Page 17 of Lost in Barbarian Space

He smiled. “Honor. And you will call me Colm.”

It sounded suspiciously like an order to her.

They traveled past the farmlands and away from the mountains. The land ahead consisted of gently rolling fields of grass, with not a single tree to be seen. The archeologists were all busy talking among themselves and snapping images.

“Agent Brandall?” Derek’s excited voice caught her ear. “We’re getting close.”

“Thanks.” She looked up and saw the sun glinting off something not far ahead. “A lake?”

Colm nodded. “There are many small lakes dotting this area. They’re not very deep, and if we have a season with no rain, they are prone to drying up.”

Soon the group reached the lake. It looked gorgeous. The water was a brilliant blue that contrasted vividly with the green grass around it.

Honor slid off her hargon beast and watched the others doing the same. A few of them rubbed at their aching leg muscles. “Anything nasty in there that I should know about?”

Colm shook his head. “A few fish and eels, but nothing large or harmful.”

“Derek? How far to the signature?”

The man sighed. “We’re right near it. It’s in the lake.”

She shook her head. “Of course it is. Great, just great. Dr. Brown, Dr. Lev’nan, what do you want to do?”

The archeologists murmured to each other for a moment before they straightened and turned to her.

“We’ll suit up and grab the breathers.” Dr. Brown was a plump, older woman. “Looks like we’re going to take a swim.”

“Roger that.” Honor looked at her three agents. “Derek, help the doctors and fire up the salvage droid. Braz, you take the left, Galla, you’ve got the right. Keep your eyes open, and let’s make sure we don’t have any visitors.”

Colm folded his strong arms over his chest. “We are not too far from the Wilds. It is not unknown for some of the darken beasts to slip over into the meadows to hunt. But it is unlikely during the day. They don’t like the sunlight.”

Everyone nodded. The security agents got to work, and soon the two archeologists were suited up and wading into the lake. They clenched small breathing units between their teeth. Honor watched as their heads disappeared under the water.

The small salvage droid followed them, floating in the air. It was dull silver, with a circular head and several arms dangling beneath it that made it look vaguely like a jellyfish. Each arm had a different tool attached to it. It sank into the water. If the archeologists found anything useful, the droid would haul it up.

Time seemed to drag on. The archeologists sent up short messages to Derek’s Sync to say they’d found something metallic and were working on it.

A moment later, Honor saw Colm staring across the meadow, hands on his hips. His gaze was narrowed.

She stepped up beside him. “Problem?”

He shook his head. “I can’t detect anything. I just feel⁠—”

“Twitchy?” She looked across the sunny meadow. “I know that feeling. It usually pays to trust it.”

He nodded. “A warrior always listens to his instincts.”

She breathed deep. She didn’t scent anything off, or detect any vibrations under her feet.

Colm was watching her. “You do not have nanami.”

She smiled, enjoying his confusion. “Nope.”

“But your senses are enhanced. In the arena, you moved fast, were stronger, and you anticipated my moves.”

“Maybe I’m just very good.”

He made a sound like a growl.