Waking Dream [Tales of the Citadel 23] by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

offspring.”
    Vecho shrugged. “It will happen. She has not been wrong yet. When I read what my children were to be called, I was surprised, I had always thought to have a big family. Two sons were all that was listed and that is all that I had. They both did me proud, and I love all the grandchildren that they provided. When you are ready, your file is here. Be safe, be warm and keep breathing.”
    She echoed the traditional farewell of the platforms and disconnected the call.
    “How long were you listening, Burin?”
    “Deskillian Burin of the Wyoran trading families. Third son, twelfth grandson, only boys in my family it seems. Now, what file?”
    She chuckled. “I did tell you that one of my great-grandmothers was a seer. She wrote down the names of all the family children for generations. I have a file with the name of my children, if I am to have any. Given my grandfather’s comments, there are actual names on that list.”
    She rubbed the back of her neck. “I actually thought that it would be a blank slate.”
    He grinned. “Does it list the father?”
    She shook her head. “It does not, at least not that I know of. No one sees the list but the person who is about to have a child.”
    She got to her feet and walked up to him, slowly and carefully. “So, Deskillian, huh? Fancy name.”
    “Family name. I am told it goes back nine generations.”
    “I think I need a cup of caf and a comfortable place to sit. Possibly a visit to the healers.”
    He was at her side immediately. “Are you badly damaged?”
    “I should have waited for the armour. My circulatory system makes me much more prone to subsurface bleeding. Yes, I think the healers first is a good idea.”
    He wrapped an arm around her waist and helped her back into the lift. Her vision was blurring intermittently, and she was more dead weight than companion when he made it to the medical area.
    She was scanned and two contact healers grabbed her hands, working in tandem to stop the bleeding. She tried to allay Burin’s concern. “Prishkin veins. They look neat, but they are very inconvenient at times. Don’t tell Tero. I don’t want him to feel bad.”
    After the first round of treatment, they stripped her so they could monitor and focus the healing. One of the healers politely put a drape across her breasts and another across her hips. It was fine until she had to turn and they gasped at the damage.
    “Sorry for this extra work, healers.” She twisted her lips and breathed through the pain of the healing.
    “Don’t worry about it, Specialist Kwinto. It is a pleasure to work on a Prishkin. You don’t see this kind of biology much.”
    Laughing, she buried her head in the pillows. She was a learning experience. Lovely.
    “Enjoy the moment, healers. I am not letting Tero get me on my ass again.” She smirked.
    “You went up against Tero and this was all the damage you have?” The healer on the left who was working on her shoulder whistled softly.
    “It was a skills assessment.”
    Burin’s voice broke in, “She lasted forty-five minutes and walked out.”
    The healers spoke excitedly and continued on until her body was clear of damage. They helped her ease back into her suit, and once she was robed again, she bowed her thanks. “That is going to help me get some rest tonight.”
    Burin laughed as the healers discussed and made notes on their data tablets, ignoring their healed patient. The dining hall waited.
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter Ten
     
     
    The next day was taken up by auditing courses given at the Citadel. She acknowledged that she did seem to have most of the characteristics of a hunter. She may as well take in a few courses on legal procedures.
    Burin had to teach, and his class was about supplementing a talent for tracking with all the technology available. The different everyday medical scanners that each shuttle carried could be wired into the long-range scanners to seek out floating pods with missing personnel.
    He was a