The cannon was smoldering, too, when she got to it. The strike had damaged it badly. She moved around it so that Paxe had a 360 view, and had to stop, hand over her mouth, as she found Petrie, curled on the ground.
She backed away, turned, and forced herself to move as fast as she could back out to the street.
“That was my cannon,” Paxe said quietly in her ear.
“Was being the operative word,” Eazi chimed in.
“Maybe we can come back, check to see what else is in here.” Fiona gulped the fresher air of the office greedily.
“That would be good. I’ve sent the authorities one street over to give you time to get away. I’ll redirect them when you’re gone.” Eazi’s voice was calm.
“Thanks.” She stepped out and Trayla opened the passenger door of the runner for her.
When they were on their way, she turned back to look at Natta, lying on the back seat.
“We have to take you to the hospital.” She didn’t know how they would explain it.
“Grih military hospital,” Trayla said. “That should keep things nice and quiet.”
“I’ll ask Eazi to contact the admiral about it,” Fee said, settling back in relief. That was one thing off the worry list.
“Nice to have the admiral of Battle Center on tap,” Trayla said, flicking her a grin.
“I’m sure she won’t be happy to hear about what happened today,” Fee said. But still, itwashandy.
And they could clearly use all the help they could get.
CHAPTER 11
“Leader Baruke got back to us.”Eazi’s voice in her ear roused Fee from where she was sitting in the hospital waiting room.
She had to admit, she was dozing off there. “Give me a moment,” she said to him.
She forced herself to stand, and looked down at Trayla, who was slumped in her chair.
“Grinabo?” Fee offered.
“Yes. I need something.” Trayla slid further down and groaned.
There were about five other people waiting in the room with them, all looking half-asleep, and she decided if she could, she’d get grinabo for all of them.
“I’ll see what I can find.” Fee walked off toward the atrium that was at the center of the building. “So what did Baruke say?” she asked as soon as she was out of reach of listening ears.
“He says he’ll need to check his schedule and get back to you as soon as possible.” Eazi’s tone was dry.
Fee laughed. “Like he didn’t check it before he answered us.”
“I already know his schedule.” Eazi’s smug tone forced another laugh out of her. “He’s free the whole of tomorrow up until the evening, when he has a big dinner event.”
“Hmm. Can we get an invite to that event, maybe?” Fee asked. “As myself, rather than as Feenra Planer.”
“Oh.” Eazi sounded intrigued. “Maybe. It’s a function focused on a student exchange program between Balco and the Grihan planets. Many of the students that leave Balco and go to a Grihan planet, or vice versa, stop in Larga Ways before and after. I think we could participate by offering a free room to the students in one of the two hotels we outright manage on the way station to facilitate their travels.”
“So, contact the organizers, make the offer of a free room on request, and say I’ll attend the function to announce it.” Fee thought it would be a good thing to do, regardless.
“Do you want to speak to them?” Eazi asked.
“If I do it, it’ll have to be later, when I’m back at the house.”
