Sorcha The Alien Book One

Prologue

My foot taps the floor as I wait to be admitted into Fendan's office. It sits off main command and for a moment I'm distracted by the activity behind me. I'm early, but it's now or never. Main command personnel brush past me. Where have they been? What have they seen? Would they tell me if I asked? I outrank them, I outrank everyone in this room, but I wouldn't get my answers. And I won't get them from Fendan either.

I glance to Ramet, stood at a console and she gives me a slight nod of the head. She's ready. I tap the code on the touchscreen by the door and the door slides open. My confidence is impeccable. My legs don't sway with the build-up of anxious energy as I walk into Fendan's office, nor does my smile faulter.

Fendan sighs, an exaggerated noise. He pushes Shazna from his lap. She zips her jumpsuit up and stares at me with contempt. But she won't say anything, not in front of Fendan.

"I knew I'd regret giving you my codes," Fendan says, but he's smiling, laughing on the inside. He's in a good mood, his mission, whatever it was must have been a success. "Did you not think I might be busy?"

"Busy?" I laugh and lean against the window, arms folded. "Not busy. Wasting your time?" I smile at Shazna. "Without a doubt." I walk back to the door and open it. "Shazna," I say loud enough for everyone in main command to hear, and right on cue they stare into Fendan's office. "Out. Why don't you see if you can make yourself useful, take an early break."

Shazna scowls, and I enjoy every moment of her humiliation. She pauses, but I know and so does she, that Fendan won't speak up for her. He sits back with a twinkle in his eyes and allows her humiliation, just as he has allowed mine on so many occasions. Shazna brushes past, her shoulder catching mine on the way out.

I make eye contact with Ramet as Shazna all but runs into the elevator. Okay, it's underway. I turn back to Fendan as the door closes.

"Thank you, Cantral," Fendan says with a groan, "it will be difficult to placate Shazna after that."

I smirk. "What a terrible shame. Are you going to tell me why you were gone for so long?"

"It can't be—" Fendan raises an eyebrow, with mock shock "—did you ... miss me?"

I shrug and walk behind Fendan. "Shazna messed up your hair and you have a meeting with the Gnari later."

I undo his bun and plait. It's an entaran hairstyle we don't talk about that. We don't talk about why he honours the entara. The people who made us and who would have kept us in our figurative chains. My fingers comb through blue hair and I restart the plait at his hairline.

"Do you not trust me?" I say.

"I've trusted when I shouldn't have, and I've paid most dearly. They say trust is earnt, but for all the riches I possess I cannot afford it, even to you, my Cantal."

It's the answer I expected. The answer I've received on multiple occasions. "Whilst you were away, I was able to assimilate Cratin's fleet. We are now fifty ships more." I twist Fendan's hair into a bun. "Finished."

Fendan's swivels round in his chair to face me. "I spoke to Cratin just a few hours ago. He seemed quite enamoured with you. I know I said do whatever you must to get his fleet, but I must say, I am surprised by your tactics."

My heart races. "Oh?" I smile. This is precisely why I never allow myself to relax in Fendan's company. "And what did he say?"

He glares at me, his amused smile a thing of the past. "He's currently in a cube. I may execute him, I've not decided."

"What?" Cracks zigzag over my mask.

Fendan's fingers tap the armrest lazily. "Does Ramet know of your deceit?"