Strange Land (The Young Ancients Book 15) by P. S. Power Read Free Book Online

months. Before she could go on, the man reached out and took the device, his hand carefully not making any contact with hers.
    She was still pretty disgusting, but so was he. It almost hurt, being treated like that.
    The man nodded and bowed a bit, holding it, even though he was seated.
    "Praise the All High."
    That got a chorus from the rest of them, because it was what you said in situations like that. The others took the amulet more easily when it was their turn, thankfully, and they managed to settle at nearly deck level next to the water ship. They were met by seven men, all of them armed with heavy sticks.
    Laroque smiled when he saw her though.
    "Captain! About time you an yers, get back to proper doings. This lot was about to mutiny and take off for Afrak to find some dark skinned women to play with." That part seemed to be a joke, since the man smiled and no one seemed to be dead or moaning in horrible pain.
    She nodded though.
    "That sounds like a good plan. I have to go and see what the King of Noram and the Queen of the Moon have for me to do now. This mission was a complete success, by the way. You all get a bonus for that. First..." She glanced around and realized that she didn't really need the ship they were on anymore. It worked like a regular sailing vessel, and would last a good ten to twenty more years. That was a prize, if you didn't live in space most of the time. "Captain Laroque, will you please select a First Mate?"
    That got a gasp from everyone, except Roget, who nodded at the man and smiled.
    "Praised be."
    Laroque whooped, his voice going loud, and he moved in to hug Sara. She did it back, since the small and blocky man didn't seem to mean anything more than that he was happy by the move. The rest of the men looked scandalized, but he backed off, smiling, seconds later.
    "You're certain sure on this? A ship like this one is a true prize."
    "You have the Captaincy, Laroque. The ship itself belongs to Terrance Baker, so keep that in mind. He's in charge of Tellerand, so may have some work for you to do. On the good side, you'll all be paid well enough, and have food to eat all the time. For now though, I think you all really should go off to Afrak and see about what might be needed there. Put in at the southern port and make sure they have everything they need. I'll leave you with a communications device, so you can get in touch with their Ancient, if they need anything." That was, she thought, Farlo Ross. Now at least.
    She was just a school girl, but immortal now. Timon had made her that way, along with a lot of his friends. The only person left out had been her. She wanted to claim it wasn't fair, but that wasn't really the case. For years the boy, a true child back then, had tried to suggest they marry some day. He'd even done it right, sending letters to her mother, hinting at things without being too heavy handed.
    Then she turned around and treated him like an inappropriate butcher asking for sexual favors in exchange for pork loin. She'd never been as cold to anyone that was interested in her. Not even those that were a lot more crude and forceful about the idea. There were rules after all, for that kind of thing. Even with a young man that was under the age of consent she should have been kinder about it all. Playing back a little. Perhaps actually considering the proposal. He'd been a Countier back then, after all. A young one, but it was clear that he was intelligent and well bred, if a trifle short.
    King Richard, and more to the point, Queen Constance, had felt that he'd be better off without her however. They hadn't told her what they had in mind, because that wasn't needed in their world, but the King had suggested to her that she put the boy off. Mainly so that she wouldn't be too close to him later, if he needed to be killed.
    That job was given to her early, before Tim had proven to be anything but a young boy with the ability to build magics.
    Well before he started handing out