Plague of Memory Read Online Free PDF

new snow, but the subtlety of emotion in them ran the spectrum from soft powder to sharp ice. Xonea's gaze most often relayed the cool, watchful attention of a battle-seasoned warrior, but presently something much fiercer blazed in his eyes. Xonea turned his attention, but he did not smile, and he did not bother to address the Senior Healer at all.
    "Cherijo," he said. "You are to come with me to the command center at once."
    After the damage inflicted on the Sunlace during the Jado Massacre, the ensleg had retrofitted the vessel, and constructed not one but two command centers within the ship. The first was located in the customary position, near the primary helm and navigational array, where most of the ship's flight officers performed their duties.
    That was not the command center to which Xonea Torin escorted me. In the heavily shielded and reinforced engineer
    ing section, located in the heart of the vessel, a second command center had been added. From this secondary flight deck, the Sunlace's crew could perform the same functions that they would on the primary with far more protection and safety. Reever had told me that the second command center was only used while the ship was under attack or engaging in the field of battle.
    We were doing neither, so I was somewhat confused as to why I had been brought here. Still, the captain was the highest-ranking male on the ship, the equivalent of a rasakt among the Iisleg, and a female did not speak to such a man unless commanded by him to do so.
    Xonea and I submitted to a DNA test before we were permitted access to the command center. He led me past the consoles and equipment, which were not in use, and into a room with a large table, many chairs, and a sophisticated computer array with multiple terminals and access consoles. Waiting for us were Reever and eleven Jorenian officers who supervised various operations on board the ship.
    There were more men than women here, and all of them were staring at me. This promised to be unpleasant. Hopefully I would not be stripped and beaten here. I saw no discipline posts or whips.
    "Sit down, Healer," the captain said.
    I sat down in the chair Xonea indicated, to the right of his own and directly across from my husband's, and waited. My face felt as immobile as a Lok-teel mask in a blast of ice wind.
    "We have received an urgent relay from the Hsktskt Faction homeworld of Vtaga," Xonea said, activating the central console. A data copy of the relay appeared on the screens set into the table before us. It was shown in a language I could not read, so it meant nothing to me. "As you can see, it came from SubAkade TssVar, the former general of the Faction armies, and currently the chief Hsktskt negotiator at the Jado peace talks. He has personally requested our immediate assistance. Specifically, he asks that Cherijo come to Vtaga."
    The other men were reading the relay. Their reactions appeared to be a blend of surprise, disbelief, and, oddly, anger. I recalled TssVar as the big reptilian who had been present when Raktar Teulon delivered his ultimatum after the rebels had taken control of Akkabarr. TssVar had not struck me as a being who would casually ask for anything—and how was it that he knew Cherijo?
    Reever finished reading the relay. "No," he said to Xonea.
    "This is not a matter of simply refusing their request, Duncan." The captain looked distressed, as if he did not wish to say those words. "There is precedence."
    "Not this time." Reever looked at me. "Jarn, leave us."
    Surprised that my husband had called me by my name in front of so many who did not, I rose to my feet.
    "Sit down, Cherijo," Xonea said.
    I sat down.
    Reever folded his arms. "She is my wife. Jarn, leave."
    I stood. "She is a member of my crew/' Xonea shot back. "Healer, you will remain."
    Bobbing up and down seemed ridiculous, so I stood and silently waited for them to sort it out. I belonged to Reever, but Xonea was the leader of the Torin and captain of the