Warrior's Valor Read Free Page A

impressive. At a closer range, D’Artansis’s black eyes made an even greater impact. Deeply set, they seemed to reflect no light at all, like wells where sunlight could never reach. Stark, strong features added to D’Artansis’s austere expression.
    â€œCommander.” Dwyn greeted her politely. “Shall we start?”
    A faint look of surprise flickered across D’Artansis’s features. “By all means. The sooner the better.”
    Dwyn didn’t think D’Artansis was eager to go on this mission. In fact, she was almost certain the commander regarded it as a waste of her precious time.
    â€œHeads up, people,” D’Artansis began, and immediately had her team’s total attention. “As you’ve gathered by now, we’re going into the Disi-Disi forest. We don’t have to worry about the Disians. They’ll avoid us if we don’t bother them, but plenty of other things can go awry if we don’t stay sharp. Captain Zeger has briefed me this morning on our objectives, and I’m certain this team will act with its usual distinction.”
    Commander D’Artansis glanced at Dwyn. “Ms. Izontro, who is under the protection of prominent politicians and law enforcers, plans to observe a certain situation. The Disi-Disi forest is beautiful, but also treacherous, unless you know what you’re doing. Once we’re in the forest, it is up to us to keep her, and each other, safe. Yes, Oches?” D’Artansis indicated a bald young man in the first row.
    â€œWhat’s Ms. Izontro’s mission in the forest, ma’am?”
    â€œThat’s up to her to share, or not.” D’Artansis raised an eyebrow in Dwyn’s direction.
    â€œI’m on a humanitarian and ecological mission to appraise the keeping of the Thousand Year Pact.” Dwyn spoke clearly, enunciating every word so no one could underestimate the importance of this enterprise, no matter what their preconception was. “I will document any potential trespassing, cutting of protected plants or trees, and other signs of wrongdoing.”
    â€œAnd if you find anything like that going on, ma’am?” Oches frowned. “What then?”
    â€œI will try to secure evidence of the perpetrator’s identity.” Dwyn was pleasantly surprised at the young man’s interested tone.
    â€œSounds like you could use some help. Or are any other members of your team joining us?”
    â€œI need all the assistance I can get. I will be collecting samples, and—”
    D’Artansis interrupted. “Excuse me, Ms. Izontro, but such details can wait. We need to finish the briefing before we head out to the Maireesian fields.”
    Dwyn had never been to Corma before, let alone to the Maireesian fields, but she knew they served as a kind of no-man’s-land between the urban expanses of Corma and the Disi-Disi forest. As on most of the SC planets, agricultural areas were few and strictly monitored. Many people preferred the synthetic alternative to traditional produce and regarded the latter with suspicion. Even some people in the Aequitas group thought they could become sick from eating a vegetable grown in the dirt, rather than the pure synthetic version created in a factory’s sterile environment. Still, others, usually the famous and the rich, ate nothing but traditional food, cooked at expensive restaurants.
    Dwyn sat down next to Oches as D’Artansis held a straight-forward, detail-packed briefing for her staff. When she paused, Dwyn thought she was done, but instead D’Artansis turned to her. “And you, Ms. Izontro, need to know only a few things. Stay next to me, never go anywhere alone, and don’t try to be a hero if anything unexpected happens.”
    Furious at the patronizing way D’Artansis handed out “orders,” Dwyn slowly raked her eyes over the commander. “Understood. Now, is this when I make my