Creating Harmony Read Online Free PDF Page B

getting a promotion.”
    Iara slowly turned and saw the familiar face of Citadel Master Lovey. She smiled and the woman waved for her to remain seated.
    “Iara, I have heard you and Lock did excellently well on your assignment, but there has been a request for you. A long-term request.” Lovey sat at the table, as if she ate with instructors every day.
    Iara sipped frantically at her first cup of tea. “What is it?”
    “Citadel Lowel has requested you as Citadel Master. I have given my blessing if you agree.”
    Iara put her tea down. “What?”
    “You heard me. They will be doing many non-talented information sessions and lectures. They need someone with your talents on the planet to keep things on the scholastic side. Lowel is for training and learning. It needs to remain that. Your talent could keep it that way.”
    “How long do I have to think about it?”
    “Sleep on it. I hear you are overdue. Lock here will remain on site until you have decided on a course of action.”
    “Does this mean I wouldn’t have to constantly run around from world to world?”
    Lovey grinned. “It means exactly that. You can even request some staff members if you want to take anyone from here.”
    Iara looked to Tether and he was nodding eagerly. “I might have a personal assistant in mind.”
    He beamed at her, his third eye glowing with excitement.
    She sent a sideways glance to Lock, and he was busy looking innocent. “You have been working on this the entire trip home.”
    “Well, I know that they are looking for someone to head the Citadel, and you have both a head for organization and a talent for harmony. I think you would be ideal and I told them so.”
    Iara sat back in amazement and kept chewing her breakfast. “A Citadel master. Huh. That was not something I had expected.”
    “Sleep on it. You are going to need to make the decision with a clear head.” Lovey patted her hand and gave her a smile. “Come to my office when you have decided.”
    Lovey rose to her feet. “Guardsman, come with me. You look as hellish as she does, so we need to get your visitor’s quarters sorted.”
    Iara gave Lock a solid stare. He was pale, drawn and exhausted. She wasn’t the only one who had done hard duty on their assignment.
    “Lovey, put him in my room. I owe him a few explanations, and the bed is definitely big enough. I can get my rest on the couch.”
    The Citadel master looked between the two of them and nodded. “Right. Eat and haul him off for some rest. I will speak with you both in the morning.”
    Lovey handed him a visitor’s link so that he could use the facilities of the Citadel as well as the lift to the Specialists’ quarters.
    Tether grinned. “Come with me, Lock. You need a good meal as much as she does.”
    Iara worked her way through her meal in silence. She gulped down her tea and hoped for the energy to take another pass at the food line.
    She was waning rapidly, so when Lock finished his meal, she looked at Tether. “Nap time for us, I think.”
    He gave her a grateful look. “Excellent idea.”
    Tether grinned. “Do you need help?”
    Iara slowly stood, and when she felt her body balance, she shook her head. “Nope, I am good. Can you take care of the trays?”
    Tether nodded.
    Lock rose to his feet and offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
    She took it and used her grip to steer him through the common area and to the lifts. She was guiding and he was supporting. It was a fair exchange of strengths at the moment.
    “Are you considering taking the position at Lowel?”
    They stood and swayed as the lift came to a halt on her floor. As the doors eased open, they stepped out and she directed him toward her quarters.
    “I am indeed considering the position, but my brain is a little muddled. I need to decide in the morning.”
    They paused outside her door and she palmed the lock. The door slid back and the scent of her rooms came to her. Citrus and honey were her favourite scents. It reminded her