Free The Hero Strikes Back by Moira J. Moore Page A

supposed to be cynical.

Chapter Five
    â€œYou promised.” I wasn’t whining. I was merely stating facts. We had just started our watch. It was getting dark. It was quiet. We had all the makings of an unadulterated, boring evening. The perfect opportunity for experimentation.
    He dragged his hands through his hair. “I’m not backing out. I just don’t think we should be doing this now.”
    â€œWhat do you mean? Why not?”
    He appeared surprised. “We’re on watch, Lee.” He gestured at the rustic interior of the Stall. “We’re supposed to be concentrating.”
    I raised an eyebrow. Taro Karish, the wild Stallion of the Triple S, playing by the book? Was he serious? “Aye, we’re supposed to be concentrating on the forces. And we will be. Much more than we ever do when we’re playing cards. Besides, nothing has been happening for months.”
    â€œAll the more reason to be particularly diligent. We’re overdue. There’s probably something massive brewing.”
    All right, this was just too strange. Aye, Karish was very responsible. Yes, he always did his work and did it well. But when there was no cause for alarm he saw no reason to waste his time with excessive attention to duty. At least, he never had before. “Are you getting old or something?” I demanded with the intention to be flippant. Then my brain caught up with my tongue and I clapped my hand over my mouth. Oops.
    He looked stunned. “What?”
    â€œYou’re almost thirty, aren’t you?” When was his birthday, anyway?
    He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, shock sliding into offence. “I am twenty-nine,” he told me, carefully enunciating his words.
    â€œThat’s what I said. Twenty-nine is almost thirty.”
    â€œAnd that’s not old.”
    Really? How else did one explain his sudden stodgy adherence to rules? He was supposed to be wild and rebellious. It was written somewhere.
    But pointing out to him that he was old was hardly tactful. Shame on me. Yet it would be an interesting process to watch. The stunning—he had quickly regained his youthful glow and weight upon returning to High Scape—adored, reckless young man having to settle down into middle-age maturity. It had to be awful for a beautiful person, with so much attention focussed on their appearance, watching their youth slip away. A downside to being gorgeous, who would have figured it? I wondered how he would deal with it. Would he accept it with good grace or fight it with every example of denial under the sun?
    Of course, knowing Karish, he would probably only improve with age. Take on some element of dignity that drove people of all ages wild. Aye, that was what would happen. Damned lucky bugger.
    â€œWe have seven hours of uninterrupted time,” I said, bringing us back to a subject I hoped was less touchy. “With no one likely to walk in on us. It’s the perfect opportunity and we’d be derelict if we let it slide.”
    He rolled his eyes. “Fine, all right. But it’s a waste of time.”
    â€œIt certainly will be if you go into it with that attitude.” All right, don’t nag. Getting irritated wouldn’t accomplish anything. Changing his perspective might. “You can already do things other Sources can’t.” It was interesting to watch a grown man squirm. “There’s no reason to think it’s impossible for you to do something about this before you’ve even tried.”
    â€œAll right, all right,” he snapped with impatience. “Let’s get on with this.”
    Try again. “Nothing will be accomplished if you don’t open your mind to it.”
    He pulled in a long sigh. I could see the tension easing from his frame, his shoulders lowering. Good boy. “I’ll concede the possibility.”
    Ooh. Formality. And he did it so well. “So—” Now what did