Jordan by Susan Kearney Read Free Book Online Page B

he do such a thing?”
    “The Tribes were very powerful in those days, and Arthur couldn’t defend every world. He had to make hard choices, like which
     planets to defend and which to sacrifice. One of the worlds Arthur sacrificed was Tor, and Gareth blamed Arthur.”
    “So Gareth made a deal with the enemy leader Trendonis?”
    “In exchange for Gareth’s help to murder King Arthur and steal my Staff, Trendonis promised Gareth that Tor would remain free
     of the Tribes.” Jordan sighed. “When I was last on Tor I found the Key of Space, in Gareth’s ancient home.”
    “Key of Space?”
    “The key changed a rusting ship into a shiny new one so it could fly through space. The other keys are Wind and Soil. When
     all the keys are attached to the Staff, they create a fire strong enough to unite with the Grail.”
    “But if Trendonis wanted to prevent the Staff and the Grail from ever uniting, why didn’t he destroy them when he had the
     chance?”
    “According to legend, the Staff and the keys are indestructible.”
    She frowned skeptically. “So Trendonis scattered the keys across the galaxy?”
    He nodded. “Without the keys, the Staff isn’t at full power and can’t unite with the Grail and utterly destroy the Tribes.”
    “So why didn’t he drop the keys into a black hole?”
    “Maybe he did. He’s kept me from finding them. And he’s used that time to rebuild the Tribes. Now that he has the Grail in
     his possession, he believes he’s strong enough to take on Earth.”
    “What happens if you unite the Staff and the Grail without all the keys?”
    She sure had a way of driving right to the point. But just because he’d lived a long time didn’t mean he had all the answers.
    “I guess we’ll have to wait and see.”
    “That’s not good enough.”
    He raised his eyebrow. “Would you prefer I lied?”
    “I’d prefer you had a plan to take us home, but that’s not going to happen is it?”
    “Not just yet.”
    She sighed. “So we might as well go find the keys and our Grail.”
    “That’s my girl.”
    Her eyes blazed with heat. “One very short, very meaningless sexual encounter does not make me yours.”
    “For something so
meaningless,
you’re certainly talking about it a lot.” He took pleasure in annoying her. He could grow to love her scowl, he really could.

The greatest dangers have their allurements.
    —P HILIP D ORMER S TANHOPE , 4 TH E ARL OF C HESTERFIELD
5

    V ivianne headed for the bridge with the dog tucked under her arm. But at the delicious aroma of frying burgers, the animal
     squirmed for his freedom. She set him down and he raced off. She followed more slowly and poked her head into the tiny galley
     to see the canine had already begged a hamburger patty from a slender, blue-eyed woman with her black hair pulled back into
     a ponytail.
    “Hi.” The woman smiled in greeting. “I’m Knox. Darren’s fiancée.”
    “Vivianne. And those burgers smell delicious.” She prayed the gravity would stay on long enough for her stomach to remain
     settled and for those burgers to cook.
    “They’re almost done.” After wiping her hands on an apron, Knox kneeled to pet the Boston terrier, who’d inhaled his burger
     in one bite. “And who’s this?”
    “Another stowaway like you.” Vivianne grinned. “I’m sorry you got caught up in this mess, but I do appreciate your cooking.”
    “Perhaps the dog will end up being good company for all of us.”
    “He’s so curious I think we should call him George.”
    George wagged his stumpy tail, then sat. Looking up with expectant eyes, he stared at the stove.
    Knox washed her hands, then flipped the burgers. “Looks like he wants some more.”
    “I don’t suppose you’ve found any dog food?” Vivianne asked.
    Knox shook her head. “There’s frozen steaks and hamburger in the freezer. Rice and beans in the pantry. No vegetables. No
     fruit. No spices. I found a few soft drinks, a moldy sandwich, and leftover lasagna