Free Shamara by Catherine Spangler

answer, Captain."
    Lani bristled at his arrogant, accusing tone. How dare he imply that Celie would lie?
    "Your Lordship," Celie said evenly, her calm admirable, "I did not pick up any passengers on Travan."
    Gunnar's mesmerizing scrutiny seemed to bore right through her, as if searching her very soul. "That woman was my bride, exchanged for a trade route. I am very displeased over her disappearance. Again, I warn you to carefully consider your answer."
    His threat was implicit. No one with any sense crossed the Leors. They had ways of discerning the truth and dispensing swift and terrible justice. Lani noticed Celie gripping the console, her knuckles white. How dare this overgrown testosterone factory upset such a sweet, decent young woman?
    "I believe she's already answered you, your Lordship ,'' Lani snapped. "Why don't you go pick on someone your own size, you big bully?"
    Celie gasped, as the Leor's midnight eyes pivoted to Lani, narrowing and sparking with fury. "Who are you, to presume to speak to me in this way?" he growled.
    "Commander, she is my guest and not aware of your ways," Celie broke in quickly. "I apologize for her behav—"
    "I'm a citizen, with the same rights as you," Lani interjected. "And I know Captain Cameron doesn't lie. Why, the nerve of you, to accuse her of such a thing!"
    "Lani, please!" Celie said. "Don't concern yourself any further. Commander Gunnar and I understand each other quite clearly." She turned back to the screen. "I did not receive a passenger on my ship. I'm sorry I can't help you."
    Gunnar's narrowed eyes remained locked on Lani for a long moment before he returned his attention to Celie. "Since I have done business with your sister for over seven seasons, I will accept your word. You know the consequences of lying. I believe the woman left Travan on your ship, but perhaps she was a stowaway. Where did you go after you left Travan?"
    As if sensing Lani's accelerating urge to dress the man down, Celie held out a restraining hand. "To Saron, where I stayed a little over one cycle."
    "Where have you traveled since then?"
    "I haven't been planetside since I left Saron."
    Gunnar considered this. "And has every section of your ship been checked?"
    "Yes. I only have three private cabins, and those are currently occupied. My storage bays have been restocked and we do daily walkthroughs. There are no stowaways on my ship, Commander."
    He inclined his bald head, acknowledging his acceptance of her answer. "Very well. Then Vaden and I will direct our search to Saron."
    The screen flashed off abruptly. Celie leaned back in her chair. "I've never had an experience quite like that with the commander before."
    "He's too full of himself, and very rude!" Lani fumed. "I'm sorry if I got you into trouble when I jumped in, but he deserved it."
    "It's all right. Gunnar can be very irritating. He's also very volatile. I must ask that you don’t do that again."
    "I'll try not to," Lani said, thinking about what the Leor had said. A woman with black hair and blue eyes, fleeing him, most probably going to Saron as a stowaway on Celie's ship. Lani had always heard that Leors insisted their brides be virgins. Very interesting.
    She knew a woman fitting that description. A woman who had professed to be an experienced courtesan, although she'd been extremely nervous when her first client was announced. A woman who had disappeared immediately after that client left, leaving blood on the bed's satin comforter. It might have come from Eirene's robe, which had been bloodied when Jarek was shot. But, somehow, Lani didn't think so.
    Not that she would ever share such information with Gunnar. She wouldn't give that arrogant bastard the time of day.
     
    *  *  * 
     
    "You lied to me." Eirene slapped away Jarek's hand.
    "I had to." Ignoring her hand shoving against his, he returned the cloth to her face. "Be still. Darya said this would make you more comfortable. Matter of fact, she said you needed to be sponged