Chapter 26
While I was half focusing on reading some ancient human fantasy story that's apparently older than every nation humans have created among the stars, however many there are. I heard the soft brushing of grass as something approached. Taking the moment to look where I heard grass rustling I just sigh as I see who is approaching. Looking back down towards my eBook in an attempt to at least finish the page before questions inevitably start.
"You know you should probably focus on keeping watch and not reading."
I managed to finish the page and slowly looked up at Ryder Orenth, my charge as reluctant as I was to call him such. I had only taken the job because it promised expedited approval to land on the planet.
I look back up to see the face of a human that most would deem handsome. However, to me he was still nothing more than a somewhat smarter hairless ape. His hair was more a reddish burgundy though he cut it quite short.
I feel my eyebrow twitch however at his assumption I wasn't focused on the watch. "I was paying attention, I'm not a pathetic amature. You were coming from the area with the tents so it was unlikely to be some beast or attacker."
He just shrugs and sits across from me on another folding chair they brought. I truthfully only sat in this chair because it was more comfortable than sitting on a branch of a nearby tree.
I feel him staring at me and eventually I look back up with a frown. "I take it you have something you wish to discuss with me?" He flinches for whatever reason clearing his throat in a particularly annoying way.
"Yes I did, I was just wondering why despite you being a system governor you work at the freelance guild."
I let out a deep breath as I convinced myself that he didn't mean ill of my choice. "The system I govern is metal poor. I 'm mostly taking missions to network. I talked to your nephew about a possible cooperative relation between us."
He goes wide eyed and I immediately brace myself for a clear misunderstanding. "I don't think Mathew has the authority to do that. I mean he may be an adult but a marriage between an heir and a system governor might lead to complications."
I suddenly shoot to a standing position as I glare at the fool. "I am not marrying that inf... man. I believe you misunderstood my wording. I meant cooperative relationships in the context as business partners."
He raises his hands like he was surrendering. "I see I am sorry for having said that. If I may know just for the sake of my curiosity why do you feel so strongly about that marriage? I mean if you did marry into our family you have lots to gain."
As I continue to glare into his eyes I manage to calmly talk to the man. All the while fighting the urge to vomit from the mental image that crashed into my mind.
"Its just wrong I will never marry so far as I can help it. Not like I even understand what you hu–people call 'Love.'" I manage to calm myself before I went on a rant about that zoophilic idea that was me marrying a human. The very notion made me feel nauseous.
The talks silently ended as we both sat in each other's presence unsure of what to say to continue this farce of a conversation. Eventually he silently gets up before returning to where the tents are set up. Thankful that he left I reached for my satellite phone sending a quick encoded message to some random number to tell Mother I was fine. Mother had insisted on me buying one of these before I went to Orenthia, and I can't say it was a bad decision considering that I would be far outside of range to contact her normally.
Putting my tablet to my lap I sighed. I didn't like being away from Mother but this job was sadly necessary. If I didn't take it I would probably still be at Orenthia Primary for a few more days. Looking up to the sky I just stared off into the rust red crescent moon.
I never knew that night was so pretty. I had always seen it in the simulations but it never could compare to the real thing in my opinion. I just let out a deep breath in melancholy imagining that one of those stars might be Runvald and the more than likely necropolis that would be Tharin.
Shaking my head free of such depressing thoughts. I just look back down at my eBook. I knew I still had many hours before the accursed sunrise.
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TIME:
11 HOURS LATER
LOCATION:
ORENTHIA
FIELDS OF ALEXANDER
Eventually the sun did rise and my watch came to an end. Sadly nothing interesting happened. The only thing of note was some beast’s lonely roar into the night.
"So how was the night watch Lilith, did anything interesting show up?" One of the hired guards asked. I had a feeling he wasn't one of the guards Ryder employs. This person felt out of place despite trying to hide it. The glances from Ryder's personal guards felt judging and I felt an undercurrent of suspicion in their glances.
I stared at him observing how he felt as I looked into his eyes. The humans always had a myth of the eyes being the gateway to the soul. I just liked to look into them according to the thrall my eyes always seemed to radiate a sense of hunger. She compared it to some horrible monster looking at you just musing on if you were worth the trouble of hunting.
I felt him squirm as I just continued to stare. Eventually one of them coughed clearly trying to change the subject.
"Say your eyes look pretty weird. I never heard of someone having pupils of that type..."
I flick my gaze at him. He was the one that seemed the most odd to me. He felt too cautious like he was hiding something yet despite that he was always looking at me like I was a puzzle. I could speculate on what he is but I eventually put it to the side; it would take too much time to be certain of it.
"My eyes should be none of your concern; they serve their purpose faithfully; I would say they're superior to yours in where it matters. Now I assume you approach me for some inane reason, out with it."
I glared at the man who started his attempt at conversation with me. I could feel his anxiety spike for a moment before it settled back down. I felt my eyes narrow slightly. His recovery felt too quick to be a simple guard. His emotions cleared like he was used to this sort of thing... odd.
