Page 55 of Lost in Barbarian Space

“We have company.”

With his hand, he gestured for her to head out into the tunnel. To the right, it was easy to hear that someone, or something, was coming.

Together, they turned left and quietly slipped deeper into the tunnels.

Finally, after putting some distance between them and their mysterious visitors, Honor grabbed his arm.

“Who was it?” she asked.

He shook his head. “I couldn’t see. But I believe the question to ask is ‘what was it?’”

“So not the pirates. Why are you so worried, Colm?”

“It wasn’t wolves, Honor. Whatever they were, they were searching. And they were communicating.”

“Shit.” A line creased her brow. “An intelligent species?”

“Maybe. For now, we keep moving, and put as much distance between them and us as we can.”

They snaked their way through the twisting ice tunnels. Every now and then, Colm stopped and strained to hear something. Nothing.

He’d just decided they were safe, when faint sounds reached him again.

“I can hear grunts. They’re following us.”

Honor tilted her head. “I can’t hear anything. But I trust you.”

Hearing those words made his chest go tight. He knew she was a woman who didn’t trust lightly. To have a woman like Honor’s trust meant the world to him.

The grunts got closer and louder.

Her eyes widened. “I can hear that.”

“Run.”

They sprinted down the tunnel. Moving so fast meant that at times they both slipped on the slick ice, but they kept moving.

They were deep into the ice tunnels now. Finding a way out would be tricky. But for now, he focused on evading their pursuers and keeping Honor safe.

They turned a sharp corner, and ahead, a huge, white creature appeared.

Colm cursed, and he and Honor skidded to a halt. He took a second to take in the white fur on the massive humanoid body.

The creature roared at them.

Colm drew his sword. Protect Honor. That single imperative beat inside him. Protect Honor.

His nanami flooded him with energy, more than he’d ever felt before.

He charged at the beast. It let out another roar and charged to meet him.

The beast swung out with sharp claws. Colm ducked and thrust his sword forward. He felt the sting of claws on his chest. He saw the spurt of red blood on the creature’s side, bright against the white fur. Ignoring the sting of his wounds, he attacked again. Three more thrusts of his sword and the creature fell, collapsing onto the icy floor.

He stepped back, dragging in air. Power raged through him, and he couldn’t rein it in.

“God.” Honor appeared, clutching her pistol. “More are coming, Colm.”

Let them come. He wanted to shed more blood. His hand curled around his sword.