Page 39 of A World Enough

“Why don’t I go down to Oipra, disguised as an Abnobian, and find out if they have any information to help us.”

“No,” Thane said flatly.

“Who made you the commander here? I think we both know it’s Margot.”

Margot was silent, but Jhosa pointed at them both. “Calm down, both of you.” Jhosa had the strength and build of a muscular giant, but he used a calm authority. “Margot, what do you think?”

“You can’t trust her, Margot,” Thane said.

Margot said. “Morrigan has gifts that we can use, and Vorka welcomed her back to our realm. Remember, she’s trying to find a friend.”

“A GallowGlas wolf, wolves are not to be trusted either,” Thane said angrily.

Morrigan stood up and shouted, “Brogan has more honour in her claw than you will ever have.”

Thane quickly pulled his weapon—a sturdy, short, bolt spear—and pointed it at Morrigan. Morrigan then snapped her fingers, appeared behind Thane, and pulled the thick wooden shaft of the spear against Thane’s neck.

“Stop it,” Margot shouted. “Jhosa, deal with them.”

He easily pulled them apart. “Morrigan, you will go down and find out what you can, and Thane, you put your personal feelings aside, or you are not part of the portal guardians. It’s your choice.”

He put his spear away and gave a nod to Margot.

“Morrigan, go in quickly, find out what you can, and get out.”

“Can you get the ship down?” Morrigan asked.

Jhosa, now back at the helm, said, “I can mask our signal and appear as a local trader. Take the shuttle pod to drop you off near the market, then it’s up to you to get into the Temple.”

“I’ll do it,” Morrigan said. “Let’s go.”

“Stop looking around with your mouth open, Wolf.”

Brogan couldn’t help it. Since they had docked the ship, they had been walking through an entrance hallway, with so many other patrons. It was like she had been thrown into a film or a dream.

The entrance area reminded her of Japanese cities or Las Vegas, with their flashing neon signs, and what she could only describe as AI beings walking out from the signs and talking to the patrons as they came in, encouraging them to go to restaurants, gambling establishments, clubs.

The patrons were equally varied. You could meet some strange creatures on Earth if you were an ordinary person, but as a wolf, she was just used to it—her normal was what humans considered strange. But after these few moments, Brogan gained insight into what humans would feel like if the paranormals were in the majority on Earth.

Brogan got another nudge from Camber. “You’re looking like a tourist, Wolf. These are just all different kinds of races, from around our realm.”

“Sorry. I am a tourist.”

There were different colours of humanoids, green being one of them, a small but slender one that just walked right past her, being one of them. Short, tall, brow ridges, facial ridges—all were all on display by those around her.

But the more she got used to it, the more she could see some similarities between the varied patrons and the paranormals and mythological beings she’d heard talked of on earth.

“Where are we going?” Brogan asked.

“We have to meet Ziggy on the gaming floor. Just follow me. The elevator is over there.”

Brogan looked ahead at the packed crowd waiting to get on. “We can’t go on there. It’s too dangerous for you.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve done this a long time.”

“These people that want you will have many more people after you, since you infiltrated one of their bases. Not to mention the fact that you’re now travelling with a wolf,” Brogan said.

“Do you realize how many floors down the gaming hall is? It’s deep inside the moon.”