Captive - Cheryl Brooks Page 0,117

Val, so if that’s what the locals decide to do, we’ll probably get stuck with the job. Unfortunately, it’ll take months to get there. Orpheseus isn’t exactly a hop, skip, and a jump from here.”

Temfilk snorted. “Well, if you do agree to take on the job, I’m willing to share a room with anyone as long as it means I won’t have to look at his ugly face.”

“We can deal with all that tomorrow.” Klara picked up Bik, who let out another huge yawn as he curled up in her arms. “Right now, we need to put these little guys to bed.”

Klara hated to admit it, but if the voyage to Orpheseus Prime really would take months, she was more than willing to volunteer to dispose of Pelarus, because that would mean delaying the meeting with Trag long enough for her—and him—to get used to the idea.

Or not. She’d always known who her father was. She just never expected to have a face-to-face meeting with him. On his side of the matter, her very existence was news to him, and he’d already expressed skepticism. While Larry might be convinced, selling her father on the idea might not be as easy.

Still, she was carrying Trag’s grandchildren. That had to count for something. Might even be better if they waited until after the kids were born. After all, no one could resist a baby—and triplets would be even better.

She gazed at Bik, who was already slumbering in her arms. She’d taken on the responsibility of caring for three tiny Rackenspries, even knowing how difficult it would be to provide for them. For Trag, meeting his daughter and grandchildren at the same time might generate the kind of bond she hoped to have with him, or at least assuage any anger he might feel toward her or her mother.

Unless they could stop off at Terra Minor on the way to Orpheseus Prime. She had absolutely no idea of the whereabouts of either planet in relation to Haedus Nine. And she was almost afraid to ask.

They were about to climb into the speeders when Temfilk spoke up. “So tell me, where are all of these planets and how long will it take to do all of this?”

“We can stop at Terra Minor first,” Moe replied. “It’s the closest. That’s assuming the consensus is to maroon Pelarus on Orpheseus Prime. If we decide to take him somewhere closer, we could go there first.”

Nexbit tossed the last chicken bone to some sort of scavenging critter Klara had never seen before—possibly because they’d never walked around openly while finishing off the remains of a feast. “Know of any other nasty planets where we can get rid of that asshole quicker than going to Orpheseus? I dunno about you, but the sooner we’re finished with him, the better.”

Moe nodded. “I agree. Although you’ve got to admit, it’s an appropriate punishment.”

Ordinarily, leaving him destitute on Haedus Nine would be punishment enough for anyone. Klara knew that from firsthand experience. But, as Moe had already pointed out, the decision wasn’t theirs to make, and she was more than willing to let someone else decide. The deaths of her mother and brothers would be avenged one way or another, and at the moment, she was almost too tired to care what that punishment would be. Her shoulders ached and her feet were complaining more than usual. Moe was right. This had been a very, very long day.

She settled into the pilot’s seat of her speeder after stowing Bik in the back with Jal and Lis, heaving a sigh of relief as she gave the control panel a pat. She’d whistled, and her trusty speeder had come to her like it always did.

It suddenly occurred to her that she might have to leave it behind. “Is there room on your ship for my speeder?”

Moe paused as he was about to hop into his own vehicle. “Sure. We should be able to fit it in somewhere, and with eight of us on board, we’re gonna need it. Remind me to ask you how you get it to come when you whistle. Mine doesn’t have that feature.”

“Will do. It’s kinda tricky, though.”

“I can do tricky,” Moe assured her. “And if I can’t, I still have you.”

That sounded nice, but— “And all of my dubious skills?”

He grinned. “Something like that.” He waved at Temfilk and Nexbit. “You guys coming with me and Nevid or squeezing in with Klara and the Racks?”

Temfilk’s bulbous lips stretched into