aHunter4Saken (aHunter4Hire) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the
Holman, the rebel rulers of Cygnus, had taken his unit captive.
    “It
makes you sad.” Peta spoke with conviction. “Don’t you like the rules?”
    “A
Hunter does not question what he is told. He follows orders.”
    Kimi
put a plate and utensils in front of him. “That doesn’t sound very pleasant.
Surely you must have some freedom?”
    “I
did not know what that meant until I came here.”
    Wil
frowned. “You mean the reservation is freer than your home?”
    Niail
smiled. The simplicity of Wil’s mind was new to him. A Hunter never associated
with children, even when protecting them. The Kaladin, the former rulers of his
home planet Cygnus, had feared that conversing with a warrior might damage or
scare children.
    Niail
leaned back in his chair. “You have choices and that makes a person free.”
    “You
sound like our teacher.” Peta took her hands off the table. “He’s always saying
we should be thankful for the freedom we have in this country. I don’t think
that’s true.”
    “Why?”
Kimi put a large bowl of pasta on the table.
    “We’re
not the same as other Americans.” Peta handed her mother her plate. “We once
owned all this land, but we’re treated differently now.”
    “Where
did you hear that?”
    “Daddy
used to tell me that all the time.” Peta stretched her hand out for her food.
“I think that’s why he left. He didn’t think we were good enough.”
    Kimi
inhaled sharply. “That’s not true. Your daddy didn’t want to stay with me. He
loves you kids.”
    “Then
why doesn’t he visit us?”
    “He
doesn’t have the time. He works very hard and is always traveling.”
    “He
was here yesterday.” Peta thrust out her lower lip. “He only wants to be with
his new family.”
    “He
is a fool.” Niail held his plate out to Kimi. “He is less a man for not
behaving with honor.”
    “What
does honor have to do with this?” Kimi frowned.
    “No
man of principle would desert his responsibilities. He would never leave his
woman and children.” Niail shook his head. “You people do things differently,
but some laws are universal.”
    “Is
that part of your sacred code?” Wil’s voice was solemn.
    “Yes.”
Niail looked at the boy. “A man of honor does his duty always.”
    Kimi
laughed. “Is there no room for spontaneity in that code?”
    “No.”
Niail knew that wasn’t the answer she wanted, but he didn’t evade the truth.
“We always follow the code.”
    “What
about being happy?” Kimi sat at the table. “Everyone needs joy in their lives.”
    “We
do not care about such things.” Niail took a mouthful of pasta. It warmed his
hollow stomach. “We have been bred to follow orders and the Code.”
    “That
sounds dreary.”
    “There
is no time for sadness. A Hunter’s reward is death.”
    Kimi
hesitated as she put pasta on her plate. “What about family?”
    “We
do not have such things.”
    Peta
frowned. “You don’t have children.”
    “No.”
Niail leaned back. “It might distract us from our duty.”
    “Then
your duty sounds stupid.” Kimi pulled the salad toward her. “People are more
than following orders.”
    “It
makes me glad that you have that freedom.” Niail took another mouthful of food.
“We make certain that is possible.”
    “So
you sacrifice your own lives so that others can be free?” Kimi’s voice shook.
    “That
sounds like a superhero to me.” Peta’s voice held a note of awe.
    “We
have no super powers.” Niail rubbed his head. “As you see, I can be injured. It
took two people to help me stay alive. I will be forever grateful.”
    “There
is no need to thank us.” Kimi relaxed in her chair and started to eat.
    Niail
continued to fork the pasta into his mouth, but his eyes never left her face.
Just looking at her gave him a joy he had never known before. She took his
breath away. He would keep her safe and happy no matter what it took.
    The
meal continued in companionable silence. Niail ate everything that was