Warrior Chronicles 5: Warrior's Curse Read Online Free PDF Page A

is better. Thank you for asking. His hearing is still damaged. The nurse said he will be in bed for a while, and his recovery will be slow. Your doctors are giving him the best care, though. Thank you for protecting him.”
     
    “I wish I could take credit, Mrs. Thorn.” Cort glanced at Faulks. “In reality, it was just his dumb luck to be opposite the blast from me. You should thank Corporal Faulks, though. It is my understanding that she bypassed me to go straight to your husband. Her actions, and those of the medics, saved his life.”
     
    Behind Thorn’s wife, Cort saw surprise pass over the Faulks’ face. Just as quickly, he saw realization replace it. The corporal knew Cort was lying to make Mrs. Thorn feel better. The older woman turned to Faulks and took her hands.
 
    Tears filled the older woman’s eyes.“Thank you so much, Corporal. He’s all I have.”
     
    “I was doing my job, sir, but it was my pleasure.” Faulks added her own lie to Cort’s.
     
    “Sir? Oh yes, your military custom.” Mrs. Thorn release Faulk’s hands and turned to Cort. “I see why he respects you so much. He gets so angry at the press for calling you a dictator. But you and your people care about us. Earth I mean. You are not like those men in the history books. I am proud that he was beside you yesterday.”
     
    “I am a dictator, Mrs. Thorn. Don’t doubt that. But I try to be a good one.” Cort changed the subject. “I understand you have a relative that is married into my family.”
     
    “Yes, but honestly, Dar Sike was nicer to us than my cousin is. He has not even called to check on Frank.”
     
    “Frank? Your husband’s first name is Frank? He told me to just call him Thorn.”
     
    “Yes, Frank. He hates the name though. I think I am the only person he lets use his first name, and I can only use it when it is just the two of us.”
     
    Cort smiled at the woman. “What is your given name, Mrs. Thorn?”
     
    “Suze. You can call me Suze, General.”
     
    “Suze, I am Cort. I would like you and your husband to join my family on Solitude for the duration of his recovery. He won’t be able to work for a while, so he is useless to me here. I know Kimberly would love to have another civilian woman there. I think Dalek and George would like you both.”
     
    Cort saw Suze Thorn considering his request. He knew from Thorn’s file that they didn’t have many friends, especially since he began working for Dar. Cort had never met her cousin, but Dar had told him the man wasn’t much. Just a remora with human DNA. In any case, if Suze took his offer the cousin would be jealous beyond words. I’m a petty man, but I can afford to be, can’t I?
     
    “We would not want to be a burden, Gen..er, Cort.”
     
    “I am clearly responsible for his care right now, Suze. Let me do this for you both. Besides, as Corporal Faulks will tell you, there are few things more magical than petting a dinosaur.”
     
    Suze smiled. “Okay. Thank you, Cort.”
     
    Cort’s gentle tone changed as he looked at the corporal. “Corporal Quinn Faulks, as of right now, you are detached from the ship. I would like you to select a squad of Marines and escort Mrs. Thorn to the surface to gather anything she needs. Then have their home on Earth secured if necessary. You will be in charge of the Thorn detail until they are settled in at Bergh Station. You have three weeks to accomplish that. At that point, you are to report to the Marine Academy for Officer Corps Training, where you will be fast tracked for a company-level command of a Wolfpack unit. Upon arrival at Solitude, you should immediately begin the pairing process to find a suitable wolf. Do you have any questions?”
     
    “Uh,” Faulks stammered, caught off-guard by Cort’s orders. “No, sir. Thank you very much sir.”
     
    “You stood up to me yesterday, Corporal. Or at least you tried to. Not many people are willing to take that chance. For what it’s worth, the