Salvation for Three (10 page)

"Your mind is too full, small hunter,"
Tirin pathed to her as they lay in front of the fire in their shared bedchamber.

"We can take that worry from you, my mate."
Cian moved his leg between hers and rolled toward her on the large bed.

"No. I do need to think without being stroked by you two endless fountains of sex." She patted them both absently and mulled over the coming freighter. She was going to miss Drak. She had gone months before without contact while chasing some elusive runner across the stars, but this would be different.

Keer sighed. Drak, Cian and Tirin had formed an alliance. Their one solid goal seemed to be agreeing on the two warriors watching over her.

"We can keep him here if it disturbs you, Keer." Tirin was matter-of-fact. She looked from his gold stare to the pale blue of Cian's eyes and began to laugh.

"You would do that, wouldn't you? Lock him in the brig for me? I believe you would, Endlander." She shook her head and rose from the bed, grabbing Tirin's green dressing gown. She paced the chamber, watching the fire leap in the deep wall.

"He has a business to run, a business I used to be part of." She frowned and looked at the red stone floor then began to pace again, the frown deepening.

Cian and Tirin watched her silently.
"This is a problem
Commander. She is unhappy. That cannot be. I do not enjoy this
unhappiness."

"We have a solution between us, Lieutenant. A life in the Endlands
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will dry up our small Teruvian flower, I believe,"
Cian added.

"We are needed here rarely, now that the Colony is developed,
Commander. We watch and wait. The ranks grow. Even a healer is
among us now."

"
I would see this Terran soil that grows such a beautiful flo—"

"Pear."
Tirin's mental laugh returned. "
Devorian pear
."

The trio walked shoulder-to-shoulder into the galley to find Drak Voi. He sat, reviewing a star wire that a bot had placed before him, his dark eyebrows drawn together and an almost evil smile on his face. Keer recognized that smile. It meant he had news, and it was probably new business. Something good by the look of the near-smirk Drak carried.

"Good news?" she asked, knowing the answer.

Drak leaned back with his self-satisfied grin. "Been issued a challenge, bondsman. Seems we have a lost intelligence reporter last seen headed for the
Agreeb
out of the third port of Etah. Something you two Endlanders might be interested in." Cian and Tirin watched, expressionless. "Our little Terran reporter snuck aboard the nasty prison ship looking for captured females trapped in the solitary hold."

"She got onto the
Agreeb
undetected?" Keer was amazed. Not many could do that and live to tell the tale.
"No Terran has ever been
on the
Agreeb
to my knowledge,"
she added mentally to the two hunters, both still expressionless.

"Going to have to send someone in." Drak tapped the metal galley table and attempted to look as though he were pondering carefully.

"Now who would know how to hook the
Agreeb
in a sort of unsuspecting fashion? And of course, the bondhunter would have to have some muscle at their disposal." Drak looked from Cian to Tirin and then sighed. "I'll have to send in a couple of Nelds. Only warriors could do this kind of work."

"Insults, Drak? I would think you could but ask." Cian nearly smiled. Keer was watching the dark hunter carefully. The big warrior reached out to caress her shoulder gently. "My mate, it appears you

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have a mission and may have need of us."

It only took Keer a Terran moment to realize that Drak Voi was asking her to work with him again.

She looked to the two warriors who now completed her and thought of a life with them. Rescuing Terran reporters wasn't high on her list, but who else could board the
Agreeb?
It would be dangerous, nothing new to her, but with the assistance of her two mates she could go in assured of her own safety.

"We can do it, Drak. You know we can." Drak tried to look doubtful but only briefly.

"Pack your gear, bondsman. You're going in."

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Keer felt the lurch of the ship as it rose, casting a shower of red Endland dust across the horizon. Another security drone buzzed through the cargo bay.

"Etah, third moon from the planet provides supply ports and recreation bays for all Endland travelers featuring entertainment, credit gambling and automated pleasure for visitors. Consider visiting Etah for your recreation needs." the drone sounded almost cheery at the prospect. "Return travel to Etah is not available."

"My mate, perhaps we
should
consider a visit to Etah."
Cian's pale eyes sparkled as he pathed to her and Tirin. Tirin smiled and waited.

Keer laughed, projecting warmth to the two big men. She shook her head firmly her gaze touching them both. "Hunters, you are all the recreation I need."

THE END

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