“Hold your breath outside,” he says. “It is a short walk to the airlock.” Then, seeming to notice my awkward penguin walk for the first time, he frowns. “Maybe I should give you a breather.”
“The air’s not safe?!” I look at the open door, alarmed. Everyone told me this planet is shitty, but nobody said that it’s literally not safe to breathe!
“The oxygen is thin at this altitude, and some days it’s polluted by volcanic gases. Today is one of those days. Breathers help.”
I want to like this place. I really do. I accept the breather he hands me from a compartment and strap it on, then follow him out of the ship. We’re in a cavern of some kind. Several spaceships are parked near us, but there aren’t any people. The sky outside is almost as dark as inside, so no light comes from the entrance to combat the shadows. And it’s cold asshit.
Fuck.Even with this breather thing strapped to my face like one of those alien face-grabbers, I can hardly draw a breath. Ithurtsto exist here. Every tiny patch of exposed skin is burning from the cold. Condensation instantly crystallizes on my eyelashes, and it feels like my lungs are frozen solid inside my body. My adrenaline spikes, body panicking, every internal alarm blaringyou’re going to die here.
Nik is already way ahead of me, disappearing into the dimmest area at the back of the cavern. He doesn’t even glance back to see if I’m behind him. I force myself to move. Hurrying as fast as I can, I waddle after him like a penguin in my thick layers.
The frigid air drives every thought out of my head. I have to keep reminding myself to do basic functions.Breathe in. Blink. Take a step. Breathe out. Take a step.
This is like a bad dream, the kind where you have to do something simple, but every part of the task is too hard. I’m tempted to turn around and go back to the ship so I can get the fuck out of here. But my pride doesn’t let me. If my parents could deal with three tours in Afghanistan, I can deal with a hundred-yard dash to the airlock.
I have to close my eyes for the last thirty feet because it feels like my eyeballs are freezing in their sockets. I know when I get there because I crash into Nik’s back. He practically pushes mein front of him, and I hear a door close behind us with a clang and a hiss.
It doesn’t feel warmer in here, and when I open my eyes, it’s like they’re still closed. Wherever we are, it’s pitch black.
Nik isn’t touching me, but I can hear him doing something. Then a door in front of us cracks open, letting in a beam of orangey yellow light and a whisper of warmth. Not really warmth. But less-coldth. Right now, I’ll take it.
I penguin straight for it, relieved when I emerge into a stone passageway, lit by recessed panels that have a peachy glow like a salt crystal lamp. A cluster of Irran warriors are waiting for us inside, heads shaved and weapons strapped to both thighs. Unlike a lot of the warriors on the other planets I’ve visited in this star system, they have clothes on, stiff leather svelis with fur collars and long sleeves.
It’s still cold as shit in here, but at least it’s not freezing my eyeballs. I pull the breather off. “Hi, guys,” I stutter out through numb lips. They don’t answer right away, eyes on Nik behind me. I can feel his silent presence like a shadow cast over me.
“Aqen,” he says. “This is Philadelphia.”
One of the warriors, broad-shouldered with a narrow, catlike face, steps forward and bows. So this is Fen’s stepson.
“Alioth smile on you,” he says, their formal greeting. He straightens, lifting his palm, and when I press mine against it, he flashes me a sharp-toothed smile that transforms his whole demeanor from proud to playful, and colors flit across his forehead before he stifles them back behind his camouflage.
“It’s nice to meet you. Call me Del—” I start, but Nik cuts me off.
“Philadelphia will be staying on Usuri while we search for the Empress’s sister. You will be her guard and guide and give her daily reports on our progress,” he barks. Aqen’s smile disappears as he jerks a nod.
“My nickname is D-Delphie,” I say, annoyance rising. I clench my jaw momentarily to stop my teeth chattering. “I thought I was going to help with the search.”
“You will only be a distraction.” Nik’s so cold, he makes his planet seem downright cozy. “If you want to contact me, Aqen will relay the message. You can rely on him. He’ll show you to your quarters and get you anything you need.” He brushes past me and addresses the other two warriors. “Check the humidity levels and then meet me in the training pits.”
He’s going to practice-fight right now, and I’m supposed to stand by and wait for him to get around to looking for Lena?!
“Shouldn’t we—?” I start, but it’s pointless, because he’s already striding away from me. His red cloak disappears around a bend in the passageway and so do the other warriors. Aqen and I are left standing there awkwardly with my half-finished sentence hanging in the air. What am I going to do now?
Tears sting my eyes, and I clear my throat. I’mnotcrying over this jerk. I knew what I was getting into when I came to his planet. I’m here to be a pain in his ass and make sure Lena gets found.
“Well, isn’t he a ball of sunshine?” I joke, trying to make myself feel better. Aqen’s brow furrows. Guess the saying doesn’t translate, despite the biotech language implants we’re both wearing. I sigh, and the puff of breath freezes into smoke. “I wish he could at least pretend to care about finding my friend. He said he did, but the second we get here, he’s off to the fighting pits.”
Aqen frowns at me. “Jara Nik is a dedicated warrior with many responsibilities.”
He’s loyal to Nik. Of course he is. I guess I’ll have to keep my criticisms to myself if I want to make friends. “I’m sure he is. I’m just not sure what to do while he’s busy.”
“I can show you to your quarters,” Aqen suggests. He leads me through the same passage Nik took. It slopes downward,branching off every ten yards or so, and I quickly lose track of the twists and turns. There are no signs anywhere, all the metal doors are unmarked, and we don’t see anyone else.
Even though I resent that Nik passed me off to someone else the second we landed, I’m grateful that he didn’t leave me alone to get lost here. The air is warming up as we descend, too, and that helps me relax. Maybe this won’t be as torturous as I thought. Even if the king isn’t helpful, his loyal subjects might be.
“Where is everyone?” I ask.
Aqen frowns at me. “What do you mean?”
