The Black Guard: Book II: Evolution (Black Guard Series 2) by C. R. Daems Read Free Book Online

been given. Toch's rifle was off to the right five millimeters
and high two every ten meters; my rifle was off to the left four millimeters and
low two every ten meters. After five minutes of practice, we could both hit the
target dead center at twenty-five meters.
    "Why?" the general asked when I finally
declared us ready.
    "So I can be sure I'm going to hit what I'm aiming
at. We try not to give our opponents a second chance," I said.
    "The Gurk are also good shots," he said,
waving toward his limo.
    I entered the back with him, and Toch settled into the
passenger seat. "I told my corporal to park where they will be unnoticed
yet within a two-minute drive of the palace."
    The caravan exited the military compound into a small
city. The streets were narrow, the houses old and in need of repair, and the
people on the streets looked like common laborers. It took over twenty minutes
to reach open country, where we encountered wooded areas and occasional small
streams. The roads improved as we neared a larger city, which spread out as far
as the eye could see but didn't have the tall buildings one typically saw in
modern cities. The tallest structure appeared to be about four stories. Inside
the city, the buildings were squashed side-by-side, giving me a feeling they
were encroaching on the narrow streets. Only the occasional open market
provided any relief.
    After what seemed like hours, the streets widened and
opened to well-manicured areas with buildings approaching ten stories. Soon
afterward, the trucks pulled off the road and parked. Less than a minute later,
the limo reached the eight-meter high gates that were the entrance to the
palace grounds.
    The guards at the gate saluted and waved us through when
they recognized General Heydar. The palace building stood a hundred meters down
a paved road with neatly trimmed hedges, beds of flowers, and carpets of grass.
Halfway to the palace we encountered a roundabout with a two-story-high
fountain with various animals I didn't recognize spurting water. The road ended
in a three-story pink-marble building, which looked to be at least a hundred
meters square. A ten-person-wide staircase of ten stairs led to the massive
double doors and two Gurk guards, dressed in dark-blue jackets and gray pants
with black stripes down the leg.
    Judging by the way the guards' hands rested on their
weapons, they weren't sure what to do as we started up the stairs. They relaxed
when they recognized the general. And as I had hoped, the addition of two
Blackwood soldiers didn't raise any red flags. The reason for their nervousness
was apparent when one opened a door for us to pass. Inside were fifteen Gurks
in combat dress and fully armed for battle with military-grade weapons. The
soldiers lined both sides of the hallway, which was wide enough for ten men
abreast. They relaxed visually when they saw three Blackwood uniforms, although
a Gurk major did block our path.
    "General Heydar, what is your reason for being
here?" he asked, as his eyes slid over Toch but lingered on me for a
moment. Fortunately, my protective clothing tended to flatten my unimpressive
breasts, my hips weren't excessively wide, I never wore makeup, and I had a few
minor scars, which all-in-all gave me a unisex look.
    "None of your business, Major Gowad. I have an
appointment with Omom Nastya."
    "I'm sorry, but all appointments have been
canceled—"
    "Sergeant Parviz, sound general quarters," the
general said into a handheld device he took from his belt. "You're to bring
one hundred combat troops to the palace and arrest Gurk security guards at the
entrance. Deadly force is authorized—"
    "That won't be necessary, General. I'm afraid I was
being overly cautious. We've had a creditable rumor that the Omom Nastya will
be assassinated. You and your detail may proceed." He stepped aside.
    As we continued down the hallway, I half expected to be
shot but knew it would be uncharacteristic to turn around. The rug running down
the middle