At Council, Julie Steimle [top 10 novels TXT] 📗

“She caught you playing the drop game on the newcomers and called you out on it,” he said.

No response from Tenngar.

“And so you went even harder against them and took them into crosswinds most could not handle—only you did not know this particular Aver was better skilled at assessing air currents than most Aleas. She embarrassed you.”

Lifting his chin just a little higher Alea Tenngar still did not respond. His eyes, however went even colder on his superior. His insides felt like ice.

“I know Aver Zormna Clendar’s ways. I’ve been watching her intently since she came into the Patrol. And I know how she would handle such an event. She’s a little hasty, sometimes a bit too open about her intent. But she was going to privately report you to me, wasn’t she? And you just had to head her off—destroy her career.” The Kevin shook his head bitterly. “It is too bad for me the evidence was destroyed. So I’ll just have to wait until you screw up some other time—as I must handle all military mishandlings by the book…to be unbiased.”

With a dirty smirk, the Kevin walked away, leaving Alea Tenngar alone in the hall. Feeling his career as Zeta commander edging to oblivion, Alea Tenngar shuddered, swaying on his feet.

But it was too late. Putting that Zormna into his district had been a signal the Kevin was looking to rearrange his district’s officers. They had never really seen eye to eye, and his was complete proof that his position would not last long.  

Shaking the nasty feeling off, he marched down the hall back to the Zeta District. He still had a district to run.

Zormna sniffled, trying hard not to cry. The Surface Patrol was home. Her dreamed-of future was teetering out of her reach. Had she acted right?

Closing her eyes, thinking of those fellow pilots who could have gotten hurt if she hadn’t acted as she did, Zormna shook her head. Her actions had been correct. They just hurt her because there was no justice in the underground city of Arras.

“Do you have everything?” Alea Arden asked, his face pale and sorry as he gazed at her from the doorway.

Zormna turned to face him with a nod. In plain clothes, she felt naked. Ducking her head away from the Alea she had worshipped as a kid with a silly crush, Zormna could not meet his eyes.

Alea Arden patted her on the back, sighing. “It will be ok. Just consider this a test.”

A test. Yes. She had to gain control over her impulses. That was the main lesson of this entire thing. Though she may have passed the Adult Test, she was still too impulsive and way too obvious in her intentions. There was always a better way to deal with pig-headed authority figures than head on. What was that ancient phrase? Wrestle with the pig, you both come up dirty but the pig enjoys it. That was the one. And right now she was going to spend an entire month with a whole slew of pigs.

“Keep your chin at a healthy level,” Alea Arden whispered as he escorted her to the flight car which would take her to her punishment. “Don’t forget where you come from. But don’t let them see too much pride in your eyes. To the High Class that is like blood in the water.”

“What does that mean, anyway?” Zormna turned to him, frowning. “Blood in the water? I have never understood that one.”

Chuckling, Alea Arden nodded. They marched together onto the swift walk path which would take them faster via a moving floor to the main gates. “I think it was a metaphor for when we had oceans… and sharks.”

Zormna nodded, not quite understanding. Their world had not had an ocean for ten thousand years. Nor sharks.

“I hear sharks can smell blood on the water,” Alea Arden explained.

Zormna halted. “Seriously?”

He nodded, gesturing for her to keep up.

Jogging after the dignified leader of Alpha District, Zormna drew in a deep breath. That was a good metaphor. The High Class were like sharks.

They soon reached the car. The driver was one of those People’s Military stooges—Dural Something-or-other. It didn’t matter. He just glared smugly at her, his eyes raking over her dull civilian attire with a chuckle.

“Don’t get into any fights,” Alea Arden said, making sure she met his gaze as she loaded her one bag into the flight car.

Zormna nodded.

“Remember, they are looking for excuses to take down any one of us,” he said. “Especially the good ones.”

She blushed.

“I mean it,” Alea Arden said, tugging on her chin so she would meet his gaze again.

Smiling painfully, Zormna nodded.

“Get in already!” the driver called to her.

Sighing, Zormna nodded. “I’m coming.”

“And no backtalk!”

She rolled her eyes, but made sure the driver did not see it. He would probably consider that backtalk too. Waving to Arden, Zormna climbed into the vehicle.

And it took off.

Alea Arden watched, a shiver going through him—though he did not know why.

Publication Date: 02-27-2018

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