“Nothing. You are, as I said, free to go. However, my understanding is you do not have what you need to proceed. Am I wrong? It’s possible Kessik has what you need, if you are willing to speak to him.”
Madelaine said, “Do you really believe Kessik is no threat? And will you come with us to ensure that possibility?”
“Yes, I will,” Draven said sounding slightly uplifted. “Not only am I in charge of this gulag, I’m also able to make command decisions regardless of how crazy they might be. Today, I would very much like to discover why a prisoner made a formal request to escape only a few steps away from the most secure facility in the Andromeda galaxy simply to meet two travelers after discussing his plan with another prisoner three days before anyone knew you were even coming here.”
The smile faded. “And I suspect you’re about to find out.”
Outside, somewhere beyond layers of secure stone walls and security fences, a fugitive prisoner was waiting beside their ship.
Maybe waiting to hand them the location of their next package. Maybe not. Somehow, that thought worried Jack farmore than a prison escape or riot ever could. How had Kessik or Winslow known?
And yet, with his guard up, Jack figured they were about to meet Mr. Varner Kessik regardless.
They’d crisscrossed half the galaxy, survived a planet where women couldn’t even make a sound without penalty, nearly got stranded on a farming world, had to go off course after their fuel was stolen and met up with beings who spoke in his head to acquire what they needed.
Today, being trapped inside a prison while carrying a cardboard box that supposedly contained “the solution” and meeting up with an escaped prisoner because of temporary protocol—stupid word,protocol—to complete this package retrieval was maybe the least irrational thing they’d done this trip.
Jack said, “For the record, I think we should meet with him, Madelaine. What do you think?”
“I agree, because he’s right, we don’t have what we need to proceed.”
With a satisfied smile, Draven took the beret from his epaulette and tugged it over his head despite the competing scorching and frigid breezes in the yard. “Excellent. I’ll wait here while—”
“What is that?” Jack knew his mother would smack his hand for pointing but he didn’t care.
Draven frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
Following Jack’s lead, Madelaine pointed. “That. The insignia on your beret.”
Jack couldn’t take his eyes off it—a recognizable musical instrument on top of a swirl of red.
The warden looked at them both like they were wasting his time. “It’s the Red Harp Nebula. My regiment.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Madelaine had her doubts about agreeing to the possibly insane idea of meeting an escaped prisoner by their ship for a confab that was predicted months before they even knew they were going to be here.
Though Draven apparently had Veyre’s seal of approval, as indicated by the Red Harp Nebula insignia—and couldn’t the man have been wearing the beret when they arrived instead of putting it on as they were trying to leave? Madelaine wasn’t so trusting. She insisted that he escort them to their ship.
As soon as they walked through the archway, she saw the convict waiting beside their ship. The warden had Jack flip the forcefield back on, ostensibly to shield them from anyone watching what was about to happen on Landing Pad Twelve.
Varner Kessik was not as old as she’d expected. Certainly not as old as Winslow. Wrinkles did not crease his face, even though unruly white hair covered his head. He had a neatly trimmed white beard and small spectacles balanced on his nose. He looked more like a retired professor who spent his time surrounded by stacks of books and other reading material than a recently escaped prisoner.
Kessik watched as they approached. His expression was not in any way threatening. Despite his unwrinkled face, his body looked much like an old man’s. His shoulders were slightly rounded and hunched. Madelaine didn’t think he could be any less menacing if he tried.
His eyes immediately found hers and a knowing smile spread across his face.
“You are Madelaine Archer Grey, the Paladin Courier.”
“I am.”
“I am Varner Kessik, also known as the Wolf of Nyzarra, The Shadow World.Thank you for meeting with me before you leave.”
Madelaine had to temper her reaction to learning the escaped wolf was this man and made the connection that the man who laughed at danger was very likely Draven. She’d tuck that away for consideration later.
“I know that this is unexpected and out of the ordinary, to say the least.” Kessik nodded once at the warden, smiling as if in appreciation for his aid. “I have something important to give you before you go.” Kessik reached inside the baggy sweater he wore.
Madelaine saw Jack straighten as if Kessik was going for a weapon. She put a hand on his forearm. Kessik was not a threat.
