Free Shades of Gray by Lisanne Norman

victory so he let the matter drop. “He has Warrior glands like ours. You can talk to him about it later because I want you to come with me, and bring Mayza. I intend to suggest Kusac take Shaidan.”
    “On a warship, in a war zone? You’re mad, Kezule,” she hissed. “You said you were taking Ghidd’ah!”
    “I’m taking you both. As you said, we are conducting a war, hopefully only a small one. I also intend to teach you how to use the Warrior glands you possess, Zayshul. I’ve meant to do it these past few months but never gotten around to it. Besides, with that scent marker on you, you need to come too. I’m not risking the Captain’s well being as we did when we went to Ch’almuth.”
    “I can see that makes sense,” she agreed slowly. “But the children?”
    “They’ll be safe, trust me, and on hand to be with us when we’ve retaken the City and the Palace.”
    “You sound very sure of yourself.”
    “I am. This is what I did for a living, remember?” He smiled at her, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. If I had any doubts, neither of the children would be going.” Over her shoulder he noticed Kusac entering. “Here’s your Sholan. I’ll see you later. Start packing as soon as you’re finished here. You don’t have any patients now, do you?”
    “None ill enough to be in the sick bay. One of the duty medics can see to them.”
    Kusac was still hovering by the central reception desk as he passed him on his way out. “We reconvene in ten minutes, Kusac,” he reminded him.
     
    Up in the swimming pool level, Giyarishis let himself relax into the Unity net that was spread throughout Kij’ik. He sensed the Hunter on his way to the Sand-dweller to reprimand her for using the sedative. That would be counterproductive. Best he forget about it. He was just thankful that while the Hunter had been imprisoned, when he’d finished his most rapid healing, he’d been able to make him forget his discovery of Unity.
    He began to gently nudge the potentialities, making it so that the future in which Kusac forgot why he was talking to her came to pass. His Hunter became distracted by the continuing discomfort in his leg, and seizing the moment, Giyarishis made sure the distractions overwhelmed his purpose.
     
    Zayshul smiled as Kusac approached her.
    “What brings you here?” she asked.
    He frowned slightly, realizing his feet had automatically brought him here after leaving Shaidan with Jayza. “You know, I can’t remember,” he said, puzzled.
    “Was it to tell me what time you’ll be finished tonight?” she asked.
    “It must have been that,” he said, but there was still a nagging doubt at the back of his mind. Fishing in his pocket, he drew out the card to his rooms. “Here, take that. I’ve no idea when we’ll finish, but Jayza has said Shaidan can sleep in his room until I come for him tonight.”
    “Your key? But it’s your private space,” she said, surprised.
    “There’s nothing private there now,” he said absently, still wondering what it was he’d forgotten.
    “Kezule wants me to go with him. You should be with Shaidan tonight. We can postpone this till tomorrow.”
    “There won’t be time. We’ve got the makings of a plan now. Talking of which, I need to get back down for the meeting. I’ll see you later,” he said, turning away from her.
    As he made his way back to the briefing room, he started to worry about his uncharacteristic forgetfulness. He couldn’t afford it this evening, not when they had the finer points of his proposed plan to go over.
     
    Giyarishis began to withdraw from the Hunter’s vicinity. He’d done enough for now. Later, when they were together would be a better time.

Officer Level Hall, several hours later
    As the military personnel, including the rest of his crew, filed out of the hall to be fitted for their assault suits, Kusac felt the blast of anger from M’kou as the young Lieutenant turned to his father and began