Askance Read Online Free PDF Page A

in the common area.
    To her surprise, the other women were all dressed in concealing garments that hid every inch of their bodies. Rashharna looked frustrated and if she could have changed colour when she saw Silari, she would have.
    Rashharna’s silver eyes narrowed and she gestured to Silari’s clothing. “What is that?”
    “This is the clothing that I was provided.” Silari reached inside herself and pulled out the aura she had worn as an Agent. “You, ladies, look lovely. Shall we join the Avatar and his guests?”
    The other women looked surprised that she had changed from timid to confident, but there was no other way to be when the only thing covering your naughty bits was vulnerable to a stiff breeze. You either embraced it or you hid in your room and Silari was done hiding.
    The stares that she received from the staff members were amusing and the moment that she led the group into the ballroom, every gaze was on them.
    Fifty dignitaries of the Yeruan were staring at her with shock and amazement, but she only had eyes for Maksuan.
    He was wearing a toga in the same gold silk as her clothing. To her surprise, scars delineated his torso and exposed the traces of old whip marks.
    She walked to him as if hypnotized. Her hand was drawn to the lines on his skin. It looked as if he had been hung from his wrists and whipped from both sides at the same time.
    “The marks should be worn proudly. My grandmother brought me to the Avatar to save my life. Niiko healed the wounds, but I asked him to leave the scars themselves. It reminds me that while most of the folk of Niiko are good souls, there are those who would attack for the purpose of manipulating the Planet for their own gain.”
    Her hand was pressed to his chest and she felt the heat burning her palm. “Who did this to you?”
    “Those who tried to manipulate my grandmother into contacting the Planet for mineral locations. They captured me, tortured me and eventually, my grandmother called the Avatar to rescue me. He gave up his position in order to let Niiko save my life and I will always be indebted to him.”
    “Parkalo.”
    Maksuan smiled. “Precisely. He was given swaths of land and mineral rights and he and his companion lived together happily for years. Niiko and I visited regularly and confirmed for him that his sacrifice was not in vain.”
    “So, you know how it feels to be…exposed.”
    He reached out and touched the metal that acted as a corset. “I know exactly how it feels and I know that the sensation of being stared at never gets better, but perhaps together, we can stand against the curious and callous.”
    His kiss was surprising and the assembled men and women gasped.
    Silari went up on her toes and wove her fingers through his hair as he pressed his hands to her back, hauling her tight against him.
    A polite round of applause broke out as well as hissing and cursing from a few of the women.
    When Maksuan lifted his head, he smiled. “And the decision is made, though it really could not have been any other.”
    Niiko surged to the fore as he addressed the assembled. “And so I present to you Silari Henderson of the Alliance Protectorate of Terra, my bride and secondary Avatar. The ceremony will be held tomorrow for those who wish to attend and witness.”
    Seven of the women who had been there for selection turned and left the party. Ydella and Linorial remained and circulated throughout the event.
    Silari spoke quietly. “You could have asked me.”
    “You might have said no and really, there was no need to keep the others here. They have been most unpleasant to you and it was grating on my nerves.” Maksuan’s face showed his irritation.
    She realised that he had actually rushed this to defend her. It was sweet and touching to know that in his own way, he was taking steps to remove obstacles for her. Silari turned in his embrace and faced the crowd with a forced smile. “Hello all. Thank you for attending this