Free Annals of the Keepers: War 267 (Book 1 in the Gashnee Saga) by Christiaan Hile, Benjamin Halkett Page B

that’s been thrust upon us.”
    Voskal cleared his throat with a swallow. “We did capture three of the escapees from the outpost and…”
    Lintorth interrupted his friend.
    “Three, you count. One Kryth soldier died of his wounds, telling us what we already knew. The Fossari scum quivers in his own urine telling us everything we didn’t want to know about how much of a coward he is. And the third?” Lintorth sighed as he turned from Voskal, “the third is a useless Cuukzen, unable to get out of his own way.”
    A tired look came over Lintorth’s face, as if an hourglass had emptied its last bit of sand.
    Voskal beckoned his last desperate thought. “If there is anything left here, it may be with the bounty hunter.” Lintorth lifted his head on the comment. “Bounty hunter?”
    “Yes. We think he has something on the invaders. We set him up for another round of interrogations. I was going to do it myself in my chambers after our bout... Why do you ask?” Voskal Lat questioned as Lintorth approached.
    “Who calls this Cuukzen a bounty hunter?” Lintorth asked.
    “The Cuukzen himself.”
    “Really?” peaked Lintorth’s voice. “This is interesting. So they do come in small packages.” Lintorth finished with a broad smile cresting his face.
    “Small what?”
    “I will perform this interrogation on the Cuukzen myself.” Lintorth paused as his mind whirled. “You, my friend, have generals to stall.”
    “What do you mean?”
    Lintorth turned, heading out of the chamber door, his crimson cape flowing behind him. “Follow and I will tell.”
    Voskal Lat quickened his pace to catch up to Lintorth as the door slid closed.
    ∞∞∞
    The landscape was beautiful, stretching onward with thousands of purple and yellow flowers rolling across the hilly scenery outside.
    Not a location one would bring to mind for a top secret military installation, Mistuuk reasoned. Maybe that was the point.
    The glass reflected back his own reddish brown skin.
    He was staring out the window watching the winds blow the flora when a new, unknown reflection appeared behind him in the glass.
    In stepped Lintorth.
    “Please don’t let me interrupt your viewing pleasure,” Lintorth said towards the Cuukzen.
    Mistuuk peeled himself from the glass and turned, speaking before noticing his Kryth interrogator. “It’s about time,” he said, shuffling around with arms crossed. “Make a bounty hunter wait will youuu…” His voice trailed off at the sight of Lintorth.
    Lintorth towered over the Cuukzen like an ashlin bearcat standing over a, well, a Cuukzen.
    Without hesitating, Lintorth approached his seat behind the crystal desk next to where the Cuukzen stood.
    As he sat, he brushed his cape to the side.
    Mistuuk just remained where he was, mouth agape and eyes wide.
    Lintorth adjusted his data portfolio on the desk to his front, reading the bio of his prisoner.
    The Cuukzen were a labor race. They Kryth used them for engineering or mining across the vast holdings of the Domain. Too small for combat and too annoying for anything else, many races employed them for menial tight-spaced tasks such as engine duct work and splice-graphing repairs.
    Turning his head, Lintorth gestured the open-mouthed Cuukzen to move to the seat in front. 
    “Please have a seat.” Lintorth opened with a warm pleasing smile. “Let’s gets started, shall we?”
    Mistuuk found his seat, making the leap, he grunted, adjusting himself until he was comfortable in the chair.
    Lintorth waited, hands clasped in his lap.
    “Wow! You’re the largest Kryth I’ve ever seen,” came the Cuukzen’s first comment. “I’ve never seen such… such power presented in a Kryth Mahr uniform before. And that cape, it’s fantastic.”
    The corner of Lintorth’s mouth tried hard to keep the half smile for his guest.
    Lintorth leaned forward.
    “Thanks for the pleasantry, but let’s dispense with them. What say you, Cuukzen?”
    “Yes, let us dispense with them. I