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Tis no more than is generally known. I have no doubt the Security know more,
but Sabra isn t sharing.
When it comes to Security, my friend, they share only what they want to.
Shamon rocked back and forward on his bare feet. There are other ways to find
out things.
Heddam glanced at him.
Elyse, Shamon said. If anyone knows anything, twould be her.
More than likely. Heddam thoughtfully twirled the juice in the glass. Aye,
Elyse and Shaque. With that bounty on Tasi s head and Shaque s connections to
the bounty hunters, they might know more than most.
And Elyse knows a lot of things. Shamon emptied his glass in several
swallows. How she knows, I have no idea, but know she does.
Heddam swung away. Thanks Shamon. I ll go see if she s contactable.
She will be if she wants to be.
In the control cabin, Heddam turned on the viscomm and keyed in the code to
Elyse and Shaque s communication system. Their response would depend on
whereabouts they were, Outlaw or Lawful Sector, and what they were doing. If
they were hunting a slave ship full of children, or even tracking a single stolen
child or youth, they wouldn t answer anyone.
But if they were free for the moment... well, they could still be doing anything.
Elyse and Shaque were both a puzzle at times... dark puzzles.
The screen flickered and then a pretty face with grave brown eyes and a wavy
brown bob was looking calmly back at him. A smile curved the full lips.
Heddam.
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Elyse. Heddam didn t bother to try and examine the spill of relief that went
through him.
How are you?
Good. He hesitated. And you?
Busy. The glint in her eye wasn t comforting, but then Elyse could make
anyone squirm with just one look.
Her winter-eyed, blonde-haired, ex-bounty hunter husband could do the same.
They were what the Daamens laughingly described as the spooky friends.
One fine brow arched slightly, Elyse waited silently for Heddam to speak. He
knew from experience that she could sit there for a long time just waiting. The
wench was downright... well, spooky, at times.
What do you know of Aora? he finally asked.
Aora. She didn t blink. An uprising five months ago. The High Empress
murdered, the Guardians hunted and killed. Six Guardians survived and they fled
and separated, making hunting them harder. The skulls of the Guardians killed are
spiked near the gate. The kyrats were removed from the skulls. The High Emperor
is seeking power but he s fighting two other uprisings. The Old Way, who are
fighting for the way it used to be and the Third Way, who are a group of influential
people wanting to abolish both the New and Old Ways and bring about a new rule.
It s said that three Guardians remain alive and on the run. That slight, mysterious
smile curved her mouth. And you saved one of them.
How did you know that? he demanded.
You don t want to know.
He probably didn t, but if she knew that much she might know more. What can
you tell me of Tasi? Tasita?
Tasita. She rested her chin on one finger. The youngest of the Guardians.
She s one of the three on the run.
So Elyse didn t know that Acantha was dead. One of two left, he said.
Ah.
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Where is she?
On the run.
Ha ha. Very funny. Elbows on the console, he leaned forward. Do you know
where she is?
Heddam, she could be anywhere by now. She could still be on the same planet
you left her, she could be in space, or she could be back on Aora.
Back on Aora? Of her own free will? He shook his head. I doubt that.
Doubt nothing. The Guardians have a duty and they ll see it through.
The High Empress is dead. What other duty could they possibly have?
Elyse studied him. What do you know of Aora?
Heddam shrugged. Truthfully, not much. The uprising brought them to the
attention of the galaxy, but their ways aren t well known because they don t mix
with other races much, and don t encourage visitors, including traders.
Aora is a closed planet. They look after themselves. Reaching out off screen,
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