where he hides. Condor will be preparing something big while he has the freedom to do so.”
“I don’t know where he is either,” Cora admitted. “If I did, I’d be knocking on his door right now.”
Brocke’s smile spoke volumes about the kind of methods he would use.
“You know possible allies, their methods, their ways. I know Condor, and I know Gaiya.”
“Are you asking for my help?” Cora heard herself ask.
Yeah, this is how I die , she thought a moment later. The word “help” isn’t even in their vocabulary.
But to her surprise, Brocke only looked at her solemnly.
“I’m ordering you to tell me everything you know,” the warrior said. “You can’t possibly comprehend how much trouble you’re in right now, but the fact you’re sitting here with me should give you a clue. The chieftain doesn’t like questions about Gomor.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Why do you think?” Brocke replied without pause.
Figures. The Union wouldn’t exactly approve.
“So what now?” she asked, not a little irritated that they thought they could treat her like that. “I tell you all I know, and you throw me in some dark cell, never to be seen again? Not going to happen.”
Brocke came closer, and Cora stood at once, backing away from him.
“That is entirely up to you,” the warrior said, stopping a few feet from her. “If you prove yourself useful in finding Condor, my father might find it in him to forgive you.”
“That is not fair,” Cora protested, but the look in those blue eyes was merciless, not allowing argument.
“Nothing ever is,” he said. “I’m not really threatening you, Lieutenant. You would know if I were. We will catch Condor, but I’m warning you to stay quiet about Gomor.”
“You could have just asked me politely, you know,” Cora felt the need to cut in. “I want to catch that son of a bitch as much as you do.”
“I’ve found that asking takes a lot more time than telling.”
Corgans.
Cora took a deep breath, calming herself. Both the threat and Brocke’s nearness were driving her out of her mind. She wanted to hate the bastard for acting like he owned everything, but she couldn’t. There was a charisma to him that dragged her in against her will. Something sure and strong, just like him.
“Alright,” she sighed. “Let’s do this. Where do we start?”
Finally, there was a look of surprise on Brocke’s face. Cora almost cried out in victory, even if she didn’t know over what.
“We?” he asked. “I will catch Condor alone. You would slow me down.”
Nice one. You could charm the paint off the walls with those lines.
“Thank you for the vote of confidence,” Cora said defiantly, “but I’m coming with you. On the scene is where I work best. I think we should start at the latest site and move on from there.”
Brocke appeared to consider that, measuring her from head to toe with a somewhat surprised look. Cora had never felt more naked under someone’s scrutiny than in that moment.
“You might be right,” Brocke said. “It would be faster like this, but Condor is dangerous.”
“I am a part of the Militant. We know what the job can bring,” she shot right back at him.
The warrior wasn’t persuaded by her reassurance, clearly. His eyes were completely serious as he regarded her.
“You have not dealt with Corgan fanatics.”
He still scared the fuck out of Cora, but she wasn’t going to sit there and take his dismissive attitude.
“I’ve seen their handiwork,” she said, standing sure and proud before the warrior. “I think I know what I’m getting myself into better than you. And besides, you already told me I don’t have much of a choice, do I?”
Brocke said nothing to that, but there was a curious light in his blue eyes. Cora took his silence as victory and walked to the door.
“Shall we?” she asked, her heart thudding in her chest, knowing that pushing Brocke didn’t end well for people.
Yet, the warrior only
Benjamin Blech, Roy Doliner