IceFlight Read online

25

  A Promise Kept

 

  Wing side-stepped, stopped, pivoted, turned and leapt forward without noticing the crowd around him. His feet found a path while his mind floundered. There was one thing he’d always known about saving Darsey, apart from the fact that she’d probably take his head off in the process and that was that he could always walk away. He tried to think of an alternative, but it seemed his body was already in full flight. There was just no way out of here. Not with her.

  Wing reached a curved wall and slammed straight into it. He stopped, with his forehead resting against its cool surface while his hands tightened into fists. Drakkit. He wasn’t a runner and he didn’t leave people behind. He couldn’t be a traitor. Not again.

  He froze and closed his eyes against unwelcome insight. That was exactly what he was. He’d run from his last love and was about to abandon his new… well, his new primitive, alien friend. He grimaced, and then slammed his fists into the wall on either side of his head.

  Ears ringing, Wing stepped back to glower at twin dents in the metal. The crush of people behind him eased, but when he looked around none of the slavers made eye contact. Instead they hurried about their jobs, while also leaving an unusual amount of clear space around the kres. It seemed temper tantrums could be useful.

  Wing turned back to the damaged wall and sagged against it. He had to leave Darsey. Right now. He truly had no choice. His mission was a priority that made his yearning to stay irrelevant. If he ignored his mission then his own people would suffer and he would fail the friend who’d raised him. How could he face his mentor after that?

  Perhaps that was the answer. Wing straightened, while his mind suddenly soared. Yes. Crest wouldn’t like it, but if he could be convinced, it would be the perfect solution.

  The kres spun back into the crowd, still careless of the swaying, tree-trunk mutt around him, but sprinting this time. He reached a privacy alcove in less than five seconds. He slid into that shallow indentation and an energy field slammed into place behind him.

  “Out-talk,” he ordered his com tersely, while his finger tapped in the code to release a speck of exotic matter and open a long distance passage. His mind flew to secure the link, but then long seconds dragged slowly by while Crest verified his ident. Wing started to pace, sweeping from one side of the small space to the other while he waited to be acknowledged.

  “Son,” a soft voice quavered and Wing spun with a glad cry.

  “Crest.” He sprang forward as if to hug the hologram and stopped awkwardly. His family retainer smiled and Wing grinned ruefully back. “Are you well?”

  “Well enough, my Lord.”

  Wing paused in surprise. “So formal?”

  The white haired kres regarded him solemnly. “Perhaps it’s time to recall your proper rank, Lord.”

  Wing’s teeth clamped shut so hard it jarred his jaw and he had to turn away from the temptation of a tart reply. He strode to the edge of the alcove, before swinging back to pace a more careful return. “I’ve no rank, Crest. Sharpeye made that clear. At best, if I succeed in my mission for the Shadows I can return from exile, but that’s all. We needs must accept that, old friend.”

  Crest nodded as if considering the order, before the lines around his mouth pinched tight. “Never, Lord. You have a standing and a destiny that no false Arck can steal.”

  Wing almost threw up his arms in disgust, but Crest’s mild regard stopped him and he was surprised to find himself smiling instead. “I appreciate your faith in me, though it makes it hard to stay humble.”

  “Very hard,” Crest agreed with a chuckle that made his thin body sway. “Now to business, lad. What news of the t’ssaa? Why do they hunt kres?”

  Wing walked away again in an effort to stamp out his impatience. “Unknown, though I’ve a lead to follow soon. But for now I’ve a most urgent issue that needs your help.”

  “I live to be of service.”

  “Good. There’s a girl-”

  A wheeze escaped Crest and was followed by a coughing fit. “Excuse, Lord. I’m just pleased to know that you still retain your priorities.”

  “Most funny, Cressy. She’s about to be sold into slavery and I can’t stop it.”

  “A sad fate, but one that many on the Rim share. Your mission takes precedence.”

  “And I won’t be diverted from it, but I need you to buy her.”

  Crest’s eyebrows shot up so high it looked like his hair had reclaimed his forehead. “Buy her? Turn slaver? Are you crazed, boy?”

  Wing’s hair tugged at the nape of his neck, but he ignored the childish reaction. “Neither crazed nor a boy. Darsey’s an alien. A human and these are the co-ordinates of her home world.” He paused while his com sent the identifier through. “It’s my fault she’s here. I broke through to her system, so I also carry the blame for her lost crew. I plan to buy her freedom and I wish you to help. If you won’t, then clear this feed.”

  Wing paused, taut with determination and checked the wrinkles on Crest’s face more closely. His mentor was most definitely smiling. “You’ll do as I ask?”

  “Indeed. Understand, Wing, one day you will rule our people and to do that well you can’t always think of yourself. So your concern for this ‘who-min’ girl pleases me.”

  Wing leaned back against the wall with a sigh. “You might have said such more quickly.”

  “And missed a chance to test my most promising pupil? Never. Do you understand now how much it can cost to be selfless?”

  “Yes.”

  “Your entire fortune? So when you do return home it will be without rank or money?”

  “At least I’ll be home.”

  “And will you regret it?”

  “No,” Wing answered without hesitation and realized it was true. Saving Darsey would be his best act for a very long time. “The money’s irrelevant. Just see her safe back to her people.”

  “I’ll try my utmost, but there will be buyers in this pit far wealthier than you. Your friend represents a new species and from your eagerness to save her, I guess she’s most attractive.”

  Wing felt a tug against his scalp that might have been his hair stirring again and folded his arms. “She’s quite lovely, in an alien way, but that’s irrelevant. I’d help her even if I’d never seen her.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she needs it. Enough testing, old one.”

  Crest chuckled softly, but quickly sobered. “You’ll always be tested, Wing. That’s part of life. As for this issue, I’ll bid as high as I can and add my own funds too, but an exotic beauty could easily build to a record price. Your goal is noble, but may well be thwarted. It’s most likely another will claim your friend.”

  Wing forced a smile, despite the fear tightening his chest. He ignored the pain to stand straight and confident. “You’ll bid, you’ll win, I’ll deliver Darsey to you and you’ll see her safe home to her Earth. Don’t be concerned. I have a plan.”

 

  26

  Sold