The Unexpected Bonding Vow - Michelle Howard Page 0,47

cycle and switched to hover mode. He kept the pace slow from Depphi’s home and merged with the few vehicles out so far.

Their best bet was to try and remain hidden while in plain sight. In order to do that they had to go deeper into the city. It was the only option which would provide crowds to blend in. The closer Garik got the louder it got. Noise from conversations, laughter, an occasional yell from someone selling their wares.

He slowed the hover cycle even more as walkers intermixed with the vehicles on the narrow road ways. Brighter colors flags streamed in the air. Located at the center of the city Maurin had created was the market place. It did a robust business on Quantoon and many of the individually owned stalls provided what the residents needed from food to tech.

On a typical day, no one would pay much attention to them. Those who made Quantoon their home were usually in hiding themselves and stuck to the mantra of minding their own business. Too bad, Maurin eliminated that with his reward for any information leading to the capture of Garik and Saedra.

He activated the wheels and they bumped on the ground as he neared a clothing merchant. The proprietress was out front, her purple tentacles waving at customers to entice them inside. Disguises would help their goal to remain off Maurin’s radar. Garik stopped and climbed from the cycle. “You need to remain here. I’ll only be a sec.”

Her eyes held a bewildered look as she glanced from the shop then back to him. “But...”

He pressed his finger to her mouth, stalling any questions. “Wait.”

Her lips firmed but she nodded. Her narrowed gaze caused a smile to curl his lips. Never one to waste time, he left on the unspoken agreement. Inside, Garik made quick work of bartering for a hooded jacket and a low brim hat. Fortunately the proprietress accepted he was good for the payment.

Once outside, he handed the jacket to Saedra and she immediately drew the hood up to cover her hair. He tugged on the hat to shadow his features. It wasn’t much but it would do for now.

“What next?” she asked.

“Stop! You there!” Saedra jerked but Garik threw his leg over the cycle and revved it.

Maurin’s guards. Two that he could see mounted on hover-cycles.

“Hang on!” he instructed Saedra.

He took off on a roar and flipped to hover mode. Saedra was pressed tight to his back, silent. Her hands clutched his shirt at the mid-section and Garik vowed again that Maurin would pay for the terror he instilled in her.

Shoppers and shop owners scattered at their hectic approach. Screams sounded around them as purchases flew in the air due to the guards now dodging traffic but with less care than Garik.

They dipped and zoomed through narrow roadways and streets, pebbles and debris swirling up in the air despite the moderate speed he maintained. Ahead there was a passage on his right between two shop stalls. Garik aimed in that direction and leaned the cycle so low to the ground his knee skimmed the surface. Saedra screamed but didn’t lose her hold.

Curses fell from his mouth as he straightened. He didn’t have time to reassure her. If Maurin caught them, Garik didn’t want to contemplate what he’d due to Saedra. It was obvious he wanted a public execution for Garik. Saedra was a different story. With her scarred face and limp the very idea of Maurin getting his hands on her again turned Garik’s thoughts nuclear.

He needed to find somewhere to hole up. They couldn’t keep running. No sooner than the thought crossed his mind, the guards behind them opened fire. Saedra jerked behind him, her fingers curving into claws that dug into his stomach. Ignoring the tiny bites of pain, he pushed for more speed. The shots were wild without care for the pedestrians or early morning customers.

The sounds of their cycles straining to keep up with the beast Saedra had purchased was small consolation.

“What are we going to do?” Saedra leaned up to ask in a loud voice.

Garik was about to answer when something ahead caught his attention. An old woman tugging a cart full of vegetables strolled into the road ahead. Her gray head was down and she barely looked up at their speedy approach.

Garik was so focused on avoiding her that he missed seeing the hover-cycle coming up on their left. It shot forward, straight in their direction with the intent to