“Because it was so dangerous to you, Eazi says.” She paused. “Not that it’s not dangerous to my people, either, but I’m guessing not to the same degree. Huh. I can’t believe that hasn’t come up before now.” She took a sip of the lavender grilko. Her face went very still, and he realized he knew that look.
She really hated it.
She set the glass down and lifted her water. Took a deep gulp.
He took a tiny sip of the grilko himself, just in case he had the same reaction, but it tasted crisp and dry on his tongue. Refreshing.
She lifted her water glass in a toast. “More for you,” she said, lips twitching.
“Fiona, what is your involvement in the Balco-Grihan Exchange Program?” Baruke had downed his own grilko in a few swallows, and now he leaned forward. “If I’d known you would be here, I would have tried to make arrangements for that meeting you requested we have.”
“I’m staying in Distani after this for a few days, so if you could squeeze me in, I would appreciate it,” Fiona said. “And my involvement in the Balco-Grihan Exchange Program is that Larga Ways is offering free accommodation to the students both coming and going through Larga Ways to help with the costs of the program.”
“That’s . . . a generous offer and a good idea.”
If Baruke was resentful it was no longer his decision to make, Hal thought he hid it well. He noticed the leader didn’t offer to arrange for a new meeting, though.
Food began arriving, little plates of beautifully arranged mouthfuls.
Fiona eyed it all with suspicion.
“Balcoan cuisine has so far been your favorite,” he reminded her.
“That’s true, but it’s the food from the Cylvana Plains that I enjoy. It looks like Distani and the area around it has a different style.” She carefully lifted the little disc of pastry, which served as the foundation for a tiny tower of ingredients, and popped it into her mouth.
He couldn’t help watching her face as she chewed, and this time, he didn’t even try to hide the smile on his face. “You like it?”
She considered. “I don’t hate it, and that’s almost the same thing for me, now.”
Suddenly, Baruke exploded from his chair, hands flailing wildly and then going to his throat.
“He’s choking.” Fiona leapt to her feet and Hal did the same as the leader ran from the table, swerving in a wild circle, arms extended, before he crashed down onto the floor.
“Call a medic,” Hal shouted as he ran toward Baruke.
One of the officers from the Battle Center table sprinted over. “I’m the station’s chief medical officer, give me room.”
Hal backed away, taking Fee’s hand as they watched the doctor press a diagnostic wand against Baruke’s neck.
Then the doctor turned as someone ran up with a medical kit. He opened it and pulled out an injector which he shoved against Baruke’s neck and then grabbed the diagnostic wand again. “He’s holding. Let’s get him to a med bay, right away.”
The leader’s entourage helped lift him onto the hover that arrived, but Hal grasped the doctor’s shoulder before he followed it out.
“What’s wrong with him?” he asked.
The doctor took a few steps backward. “He was poisoned.”
Beside him, Fiona suddenly let out a cry, and as he turned toward her, he saw her hand go to her throat, and she crumpled to the ground.
CHAPTER 15
“Her dose wasminuscule compared to Baruke’s,” someone said near Fee’s feet.
She was lying down, comfortable, warm, in what was most likely a med bay. She didn’t feel any inclination to open her eyes.
“It has to be the grilko, Lenato, she only took one tiny sip of that.” Hal’s voice was a deep, comforting sound that allowed her to relax.
She had the feeling, though, that she would learn more about what was going on if she kept her eyes closed.
