Spirit of Empire 4: Sky Knights Read Online Free PDF

bad.”
    He reached out and touched her face again. “Will you go with me?”
    She stepped back from him in shock. “And leave the town without a healer? Now? No! You’ll have to manage without me this time. Just hurry.”
    She turned deep, brown eyes to Washburn, eyes full of gratitude. She was not ready to get closer to the god, but she owed him. “Thank you for saving my husband,” she said.
    Washburn replied with something in his own language. Neither Galborae or Milae understood the words, but they understood the intent of those words. She nodded and returned her attention to her husband. She put her arms around him, more gently this time in consideration of his wounds, and lifted her lips to his.
    When they parted, she reached a hand out to Limam and touched her, then stepped back. “Hurry,” she said.
    “I’ll be as quick as I can,” Galborae said.
    She reached a hand up once more to caress his cheek. “I know you will. You’ve spent your entire adult life protecting us no matter the cost to you, and everyone knows it. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friends. Go with my love, and go swiftly.”
    He nodded. “Tell Lord Boral I’ll be back.”
    She nodded, unable to speak further. She pulled her cloak tight about her and turned back to the gate. Galborae watched her until the door closed behind her, then he turned back toward Washburn with a hand resting on the fur of Limam’s neck. Would he ever see her again, he wondered? The demons would not likely discriminate in their choices of prey.
    Limam’s nose tested all the new smells, and her hackles lifted as they stepped up the ramp. With a calming thought and his touch on her neck, she settled down, but she remained alert.
    The ramp closed behind them, and he knew his home would soon be farther than far.
     
    * * * * *
     
    Galborae was stretching on the floor of his room when a knock sounded at the door. Washburn came through, holding out a piece of shiny, gold jewelry. He attached the thing to Galborae’s ear and spoke. Galborae heard the words Washburn spoke, but he instantly heard words he understood as well, though they sounded as if Washburn had spoken them.
    “We finally finished the translator device,” Washburn said to him. “My language is known as Galactic High Standard. I’m not sure we have a name for your language yet, but this thing will let you understand my words, and the one I’m wearing will let me understand yours. Get it?”
    Galborae fingered the thing on his ear suspiciously. It struck him as magical, and he and his people feared the powers of magic. Then he considered everything else he had experienced within the ship and sighed. Everywhere he turned, he could not distinguish magic from reality. He ran a hand over his wounds to remind him that he was presently in reality even if things around him were not.
    Take his room, for example. There wasn’t a window or a single candle, yet there was light. The door opened with just a spoken command. He had been assured that the ship was not alive, but he was not certain he believed Washburn. Magic was everywhere.
    He set the thought aside—his concern at the moment was his meld. To Washburn, he said, “Limam smells the others. She has grown accustomed to you, but not to your crew. Her anxiety grows. It’s time we met them.”
    Washburn reached out to Limam and ruffled the fur around her neck. “I wish we had a translator device for you,” he said to the cat. He looked over to Galborae. “This will challenge you more than anything you have yet seen or done. I had hoped to do it in the dream, but we can’t bring Limam into the dream with us. Let’s bring in your healer.”
    Unknown to Galborae, the ship’s artificial intelligence, George, was listening to everything. Washburn’s last words were a command to George.
    Doctor Natai appeared in the doorway, the first new person of the crew Galborae had met. She took one step into the room and stopped, giving him time to