Page 80 of Huntress

“Even after wasting resources to bring you and Roz here in attempts at pressing false allegations to hide his own guilt? What about his failure to respond appropriately in protection of these people?!” Her voice rose.

“There are things in this world that not even I have jurisdiction over. I spoke with leadership in Colony Two. The humans wish to keep Marshal Harlan right where he is.” Mordan waved a hand as though dismissing her concerns.

“Why would they want to keep the man responsible for over sixty human deaths? What the hell is he doing for them?”

“All you need to know is that you successfully completed your mission, Captain. You leave for the compound first thing in the morning, where I recall you and your squad have a full week’s leave waiting for you. I think after everything, you’ve earned a little extra, so you can have ten days. I’ll make sure Roscoe is aware of the change.” He rocked back on his heels with a big smile, as though waiting for her show of appreciation. Elsie glared at him, and he shrugged before walking away.

“Is he for real right now? I can’t believe that man’s audacity!” Elsie ranted as they walked toward the nest’s empty town. Saint listened without comment, but his quiet anger reached through the space between them.

“Where are we going?” he asked when they were surrounded by houses with fenced-in yards. Alert dogs abandoned in the evacuation threw themselves against the gates, barking and howling as they walked by.

“Some of the nests have commissaries. I want to find out if they have somewhere I can buy fabric. Or clothes I can alter to my taste. Marko does his best, but there isn’t much variety back at the compound.”

“There isn’t anyone here to sell it to you,” he reminded her.

Elsie fished a few coins out of her pocket and winked. “They won’t mind. We’ll get something for you, too.”

It took an hour of wandering to find a place, and another hour of coaxing Saint to pick some pieces out before she had enough to make him a suitable wardrobe. She packed the fabrics and a few clothing items they’d picked out into two large bags and left a note with more than enough coin to pay for it all next to the cash register.

Their visit would be a boon to the shopkeeper. The only money nestlings had came from their monthly allowance, the amount of which was determined by the Marshal’s finance committee. Oasis was a physical labor-centered nest, and that meant they were painfully undervalued. They’d be living hand to mouth.

By the time they were back in their room, Elsie was too exhausted to complain about Mordane and Harlan anymore. She dropped their goods on the floor in front of her bed, then started packing so she wouldn’t have to worry about it in the morning.

When she was finished, she collapsed on the bed with a huge sigh. Today could have gone a lot worse. She looked over at Saint, sitting on his cot and staring at the ceiling.

“Thank you for all of your help.”

He flicked his fingers at her dismissively.

She rolled to her side, facing away from him. “Make sure to get yourself something to eat. Don’t starve yourself.”

“You’re not eating?”

“I’m too tired.”

He turned the lights out.

The next morning their bags were outside the door, ready to go, and a breakfast plate sat on her bedside table when Elsie woke up. The shower was running, giving her time to change her clothes and eat while he finished up.

Everyone was quiet getting on the tram, even Mordane and Roz. Elsie’s squad gave short nods to greet each other, shuffling their way in to stash their things before picking a place to ride out the next day and a half.

In spite of the few days they’d had to heal and recover, they looked rough. There were shadows under their eyes, and most of them had a gaunt, unhealthy look to their faces. Grady still had a limp, Trisse was heavily bandaged, and Steve was unusually quiet.

As soon as Morgan sat down, Perrie took the seat next to him, snuggling in close and laying her head on his shoulder to get some more sleep. Marley stared at Elsie long and hard, waiting for her to ask the question they all knew was coming, but their captain left it alone.

The last thing they needed was the extra stress for this ride. Let them decompress from everything they’d endured in this damnable nest.

Instead of riding in the officer’s car, Elsie took the pair of seats in the far back with her squad, claiming the window seat for herself. Saint’s malevolent presence could be her barrier from the rest of the world for the next thirty-six hours.

Roz and Mordane were probably expecting her to come drive them back, but she couldn’t look at either of them without the urge to hit something. She’d have to face Roz for the debriefing when they returned, but that was future Elsie’s problem.

The tram lurched and squealed as the brakes let off, and it jerked forward. Elsie sat back and watched the world outside her window blur past until it plunged into total darkness.

1. *Santa Muerte, I ask you not to abandon them. Cover them with your sacred cloak, protecting them from all danger, by day and by night. Remove from their path envy, evil, and their enemies. I beg you to guard and protect them under your powerful shadow. Amen.

Chapter eighteen

Chapter 18