. He remained as impulsive as ever.
“Are we under attack?” Ellie had moved close to her. Her expression was animated. The female wanted a confrontation.
“I hope we’re not under attack.” Zeta’s face darkened. “Because Khan won’t allow me to participate in that fun, either.”
“I hope we’re not under attack, because there are other ways to settle disputes.” Gale frowned.
“Gale and Murad were the beings who insisted we attempt negotiations.” Ellie’s tone was dry. “They’re not as kill-happy as the rest of us are.”
“Khan has developed a sudden interest in peace.” Zeta didn’t appear happy about that development either. “I could fuckin’ kill for a nourishment bar.”
Gale dug one out of a holster and handed it to her. “I eat when I’m stressed also.”
“I’m not stressed.” The female ripped the package open and snapped off a chunk of the treat. “I’m merely hungry.”
“You’ve been hungry three times since you’ve arrived.” Ellie shook her head. “You—”
“I’m back, my lady.” Eight-Two ran into the space. He breathed hard. “I retrieved the pack.” He plunked it down on the chair Khan had insisted they source for Zeta, a chair the bounty hunter refused to use. “And I found this stuff.” The male tossed half-completed garments, experimental pieces and other leather goods on another chair. “I didn’t know if you needed them too.”
Lea didn’t need