“Then why don’t you ask me? Or are you forgetting the extent of my powers?”
“Stop trying to impress the warrior,” Tedra said in irritation, having indeed forgotten that Martha was linked and in ultimate control of everything in the ship. “He’s not even listening to us.”
It was true. All Tamiron was doing was staring, in awe and fascinated horror, at everything in the room. Sirens could have gone off, and he wouldn’t likely have noticed.
“Well?” Tedra said impatiently now. “What are you waiting for, permission? Link up.”
“I’m already linked, kiddo. I’ve been monitoring the unit since your warrior arrived.” For once Martha didn’t make Tedra pry every little piece of information out of her. “He’s already out of danger, since the worst wounds have already been sealed, and his body tolerated the transfusions, which he needed a great deal of. That was the only question mark, if he could accept alien blood. Right now the damage is being repaired from the inside out. His vitals are good, major organs sound, and that punctured lung is no problem.”
“His lung was punctured?” Tedra asked in a small voice.
“You want a full inventory of injuries?”
“No—that won’t be necessary. Just tell me, can everything be fixed?”
“In your line of work, you ought to know there isn’t much a meditech can’t do, except bring the dead back to life, and the scientists are working on that one. Your warrior will be good as new.”
Tedra sank into the nearest adjustichair, the relief making her weak. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“All I did was bring him aboard.”
“I wasn’t talking to you, Martha,” Tedra snapped, her old impulses returning now that she could breathe easier. “Stars, I need a bath, a decent bath,” she said, noticing for the first time how filthy she was, herchauriand cloak not only stained but hanging on her in shreds after that demonstration she gave of a woman gone nuts. “I’ll be in my quarters, if there’s any change in Challen’s condition. And keep an eye on Tamiron here.”
“That’s all you have to say after that disappearing act you pulled down there?”
“Oh, that’s a good one. You abandoned me, but now it’s my fault that you lost track of me?”
“Still want to melt my circuits?”
“Maybe.” She might not regret being abandoned to the barbarian’s mercies anymore, but now she faced an even worse dilemma.
“You’re worrying over nothing, doll,” Martha said, able to guess her thoughts accurately as usual. “You won’t lose him. He wouldn’t allow it.”
“You don’t know what’s been happening, Martha, so don’t speculate when you don’t know the facts.”
“You don’t think he’ll return to Kystran with you?”
“He won’t believe anything I’ve told him. He won’t even let me prove it. The man is totally close-minded.”
“He won’t be after he wakes up here.” Martha chuckled.
“No, that’d be taking advantage in the worst way and I won’t do that to him. I don’t want him to know he’s even been here. Have the meditech keep him under until he’s returned to the planet.”
“And who’s going to keep his friend there from relating every detail?”
“You mean if Tamiron doesn’t think he’s dreamed the whole thing?”
“Don’t be cute.”
“It won’t matter. Challen wouldn’t believe him anyway. I tell you, the man invented stubbornness.”
“Well, it’s your call. I assume your ‘Only visiting’ means you’re still determined to honor your challenge loss.”
“Why would you think that was in question?” Tedra asked suspiciously.
“Oh, no reason. I was just wondering how you’re liking it down there.”
“Well, you can keep on wondering. I—”
