“What is wrong with the seats?” Khalzin asked.
“Not the seats. The clothing,” Adryel said.
“You'll be fine once you get used to it,” Janae said.
“I guess,” Adryel replied. “It is just not at all what I signed up for. Explosions. Armored dresses. Guards everywhere.”
Her gaze hit his for a moment.
“Currently, they are a necessity, until this situation is resolved,” Stron said.
She sighed. “I know.” She stared out the window. “It just isn't what I expected.”
“What did you expect?” Stron asked.
“A new place to be that was safe.”
The ship went silent with Adryel's words.
Maybe his prediction that he told his mother before was true. That these really were brave females, just looking for some place safe to be.
A glance at Khalzin, and he saw his friend’s suddenly stern expression—guilt on his brow. He raised his eyebrow and Khalzin waved his hand slightly, a gesture to leave him alone.
The engine hummed as the ship rose into the air. Winds pulled on the vessel, knocking them around a bit.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Adryel grabbing the hand holds with a tight grip, her expression narrowed, and jaw clenched.
Her lips moved, like she spoke, but Stron couldn’t make it out over the engine’s initial start-up motions.
Khalzin shifted and they started to smooth out a bit, and he started flying up the side of the nearby mountain. Speed accelerated, and in a moment, the dampener fields leveled out the windy ascent, making it smooth as they headed for the top of the mountain.
The sound levels lowered to a tolerable hum, and Janae spoke first. “You don't realize how tall that mountain is, until we move up the side like this.”
“I haven't seen this much natural green since, well, since I can't remember when,” Adryel added, one hand on the window frame. “Since it was safe to be outside in it, I guess.”
He met her gaze. “We will keep you safe until this is resolved. Lock my words in,” Stron said.
Adryel nodded. “We shall see,” she said, though it was low. She probably didn't think he would hear. Or that anyone would.
“Do we have any idea when this will be resolved?” Janae asked.
“The investigation is ongoing,” Stron said. “When we know more, we shall let you and your people know.”
“What do we know so far?” Janae asked.
“It is more what we don't know. We know it is not one of the major factions here. They would have taken credit immediately if any of their groups were responsible,” Khalzin said.
Stron nodded. “We also know that whoever was responsible had resources to make this happen and preserve the secrets of it.”
“Which typically means either a lot of power, or credits, or death,” Janae said.
“Or some combination thereof,” Adryel added.
Khalzin traveled over the lands, slow and outside of traditional flight paths to allow them to look outside. Show off their world in a positive way.
Much better than this dark conversation going on inside.
Though no one seemed to be looking at the greenery out there, anyway.
