Hunting a Soul by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

might want to gear up. My honour is at stake.”
    With a snort, Lee got to her feet and went to the bag of accessories she had been given. The straps that hadn’t made any sense now settled around her hips, thighs, calves, crisscrossed her chest and strapped to her arms. The knives went in next, the placement of the different sizes rotated until she could move fairly easily. Wearing enough metal and leather to make her consider less savoury occupations, she returned to the flight deck a moment before the Trimlorith forces hailed them.
    Lee leaned forward and answered the hail. “This is the Citadel shuttle Tangyu out of Balen.”
    A woman’s voice asked, “State your intent.”
    “We wish to land and spend two days on the surface of your lovely world.”
    N’ran typed a message, and she waited for the next question.
    “What are you going to be doing?”
    “We are here for a passive evaluation of your citizens to determine if any talents are surfacing.”
    “And if that is the case?”
    She read from the message. “We will ask your local governors to convene a tribunal to craft a policy that will allow the lady in question to stay or leave, as she chooses.”
    “Fifty-two-hour pass is extended. If you require an extension, please contact the nearest peacekeeper offices. Have a pleasant stay.”
    Lee swallowed when the ship that she had been speaking to cruised overhead. She made sure that the coms were off and she tried to remember how to breathe. “That is one big ship.”
    “It is a Nuskan warship. Some of their warriors thought that the women of Trimlorith would be easy prey. Now, the ladies have possession and command of the warship.”
    Lee nodded. “So, don’t leave the keys where they can get them. Gotcha.”
    “They aren’t talented, so you will have an advantage. Now, do you have any idea where you want to land?”
    “Land at the spaceport and we will take the skimmer out of the back. I can do a better scan of the area from the ground. From the sky, all I can do is see the bright spots.”
    He nodded. “Right. So, how are we going to play it?”
    “Well, the shadow would have had to have ridden someone down and either ditched it via suicide or been killed. From there, it would have had to have taken on another host within hours. It has to be around here.”
    “I meant, did you want me to walk behind you?”
    “Please. Krix will have to sit on my shoulder, but be prepared to grab him if I have any trouble.”
    “Right.” He nodded.
    Lee had to negotiate for a landing slip, but once she had completed that chore, she was scanning the horizon and working her way back toward the city.
    By the time they had landed, she spotted two recently deceased beings and another means of attack came to her. “What if I simply ask the peacekeepers if there have been any recent deaths?”
    He settled them in place and powered the ship down. “Do you think that will work?”
    “I think that I can actually ask the dead who killed them.”
    N’ran’s eyes widened in surprised amazement. “I suppose you can.”
    “Let’s try that. If the dead are near the morgue, it will make things easier.”
    She got to her feet, settled Krix on her shoulder pad designed just for him and she looked at N’ran. “You are okay with this?”
    “I get to watch you walk without it being weird. I am definitely okay with this.” He wagged his eyebrows.
    Lee headed out onto her first true alien world. Balen didn’t count; it was home.
    She had all of Krix’s paperwork with her and customs was easy for a woman covered in knives. Most of the women she saw who had a man in tow wore no less than six knives. With ten blades on her body, Lee was confident that she was fitting in.
    Directions to the peacekeeper headquarters were simple, and their little trio headed into Gorada, the capitol of Trimlorith.
    N’ran murmured. “Are you sure we should speak with the peacekeepers?”
    “I need to speak with the bodies. If one of them was