The Covenant by Annabel Wolfe Page A

of entry ports, but despite
    the official insignia, the words had not been written by Halden.
    Larik Armada was the author, no doubt about it. He’d made it cryptic
    enough if one of the undersecretaries had stumbled across it they wouldn’t
    know what it meant, but Ran knew Larik and the way he worked. Of course,
    there was a disadvantage to being that brilliant. Sometimes you don’t realize
    everyone doesn’t operate on your level.
    Rubbing his fingers at his temples, Ran read it again, trying to make
    sense of it.
    De te fabula

    Only in this case, me. More as things progress. Help would be
    appreciated in the cause of liberation.

    The first part was in a language he knew had been dead even on earth
    for so long he barely remembered what it was called, but a flash of
    inspiration hit him and he swiftly pressed a button.
    The familiar voice never failed to make him smile, even now, even with
    possible terrorists trying to infect entire colonies. “Hello, love.”
    “Hello, Governor.” His wife’s tone held a teasing note. “To what do I
    owe this honor in the middle of the day?”
    “I need your help.” He hadn’t told her about the attack. He hadn’t
    wanted to panic her over the possibility of a similar threat to Minoa, not so
    soon after she’d given birth to their second child.

    42
    Annabel Wolfe
    “Of course.” She sounded puzzled.
    “What do you know of the old earth Latin?”
    “The language? I suppose some. There are phrases that survived and
    became part of everyday speech.”
    He repeated the beginning of the message.
    “I have no idea just like that, Ran. Why don’t you have one of your
    assistants research for you?”
    “Because if I did, I might clue them in that Larik has gotten illegally
    into the communications systems and is sending out messages under the
    guise of an important official.” Leave it to Armada to infiltrate any type of
    device, any blocked structure as if all the technology poured into security
    was worthless.
    “Oh.” That single word spelled out her understanding of the seriousness
    of the situation. “May I ask why he would risk doing such a thing?”
    “You may ask, but I wish you wouldn’t.”
    “I hate it when you are cryptic. It usually means something is wrong.”
    Well, she might be exactly right. Only Armada would actually know an
    archaic phrase from a dead language on a distant planet and use it to try to
    get some oblique point across. “You’re constantly reading earth books,
    Jerra. Can you try and see if you can figure it out for me?”
    “You know I will.”
    “Thanks. I’ll be home late.”
    “Darling, you always are.”
    He ended the communication with a small sigh. She was right about that
    too. Minoa demanded a lot of his time.
    Help would be appreciated in the cause of liberation.
    That part wasn’t hard to understand. Armada wanted out of quarantine.
    As governor of the most powerful of the colonies, Ran wasn’t sure he could
    manage that, even for an old friend. He wasn’t sure he should manage it.
    Well hell, he thought morosely and began a scan for the file again on the
    Rapt One incident that had the colony in current lock down. Maybe looking
    over the report would help him figure out what to do.
    * * * *

    The Covenant: The Starlight Chronicles 2
    43
    The faint frown between his opponent’s arched brows was a little
    amusing, and Larik had a feeling it would turn into a full-fledged scowl the
    minute she realized she was about to lose.
    One slender hand hovered, descended, and she made her move.
    He countered with lethal swiftness and the game ended in a victory.
    Violet eyes sent him an accusing glare. “How do you do that?”
    He gave Aspen an ingenuous look. “Do what?”
    “She means you don’t even have to think about it,” Trey said, coming
    over to sit down at the small table, lounging in the chair with careless grace.
    “It’s irritating as hell.”
    Larik grinned. “Sorry.”
    “Yeah, I can tell.” Aspen