The Iron Admiral: Deception Read Free Page A

hadn’t realized she was so
    hungry. She finished two, licking her lips while Saahren finished a fourth.
    He drained his kaff, wiped his mouth and pushed back his chair. “Come on. Let’s find the vegetables.”
    They strolled together down the aisles between stalls and shops. Allysha lingered often, fascinated by some obscure item of clothing or jewelry. If she had to be here, might as well enjoy herself. With a bit of luck, he’d be annoyed. But Saahren indulged her when she tarried, a slight smile on his face. A bolt of green material attracted her attention. It was exquisite, woven in an intricate, flowing design the ptorix might have used, the details picked out in gold thread. She felt the texture with her fingers, soft but strong.
    It would drape beautifully.
    “You buy, beautiful lady? Will go with your beautiful eyes.” The woman named a price.
    The material wasn’t cheap but Allysha could certainly afford to pay. Easily. But what was the point?
    She’d have to have a dress made to wear… where?
    “Do you want it?” Saahren stood watching her, his head a little to one side, a smile lurking around his lips.
    “If I want it, I’ll buy it.” She certainly didn’t want him buying more expensive gifts for her. She remembered the necklace with a pang. The altari stones had glowed with their own inner light, enhanced by the soft gold of the setting. But she couldn’t keep it. Accepting a gift like that would have given him quite the wrong impression.
    She smiled at the proprietor, shook her head and moved on, past cooking utensils and boots and shoes, musical instruments, and strange medical remedies using odd ingredients that had probably been part of some animal.
    She drank it all in, a kaleidoscope of smells, sounds, colors, textures; some familiar, some exotic.
    Sometimes she wondered about particular items. Saahren could usually answer her questions. If he couldn’t, he asked the proprietor. He seemed to be so comfortable, fitting easily into such an apparently alien space, so different from the military. Once or twice people stared at him, or a couple of people shared a whispered conversation. Allysha imagined the discussion.Is that Grand Admiral Saahren? It sure
    looks like him. No, that’s silly. He wouldn’t be wandering around the Cusang market with some girl.
    They went about their business, almost disappointed.
    The markets reminded her so much of Shernish, with its color, noise, smells. “I suppose, living in a high class tower apartment, it’s easy to forget that there’s ordinary people on this world, too, doing ordinary jobs.”
     
    He shook his head. “These are the people I work for. I protect their right to live their lives without threat. I never forget they’re here.”
    Allysha looked up at him. She hadn’t realized she’d spoken aloud until he’d replied. He was deadly serious.
    He cocked an eyebrow. “Mamangs?”
    “I suppose. If we must.” Allysha followed in his wake as he weaved his way through the shoppers. The fruit and vegetable department was as crowded and colorful as the rest of the market. Allysha trailed along in wide-eyed wonder until Saahren stopped at one stall. He picked through the pile of mamangs and gave the four he selected to the stall holder. He didn’t haggle, just paid the shopkeeper what he asked.
    Allysha noticed the slight frown as the man looked at his customer. He suddenly grinned. “You know, you look an awful lot like Grand Admiral Saahren.”
    Saahren grinned in his turn. “If I had a penny for every time I’ve been told that, I’d be a rich man.” He took the bag of fruit from the vendor and turned back to Allysha. “Come on, we’re off to the foothills.”

ChapterThree
    The stolen skimmer followed the flow of the traffic, not too fast, not too slow. Pyndrees, relaxed in the driver’s seat, scratched his lip. “I wonder if the protection was for her or for him.”
    “For him? What for?” Sean said.
    “Very senior