The Rogue Retrieval by Dan Koboldt Read Free Book Online Page A

better ideas, I’m ready to hear them,” Kiara said.
    He racked his brain, but couldn’t think of anything on the spot. There was just no preparing for this sort of thing.
    â€œGive us three minutes to get into position,” Kiara said. She and Logan mounted and started off.
    â€œWait, wait!” Quinn said. “What do we do once we have the wyvern after us?”
    â€œMake it disappear,” Logan called. “That’s your specialty, isn’t it?”
    Chaudri cleared her throat. “The wyvern will—­”
    â€œWill you stop calling it that?” Quinn asked.
    â€œI’m sorry?”
    â€œI know I’m not the world expert,” Quinn said. He pointed his finger out into the clearing. “But that thing out there is a dragon.”
    â€œIf Dr. Holt were here, he’d ask you to defend your position,” Chaudri said. She spoke as if making a wish.
    â€œBut he’s not here. Hell, for all we know, he’s the reason that dragon is here. I’ll play your game, though. For starters, it looks like a big reptile. It’s sitting on a nest. It has scales and claws. All we’re missing is a pile of gold.”
    â€œAnd fire-­breathing capability, which these do not have. Hence: wyvern.” Chaudri checked the wooden bracelet on her wrist. These were company issue, and concealed both a watch and a wrist-­camera. “Almost time.”
    Quinn shook his head, still in disbelief that things had gone this far. But he wasn’t about to let his first job become a failure. No matter how ridiculous it might be. “Let’s get this over with.”
    They rode out from the trees; almost instantly, the wyvern was in a crouch, its massive head turning to track their movement. Two hundred yards of open clearing separated them from the nest.
    â€œShe’s not moving,” Quinn said.
    â€œWe need to get her attention,” Chaudri said. She put her hands to her mouth. “Hello there!”
    â€œHey!” Quinn shouted. He waved his hands like he was trying to land a jumbo jet.
    Nothing from the wyvern. She just watched them with unblinking eyes. There was intelligence there, and curiosity.
    â€œYou said they’re territorial, right?” Quinn asked.
    â€œQuite. It’s strange that she’s not moving yet.”
    â€œMaybe she doesn’t consider us a threat. Draw your sword.”
    Chaudri’s blade rasped as she pulled it from the scabbard. The swords they carried were actually hollow, with a titanium endoskeleton that made them strong but incredibly light. The blades were cast from a proprietary alloy right out of the company’s R & D lab, so sharp you could shave with them. Quinn had one, too, though Logan had made it clear that he should avoid a swordfight at any cost. More accurately, he’d said that even a twelve-­year-­old from Alissia would “carve you like a turkey.”
    But if I see any eleven-­year-­olds, watch out.
    Quinn had something better anyway. He rummaged around in his saddlebags, until he found what he wanted: a metal cylinder about the size of a cigar. “I knew I’d have an excuse to use this.”
    He held it up, found the switch, and flicked it on. A narrow beam of green light hummed into being, about a yard long and two inches wide. He slashed the air in a figure eight, wishing they’d had time to add the sound effects.
    â€œI’m sorry, is that a lightsaber ?” Chaudri asked.
    â€œLike it?”
    â€œI wouldn’t mind one of those.”
    â€œThey’re only for Jedi,” Quinn said. He couldn’t keep a straight face. The lightsaber had no substance to it; it wouldn’t even melt butter. It got the wyvern’s attention, though. Her catlike eyes had narrowed.
    They urged their now-­terrified mounts a ­couple of paces forward, and that was enough. The reptile crouched low and then leaped into the air. Wide, leathery