“We would consider it a favor,” Fowles said. “Your ability to find information has always proven useful.”
Stron nodded. Though he wondered if Fowles was confusing him with Fiviel, who had ways of getting information quickly. Stron certainly had friends and informants all around, and even Dhomhes had more information about certain things that he did.
Still, he wasn't going to pass on the opportunity to be owed a favor by the Coalition. They didn't ask for favors often, and even less often for Gol-Vetts. So this was certainly an opportunity that he shouldn't lose.
“Then I shall find out all I can,” Stron said.
“You may go,” Fowles said.
Stron bowed and turned to leave. He'd gotten a few steps when one of the members called out to him.
It was Oleave. “Stron, did you find a mate today?”
Stron glanced back at Oleave. “Not this day, no.”
Oleave murmured something, as did a few others, but he didn't quite make out what was being said. However, if Oleave's tone was any indication, there were several members who were amused that Khalzin's fancy project was not working out as expected.
Interesting.
Considering they had given permission for Khalzin to do it.
12
ADRYEL
Any other time, Adryel would find all of this so amusing. Or a vivid dream or something.
The big aliens.
Delicious free food.
The fancy apartment.
They'd taken them to have some food since initially there was supposed to be a banquet after the selection, but that was destroyed due to the ship exploding. After getting things sorted, as best they could, anyway, they did feed them.
She always liked to get fed when she didn't have to pay for it.
The apartment they gave her was quite the place. Far nicer than what she had on Kente, to be sure. She didn't have to share it with anyone either, so there was that.
No one said anything about her having to pay for it, either.
She found it strange and wondered who was paying the bill for all this stuff.
Was it the Kantenans?
She always wondered about credits. Something that those with them didn’t think about. But when one didn't have a credit to pay the bills, money was always on the mind.
She and Janae had that in common.
A place like this back on any of the planets or moons in the Trinity Alpha Prime system would cost a ridiculous amount.
Made Adryel wonder if she should even sit on the furniture, for fear she'd damage it.
With a minimalistic design, the place's biggest draw was not the apartment itself, but the view. A wall of windows showed everything outside this tower. The mountains and cliffs were covered with green, lush trees and land. The varying color of foliage was quite beautiful to look at, honestly.
But the windows were also pointed toward the landing pad where the Galactic Alliance ship had landed. And it would have been a beautiful sight was it not marred with smoke and the haze of the fires that were still being contended with below. Like black billowing smoke coming up and scorching the air everywhere the foreigners had been.
Even overnight, the smoke blurred the dark air. Still, it didn't stop Adryel from looking out there, and wondering what happened to those who fell. Had they survived? Or were they taken by the fall? The jungle below? Mentally, she went through a dozen scenarios of what could have been happening below the landing pads, and among the smoke.
