Gaze Read Online Free PDF Page A

strange laughter welling up in her. She didn’t know what to do with it, but she liked it.
    The wedding event was being held in a huge field to the north of the landing pads. They took a skimmer through the mountain passes and into the valley filled with tents and pavilions.
    “It looks like quite the party.”
    He grinned. “Hargu Nashti is a global treasure. She is one of the finest minds that our world has produced. She is a tactical specialist, a musician and a politician. It is an excellent blend with our most decorated general. Folks were relieved when they got together. All that tension was driving the population insane.”
    Gaze frowned. “Tension?”
    “Sure, they are both powerful broadcasting empaths. Their minds control those around them, so it is a relief to feel them happy.”
    Gaze checked her thoughts. She did feel a strange surge of happiness, but she wasn’t sure it was her own. “A world of empaths?”
    “Most of the population either broadcasts or receives from great distance. It is difficult, but it keeps this world at peace, most of the time.” He grimaced.
    She chuckled as she set up to catch him. “And which are you?”
    “Are you receiving anything from me?”
    “No.”
    “Then, I must be a receiver.” He winked, his dark eyes sparkling.
    Nikowaik walked her to the main pavilion and escorted her up to the bride who was sitting and having her hair and nails groomed at the same time.
    “Governor. This is Transport Specialist Gaze. She brought your protection-father here.”
    The bride looked up with a smile. “Thank you. That will be all.”
    Nikowaik disappeared with a few steps behind some drapes, and Gaze was left alone with the bride and her attendants. She folded her hands in front of her and waited.
    Hargu looked at her and smiled. “You have peculiarly striking features. Your hair is made of fire and gold. Fascinating.”
    Gaze curtsied. “Thank you for noticing. My features were given by my genes, the designs around my eyes by a physician.”
    “I did wonder about them. They don’t seem to match the rest of your features. Don’t get me wrong, they are striking, but they seem more of an afterthought.” Hargu grinned.
    “It did take some getting used to.” She took the chair that an attendant brought her and sat with the bride. “Thank you for the invitation to be here on your day.”
    Hargu waved her hand lazily in the air, drying the polish. “Everyone is invited, and it would be silly for you to be alone on that ship.”
    The woman was elegant and older than she had seemed on first glance. Gaze cocked her head. “I am usually alone with my ship. It is nothing new, but I do enjoy getting out now and then.”
    “Well, my protection-father asked me to brief you on what would happen today. I think it was to sooth my nerves more than help you out.” Hargu winked.
    “From the little I know of him, it seems to fit in with his personality.” She smiled.
    “Well, after my grooming is complete, you are invited to join me for a light lunch, and then, if you would assist me in my final dressing, it would be appreciated.”
    “Shouldn’t that honour belong to family or friends?”
    Hargu winked, “They are all fighting for the honour, so I will give it to the companion of my protection-father. You will take the competition out of it and that will be your wedding gift to me.”
    Gaze blinked. “I am so sorry, I hadn’t even thought about it. It has been so long since I have been invited anywhere.”
    The woman waved her hand. “Do not worry. I understand that you were only recently summoned to pilot General Korwait here. The wedding was a sudden decision. There was no reason to wait any longer, so Niyu will begin insemination after the wedding and we will start our family.”
    “Why not you?”
    Hargu grinned. “We will take turns. Only one of us can be pregnant at any given time. We are keeping the entire planet calm and that takes a bit of concentration that a