Free The Dark Half of the Sun (The Young Ancients: Timon) by P.S. Power Page A

was in dark brown, with form fitting pants and a heavy jacket. If you didn't know who they were, they fit the bill for their act. A couple going somewhere for reasons that weren't any of your business and really shouldn't be mentioned to their spouses.
    He did the work of shutting the hatches, leaving it as a silver rectangle as they took off.
    "Which way?" He didn't want to pause so had started to the north, since that was where most of the Kingdom was, but Kara pulled out a map.
    "We need to go to County Rodriguez. It's almost due south. Our destination is about eleven hundred miles from here."
    He changed the color of the craft and made the outside more rounded before he turned it around and sped up. They moved without any sound, and it was a little darker than he'd been planning on, his chat with Collette having taken a while. The back section got darker as the Royal Guards clothing got switched around. It was real, but designed to turn into combat gear with just a little effort.
    Using his left hand Timon dug out his watch and set it on the little control shelf in front of him. It was nine-seventeen. It was hard to be certain, but he thought he had the controls at the correct point. More or less.
    "Estimated time of arrival at this speed is one hour and ten minutes. That will put us in at ten-twenty seven. I can go faster, but this way we might actually end up near the target."
    No one suggested he do anything except fly, while they rather openly discussed the rescue plans they'd put together. It wasn't subtle, but would probably work well enough. They were going to land about three miles from the 'villa' and run in on foot. They might have to carry their prize out, if the person was injured, but they could do it. It was a thing they'd practiced for years.
    It was pretty clear that they weren't taking any magics in with them either. Finally he had to ask, not getting that part, even though he'd really been trying to ignore what they were saying.
    "Why not? I know that the Royal Guard has some."
    There was silence from the seats behind him for a long time, until finally George sighed.
    "This... isn't an official operation. If we're captured the Kingdom needs to be able to say they weren't involved. All of the magical devices are closely controlled and we have to be able to show who has what at all times, to prevent things like... this actually. It's also why, if we don't return in about four hours, five at the outside, you need to leave. Get yourself back to your bed and deny that you did anything but take us there and leave as requested."
    It sounded like a plan to him at least. If they'd let him know, he could have let them borrow some shields from him. Those weren't anything the Kingdom had after all, so it wouldn't look official. He'd told them not to let him know though, so that was his fault.
    "Um. OK, so you should be fine with things that I made, or copied? I wish I had my gear with me, I tend not to carry much." He did a quick mental search to remember what he had and made a face.
    "You can use my shield, but I only have one on me. It's mine, well, a Tor class eight, but I copied it. It won't seem like something that the military would have. I have a Not-flyer too. Regular hand controls. Again only the one. Also an air lance. That isn't very strong. Then... the only other thing I made that I have with me is a fire starter. It's not very powerful either. I mean, plenty to start a fire with damp wood, but it isn't a weapon. Will any of that help?"
    There was no sound from the back for nearly ten seconds, but then George cleared his throat.
    "That would be most kind, thank you. If we're captured you won't get them back however."
    That nearly made Timon swerve as he craned his neck to glare at the man.
    "Do you think that actually matters to me? I mean, yes, bring them back, but they're only things . It's almost like you don't know me at all, rather than having seen me a small handful of times." He shook his head,