"I was just trying to start off with some small talk, my apologies. I was wondering why you're covered up with so much clothing. Isn't it hot wearing all that?"
I just stared at him as I noticed his friends pretend to do other morning tasks, but are subtly keeping their attention aimed towards our conversation. It was again wary almost like they were used to this. My instincts told me they were going to be trouble one way or another.
'I'm starting to suspect these fools are not simple guards.'
Suddenly Mara spoke up, 'From what I have gathered from your unused senses I would agree with you.'
Marra thankfully had already come up with a suitable answer for these rats, "I quite like my skin paler and more beautiful that way in my opinion."
I knew they thought of me as some arrogant and egotistical woman so I just made a lie that would fit that view. I listened closely and watched for any twitch of a muscle. It was clear, however, they had bought it as the ones listening in quickly lost interest.
That, however, left me even more suspicious. These "guards" did their job well. They seemed adamant on protecting that man, but I would be an idiot to know they were secretly focused on me.
After morning routines had come to a close Ryder announced he would be going out looking for his prey. He said he would leave one of his personal guards to keep watch. As he did that I swore I saw his eyes flick over to me. The rats didn't make a fuss about this.
I felt somewhat uneasy as they left and one of them looked almost relieved to go with the client. The rest of them wore stone masks as a face so I couldn't tell how they felt—they were too far away for me to hear their hearts sadly.
A few minutes after they left and I was certain no one was watching I walked to my rented vehicle. Inside on a seat was a makeshift drone about the size of a dinner plate, 4 propellers, a small thermal camera, and a port to plug it into for power. Thankfully it was semiautonomous being controlled by an extremely basic AI that was just looking for suspicious heat signatures. The AI was more of a if then program with a bit of dog level intelligence. This tiny thing could keep itself in the air almost indefinitely if the power cord was not damaged.
Said power cord was in the process of being plugged into the MRAP's battery. Thankfully this vehicle was hybrid; as long as the combustion engine was running it wouldn't exhaust its supply. Finally the drone rapidly ascended to about 100 meters before hovering in place. I took the chance to take a drink from my thermos. I sighed deeply, the blood was human and it was good, but it just didn't compare to what that thrall's blood tasted like.
As I ambled towards my tent I connected the drone to my ear piece. I noticed the one other person in the camp keeping an eye on me. Though he quickly lost interest as I walked into my tent. Eventually after reading a bit It laid down on the mat and slipped into a dreamless slumber.
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TIME:
A FEW HOURS LATER
LOCATION:
ORENTHIA
FIELDS OF ALEXANDER
POV:
Ryder Orenth
I looked back at the guards I was forced to compromise with from the Freelance guild. They were good, don't get me wrong but it was clear they couldn't care less about me. No, if there was someone who interested them it was that woman. They always seemed to try to pay attention to any action she did. It felt even worse when I noticed them asking more personal questions about the woman. Their level of interest boarded on the thin line between professional curiosity and something worse.
I could tell that when I took them away from her they lost all sense of interest and were just pretending to care. I felt a prickle of unease this wasn't normal especially when I knew this woman was a system governess.
Taking a moment to make a distance between me and their ears I sent a message to my brother.
Ryder: Hey I need to ask for a favor?
Simeon: It depends on what the favor you're asking.
I rolled my eyes at my brother's message, he always tried to play himself as the super tough and serious type; sometimes, however it just felt fake.
Ryder: I want you to keep an eye on our camp site. I fear our visiting governess might be someone's target of interest. I know it sounds vague but the guards I hired seem to prioritize her over me yet I can't help but feel they're agents to someone more powerful. There are only a few people on this planet powerful enough to force the freelance guild’s hands. Just keep an eye on the radar and have one of our satellites keep an eye on our camp.
Simeon: Should I ask the colonel to divert some spy satellites?
I thought about it for a moment but eventually came to a conclusion.
Ryder: No leave the colonel, out of this. He is likely the aforementioned powerful leader that forced the guild's hands. That man seems obsessed with the Astro Dawn. It's just a feeling but lets try to keep this as secretive as possible. I don't think the colonel is doing anything, but I also can't help but think he might be involved. If he is and we alert him well that will make things so much more difficult, that man is paranoid when it comes to basically everything involving himself or his higher ups.
Simeon: I will try to keep that in mind. I will admit however his lack of any major digital presence is definitely odd. I mean who even uses paper these days to send messages.
Ryder: Thanks for that, and I couldn’t agree more. It's a damn shame we can't read their contents without some stupidly advanced failsafe burning the letter. Regardless, keep an eye on the camp site. If anyone is after Governess Runethari I can only think of one reason.
Simeon: I agree. Speaking of Lilith, after you end this short "hunt" send her my way, my son seems to have hinted at a discovery even better than a Class V ship; though he refused to say what it is, only mentioning someone called MARA.
I raised an eyebrow at the final message but shook my head. It wasn't my concern. My job was finding that damn ruin. Groaning at the fact it was apparently so well shielded a satellite would never find it given a million years. I'm starting to feel that this thing doesn't exist on Orenthia...