She got Rella back on and said, “Let me know if they move.”
* * * *
Syrella watched asa heat signature began to radiate around the reapers, and they all shot to their feet.“They moved.They jumped up.”
“Okay, another hundred degrees.Let’s see how their boots hold up.”
Syrella chuckled.“Two more gone.Four still standing.They are fidgeting like they have to pee, though.Oh, they all lifted their coms.”
“Okay.Let’s see if they have paper in their pockets.”
Syrella giggled as the heat increased, and the reapers tried to glare at her through the barrier.She held up her hands in surrender.“Not me.”She turned and pointed to the huge statue of the ancient empress on the wall.
Two of them followed her gesture and looked at the fifty-foot woman, nearly naked and covered with markings that represented hundreds of different activations.
“Diena, I am pointing to one of the statues, and to the heated ground.It looks like they are getting it.”
“Good.The next one is going to boil their leathers.”
Syrella pointed to the ground, wiggled her fingers, and jerked her thumb upward.That got them moving.
The spot where they had been camping out was quiet and hot.
“They are gone.”
“Did Avik come out?”
“Nope.She’s still meditating.”
“Oh, good.If she does come out, let me know.It means shit’s going down.”
Syrella nodded and smiled.“I will.I thought they were called off.”
“I think the heat scent overrode the cancelling of the contract.I think they wanted you to trade your life for sex.”
“Oh, that kind of situation.It didn’t work for Maro.Why would it work for a bunch of reaper scouts?”She snorted.“I have gotten used to the freedom of not having to wait for hands on me all the time.I like it here.Wouldn’t mind if Khaskik became my permanent home and all the ladies.”
“We would have to let the guys in eventually, or it would be a very short empire.”
Syrella sighed.“Right.Well, when I find a guy who can hold a conversation past the heat scent, can you help me fine-tune myself?”
“Of course.Right.I think I am missing dessert.”
“Go, have dessert.Thanks for expunging them.”
“No problem.Go catalogue more naked statues.”
“Yes, ma’am.I have found a few guys, but they are always slightly behind the ladies.The Khaskik had a serious female bias in their rulers.”
“Good.Make a full report.Oh, and the Khaskik aren’t a dead race.They went to Renovik to protect themselves and their future.”
“Oh, can I talk to them?”
“I will ask.”
“Wait, you know one?”
“He’s courting me, so...yes.”
