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I attempted to be helpful. “You and your cousin seemed to patch things over well the last time we came through.”
“Things are tolerable between us.” Rone gave a measured response. “It’s likely due to us each having a whole planet to ourselves.”
“You know what they say about distance helping to keep the peace.”
My light comment brought a little smile to his face. “The children are pleasant, though. It’ll be good to see them.”
“I remember the girl Sofra. I think one of Gofrin’s wives –Jeleen, that’s her name—was pregnant the last time we were there. The baby should be almost two years old by now.”
A light flashed on Rone’s com link. He stood. “I need to get to the control room. I'll be working late tonight. You’ll have to go to bed without me.”
I spared a glance at the huge bed on the other side of the room. “I’m not looking forward to sleeping alone but I’m doing my part for the war effort by saving your ribs.”
He walked off grumbling again. Once he left, I tried finishing my dinner only to give up on the steak. My stomach wasn’t in the mood. Maybe I could find mint or chamomile tea in the galley later.
But my unsettled stomach got a small case of the nerves when I considered our destination to Zol. I hoped all my new allergy symptoms didn’t occur on Rone’s home planet. His family would never let me hear the end of it.
Chapter Four
CAMMIE
It was late afternoon the next day before we arrived on planet Zol. We ran into a miles-long trail of space debris and had to take time to avoid junk hitting the ship and clogging the engines. Eventually, we reached Zol’s atmosphere. The dark, starry surroundings of space were behind us as the ship prepared for a landing on the planet of desert grassland.
Once we were on the ground and the doors were open to leave, I stepped out of the ship with Rone. Soldiers were already on the ground. I shielded my eyes as the bright, hot sun beat down on the dunes near our landing station. “This station wasn’t here last time.”
“Gofrin must have had it built. It’s good to see he’s welcoming more visitors.”
“That’s a positive, right?”
Rone didn’t look so convinced. “Depends on the visitor.”
“O-kay.” I slung my travel bag over my shoulder, wishing I'd remembered to pack a stronger sunscreen. “Let’s see what Gofrin and company are up to.”
“No need. Here he comes now.”
I heard a loud engine in the distance. Dust clouds formed above a sand dune. Less than thirty seconds later, four vehicles that I could only describe as dune buggies came barreling down to meet us. I blocked the sun from getting in my eyes again so Icould look at who was driving the vehicles. The buggy in the lead had a driver with horns that curled out and then shot straight up from his head. “You’re right. I see your cousin.”
Rone signaled for his soldiers to assume a rest stance. No doubt all the noise and sand the dune buggies kicked up sent their defense reflexes in high gear.
I resisted the urge to cover my ears. Gofrin drove his buggy right up to the ship and brought it to a stop. The brakes squealed before the engine burped out a bucket of sand. “Cousin Rone.” His voice was about as loud as the vehicle’s engine. “How good of the overlord to grace us with his commanding presence.”
