GALLANT (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 3) by Marilyn Campbell
Authors: Marilyn Campbell
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facts out as simply and quickly as possible. "Cherry witnessed an assassination the night before last and has been temporarily removed from Innerworld for her own protection."
Aster blinked at him. "I beg your pardon? I believe I am still Co-Governor of this colony and, as such, assassinations and Terrans being removed from Innerworld would normally be brought to my attention."
"Well, yes," Rom said with a decidedly sheepish expression. "Normally that's true, but under the circumstances..." He looked at her swollen abdomen and hoped that would be sufficient explanation for his duplicity. Her annoyed frown told her he'd have to give details.
"The other day, I introduced you to an old friend of mine from the academy, Gallant Voyager."
Aster could not have easily forgotten the dangerous-looking man with the odd name. "Yes, you said you hadn't seen each other for a while and I left you alone to catch up on old times. What did I miss?"
"He was here as part of a highly confidential mission. The only information he would give me was that he was currently in the employ of the Consociation of Planets and that the future of the entire civilized universe could be at stake."
"You said there was an assassination. Did he—"
"No. He didn't do it, though he is authorized and has been known to use lethal force on occasion."
"Please, Rom, just get to the point. How could there have been an assassination and no one in Innerworld is talking about it?"
"Gallant was on the trail of a man who had come here as a visitor. The assassin was on the same trail. The man was incinerated in Fantasy World, right in front of Cherry. Gallant was there also, in the guise of an actor, but he was unable to prevent the murder. He convinced everyone that it was a part of the enactment, so that no one would panic. That was why you didn't hear anything about it."
Aster was not at all satisfied with that explanation but Cherry's situation had to be discussed first. "So, what happened to Cherry?"
Rom shrugged. "Unfortunately, the message I received from Gallant was very vague—only that she was under his protective custody and that he would return her as soon as it was safe. The one thing I want to know is how he got Cherry out of here without anyone being the wiser. Security has not been able to explain that, but they're still investigating the matter... discreetly, of course."
"I don't like any of this, Romulus."
He knew just how upset she was by the way she used his full name and he sought to reassure her. "There's really nothing to worry about. If Gallant says he's protecting Cherry, you can be certain no harm will come to her. His less-than-sterling reputation is mostly hearsay." In spite of his words, he sincerely hoped Aster never got wind of some of that hearsay.
She did not care for the sound of that one bit. "Mostly? Even if he's only half as wicked as he looks, Cherry could be in serious trouble."
Rom raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Our Cherry? More than likely, Gallant's the one in trouble by now."
Aster thought about it for a moment then decided he might be right. There hadn't been a man born that Cherry couldn't twist around her little finger in no time. Surely Gallant Voyager wasn't that different from the other men Cherry had encountered. But then she recalled her first impression of him—the devil in black leather—and she started worrying all over again.
Chapter 4
"You are in serious trouble, pal!" Cherry marched onto the bridge with her fists planted on her hips and an accusing glare in her eyes. She noted how Dot spun away, leaving Mar to witness her anger, but her attention was captured by an incredible sight beyond the bridge.
A giant tortoise suddenly appeared in space, withdrew its head and feet into its shell then vanished. "What the hell was that?"
After taking a moment to adjust his eye patch, Gallant turned toward her and cocked his head. "Is there a problem?"
"What was that?" she demanded
Aster blinked at him. "I beg your pardon? I believe I am still Co-Governor of this colony and, as such, assassinations and Terrans being removed from Innerworld would normally be brought to my attention."
"Well, yes," Rom said with a decidedly sheepish expression. "Normally that's true, but under the circumstances..." He looked at her swollen abdomen and hoped that would be sufficient explanation for his duplicity. Her annoyed frown told her he'd have to give details.
"The other day, I introduced you to an old friend of mine from the academy, Gallant Voyager."
Aster could not have easily forgotten the dangerous-looking man with the odd name. "Yes, you said you hadn't seen each other for a while and I left you alone to catch up on old times. What did I miss?"
"He was here as part of a highly confidential mission. The only information he would give me was that he was currently in the employ of the Consociation of Planets and that the future of the entire civilized universe could be at stake."
"You said there was an assassination. Did he—"
"No. He didn't do it, though he is authorized and has been known to use lethal force on occasion."
"Please, Rom, just get to the point. How could there have been an assassination and no one in Innerworld is talking about it?"
"Gallant was on the trail of a man who had come here as a visitor. The assassin was on the same trail. The man was incinerated in Fantasy World, right in front of Cherry. Gallant was there also, in the guise of an actor, but he was unable to prevent the murder. He convinced everyone that it was a part of the enactment, so that no one would panic. That was why you didn't hear anything about it."
Aster was not at all satisfied with that explanation but Cherry's situation had to be discussed first. "So, what happened to Cherry?"
Rom shrugged. "Unfortunately, the message I received from Gallant was very vague—only that she was under his protective custody and that he would return her as soon as it was safe. The one thing I want to know is how he got Cherry out of here without anyone being the wiser. Security has not been able to explain that, but they're still investigating the matter... discreetly, of course."
"I don't like any of this, Romulus."
He knew just how upset she was by the way she used his full name and he sought to reassure her. "There's really nothing to worry about. If Gallant says he's protecting Cherry, you can be certain no harm will come to her. His less-than-sterling reputation is mostly hearsay." In spite of his words, he sincerely hoped Aster never got wind of some of that hearsay.
She did not care for the sound of that one bit. "Mostly? Even if he's only half as wicked as he looks, Cherry could be in serious trouble."
Rom raised an eyebrow in disbelief. "Our Cherry? More than likely, Gallant's the one in trouble by now."
Aster thought about it for a moment then decided he might be right. There hadn't been a man born that Cherry couldn't twist around her little finger in no time. Surely Gallant Voyager wasn't that different from the other men Cherry had encountered. But then she recalled her first impression of him—the devil in black leather—and she started worrying all over again.
Chapter 4
"You are in serious trouble, pal!" Cherry marched onto the bridge with her fists planted on her hips and an accusing glare in her eyes. She noted how Dot spun away, leaving Mar to witness her anger, but her attention was captured by an incredible sight beyond the bridge.
A giant tortoise suddenly appeared in space, withdrew its head and feet into its shell then vanished. "What the hell was that?"
After taking a moment to adjust his eye patch, Gallant turned toward her and cocked his head. "Is there a problem?"
"What was that?" she demanded
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