Lady Lure by Flora Speer Page A

going to have
to devise a way to save Perri when the Chief Hierarch reneges on
his promises to her.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    “Give me a few more days aboard the Space
Dragon,” Halvo said, “and I could reprogram the computer to
produce some decent food.”
    “There is nothing wrong with Regulan food.”
Perri clamped her lips shut. She had not intended to speak to Halvo
at all, but he had a peculiar ability to evoke unwanted responses
from her.
    “I suppose for someone who doesn’t care
whether she lives or dies food doesn’t matter, either.” Halvo
sounded as if he were carrying on an ordinary conversation. Perri
was forced to grit her teeth to keep from answering him.
    “Out there in the rest of the Jurisdiction,
far beyond Regula,” Halvo said, “people who are sentenced to death
are given their choice of a last meal. It’s an old tradition, one I
gather the Regulan Hierarchy is not inclined to follow.”
    “We have our own traditions,” Perri snapped,
infuriated by his drawling tone.
    “You amaze me, Perri. It is one thing to face
death bravely. It’s quite another thing to face the unknown – and
you do face a distinctly uncertain future – without flinching. Your
composure is remarkable.”
    “I am not facing an unknown. You are.”
    “In that case, let’s stop this carefree
banter and proceed to serious conversation, shall we?”
    “I do not wish to talk with you, Halvo.”
    “You keep saying that, but you always answer
any remark I make. And every time I walk into this galley, you
follow me. I do believe you want to be alone with me.”
    “Of all the egomaniacal -” Determined not to
rise to his continuous baiting, Perri made herself lower her voice.
“I am concerned that, if you are left unsupervised, you will
attempt to sabotage the Space Dragon”
    “Sabotage? From the galley?” His eyes lit up
with sardonic amusement. Perri was absolutely certain he did know a
way to sabotage the ship from the galley. She was not going to give
him the chance to try. They were too close to Regula, too near the
successful completion of her mission for her to allow any such
lapses of judgment on her part.
    She had spent the two days since their
quarrel reviewing every action she had taken after learning of the
sentence upon Elyr. She honestly did not think she could have
chosen any other path. Looking the other way and refusing to help
Elyr would have left her with a conscience so burdened by guilt
that she could not have continued to live after his death. By all
she had ever been taught, she was doing the right thing.
    Why, then, did she have so many unanswerable
questions, so many doubts? Oddly, she did know the answer to that.
It was Halvo’s fault. She also knew that, even if she were to
return to her old life in Elyr’s household, her questions would not
cease and, inevitably, they would cause trouble for her. Elyr did
not like her to ask questions. He never had. So whether she asked
or kept the questions to herself, the peaceful security she had
once known had been permanently destroyed.
    “Perri.” Halvo spoke in the firm tone of
command. Stepping closer, he took her by the elbows. “Tell Rolli to
change course arid take us away from Regula. Do it now, before
their instruments can indicate our approach. This is our last
chance.”
    “I cannot.” Gazing deep into his eyes, she
drew a long, shuddering breath. “I wish I could help you, Halvo,
but I have promised to deliver you to the Chief Hierarch. I cannot
break my word to him.” She wondered why the tense expression on
Halvo’s face did not change at what must have been the final blow
to any hope he held of regaining his freedom.
    “All right,” he said. “If you won’t give me a
last meal of my choice, and you won’t order Rolli to change course,
then grant me another wish. It will be my last wish, Perri.”
    “What do you want of me?” Perri asked, adding
regretfully, “We do not have much time.”
    “It won’t take long.”