Page 31 of A World Enough

“Trust a trickster? She must be insane,” Thane said.

Morrigan was furious. “I’ve had enough of your constant backbiting.”

Thane stood and went toe to toe with her. “What are you going to do about it, trickster?”

“Enough!” Margo shouted.

Jhosa stood, and the towering man pushed them both down on their seats.

Margot nodded. “Thank you, Jhosa. Now, we need to scan every bit of space we can for unusual readings. Portals usually give out dark matter, but it’s so hard to trace. Let’s get to it.”

Camber and Brogan headed to the safe place Camber was trying to get to. It was a small moon, far enough away from anyone looking for them.

Camber walked from the back of the ship and placed some pouches in front of her. “Drazani ration packs. Water and food.”

Brogan rubbed her wrist. The silver was starting to inflame the skin on her forearms. Camber took the small black box she’d used down on Oipra earlier and unlocked the cuffs.

“Ah, thank you.” Brogan rubbed the red welts on her wrists. “Is this for good now? Does that mean you trust me?”

Camber nodded. She was never a hundred percent sure about people, except the ones she grew up with, but Brogan had passed every test. She’d had every opportunity to raise the alarm and hand her in to the Abnobians, right in the middle of their territory.

“Well, you did help me out of a few scrapes.”

“Scrapes? I saved your life,” Brogan said.

“You’re so dramatic. Once if at all.” Camber sighed. “Can I get you something for your wrists? There’ll be a med pack around here somewhere.”

“It’s okay. It’ll heal when I shift to pelt. So, what’s this food you brought?” Brogan took a swig of water from the liquid pouch.

“Taste it, and you’ll find out,” Camber said.

Brogan sniffed the opening of the pouch. Disturbingly, it smelled of nothing at all.

“How can food have no smell?” Brogan said.

“Go on. Be brave, like the dominant wolf you are.”

Camber heard the deep rumble of a growl that sent a shiver across her body.

Brogan took a taste of the food from the pouch, then screwed up her face and gulped the water down quickly. Camber laughed.

“You knew it would be bad,” Brogan said.

“I did, but it wasn’t as bad as you’re making out,” Camber said.

Brogan paced up and down the ship, as if it would help take the taste away. “I’m a wolf, I eat meat the majority of the time.”

“Sit down. You’ll be very grateful of these pouches, believe me.”

Brogan smacked her mouth together a few times. “Is there a fish taste to that disgusting food? I mean, not nice fish. Fish that has been rotting for a few hundred years?”

“I have heard people say that. The Drazani like it.”

Brogan looked out the side window with awe. “My nieces and nephews would love this. It’s like I’ve walked into a movie.”

“What’s a movie?” Camber asked.

“You don’t have movies? Films? TV?”