Earthrise (Her Instruments Book 1) Read Free

“The spy’s an Eldritch.”
    “A what!”
    That came from so many places at once she couldn’t tell which of them said it first. Kis’eh’t got the first words after: “I hear they can start fires with their minds.”
    “And read your thoughts,” Irine said.
    Kis’eh’t said, “And sense your feelings. They always know when you’re lying.”
    “That’s the last thing we need,” Irine said.
    “I hear they bathe in honey,” Sascha said.
    Reese stared at him. So did everyone else with eyes—even Bryer. The tigraine shrugged and said, “Something to do with keeping their skin white.”
    “Honey won’t bleach skin,” Kis’eh’t said. “Moisturize it, maybe. But bleach? Not unless Eldritch honey is actually some other substance entirely...”
    “What do I know about Eldritch honey?” Sascha said. “They’re supposedly all rich, too. And they’re all princes or princesses. And they all require servants, because none of them know how to take care of themselves.”
    “Is this guy in for a slap from the universe!” Irine said, shaking her head.
    “He’s in jail,” Reese said dryly. “I think the slap’s already been delivered.”
    “This is troublesome,” Kis’eh’t said. “An Eldritch... this being may have specialized needs, Reese. No one knows what they eat, what their normal medical profile is like, how to treat one that’s sick... no one even knows how properly to address them or what social or cultural mores they hold to. How are we supposed to save one of these creatures and make him comfortable?”
    “I’m not sure,” Reese admitted. “And since the packet I received wasn’t exactly forthcoming with any of that kind of material, I’m not sure we’ll be expected to do this perfect.” She pushed her data tablet to the center of the table with its gleaming pale picture of their charge. “That’s him. Hirianthial Sarel Jisiensire.”
    “Say again?” Sascha said.
    Reese repeated it.
    Kis’eh’t shook her head. “We’ll let you address him,” she said ruefully.
    “At least he’s handsome for a human,” Irine said.
    “He’s not human,” Reese said. “He’s Eldritch. And don’t forget it, if you don’t want him snooping around the inside of your brain. Anyway, there’s only one thing I think we can take for certainty... you’re not supposed to touch an Eldritch. So if all possible, let’s try to keep bodily contact to a minimum.”
    “Awww,” Irine said.
    Sascha, studying the picture, said, “Angels, boss, I have to agree with her.”
    “Yeah, well, if you want to come on to him, be my guest,” Reese said. “Just don’t expect me to put your furry behinds back together if it turns out he can blow things up by looking at them funny. And if we break him, I think our benefactor’s going to be very grumpy.”
    “Speaking of, who’s the person with the money?” Sascha asked.
    “I don’t know,” Reese said. “I’ve never seen her face.”
    “Her face?” That was Irine.
    Reese shrugged. “Just a guess.”
    “A trap?” Bryer said into the following silence.
    “I don’t know why she’d bother,” Reese said. “Obviously the woman is bleeding rich. If she’d really wanted to sell me, you and the rest of us into slavery, she could have just hired someone to do it long before now.”
    “I wonder who she is,” Kis’eh’t murmured. “Who would know an Eldritch? One who left his world? It’s most peculiar.”
    “For all I know she’s the Faerie Queen of Eldritches and he’s her errant prince,” Reese said with exasperation. “Wondering about the assignment is pointless. I owe this person a debt and I’m going to pay it. Since I own this ship and I hired you, you’re all coming along. If you don’t like it, I can give you your severance pay in rooderberries.”
    The silence was refreshing.
    “Now,” Reese continued, “If you twins would be kind enough to set a course for Inu-Case, I would be much obliged.”
    The two Harat-Shar, still