Page 21 of Lost in Barbarian Space

He raised a brow at the unfamiliar expression, but he understood her meaning. “You could ride back with me.” He slid his hand down to her waist.

She grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand away. “I don’t think so.” She arched her head back to look at him. “The last guy who rode with me didn’t enjoy it much.”

Colm tipped his head back and laughed. “Very well, little warrior.”

She sniffed. “I’m not little.”

CHAPTER FIVE

The sun was setting and the first of Markaria’s moons was on the rise when Colm’s group made it back to Kavon’s estate. Hooves clattered on the cobblestones and some of the Institute team looked exhausted.

Looking at Honor, sitting straight and tall on her hargon, you wouldn’t have guessed she’d made such a long journey and then, on top of that, fought off a band of raiders. Especially not with a skill Colm found breathtaking.

The strange droid moved behind them, carrying the escape pod. He glanced at it, still marveling that such a small thing could carry something far larger than itself.

As they pulled to a stop, a crowd came down the steps of Kavon’s house. Kavon and Aurina, Niklas and Nera, the young girl, Lala, and a bunch of others.

“Well done,” Niklas said. “A Terran escape pod.” The man hurried over to look at the artifact.

Kavon nodded and Colm returned his friend’s gesture.

“Any problems?” Kavon asked.

“Raiders. They won’t be a problem anymore.” Colm slid off his hargon and handed the reins to the waiting stable boy.

“Good work protecting our visitors.”

Colm shot him a small smile. “Actually, they did an admirable job of protecting themselves.” His gaze caught Honor’s. “Agent Brandall is a formidable fighter.”

Niklas stood. “There’s an ID plate here. It was hidden under the slime.” The man smiled. “This pod is from the Valhalla.”

There was a small round of cheers.

Niklas held up a hand. “It proves the Valhalla made it here, but we still have to find it.”

“And our scans don’t show anything ship-sized on the planet,” Nera said.

Niklas nodded. “Tomorrow, Kavon is taking us to see the wreck of the Excalibur. Perhaps we’ll find more clues there.” He eyed the pod. “Or in here.”

Honor stepped forward. “There is another possibility. I’m no astro-archeologist, but I’m good at analyzing the facts. The Valhalla was clearly in trouble if they released an escape pod. Markaria has two moons. Could there be a chance the ship crash-landed on one of them?”

Colm’s gaze went up to the night sky. He could see the first of Markaria’s moons—Ansar—hanging in the sky. The smaller, Myrine, would follow shortly.

“That’s a good theory, Honor,” Niklas said. “Kavon, with your permission, we’d like to run scans of the moons from our smaller expedition ship, the Drake.”

“One moon is rocky with little atmosphere,” Honor said. “It should be quick to scan that. The second moon, however, has an atmosphere, but it’s covered in snow and ice. It might take a little longer to check that one out.”

Kavon nodded thoughtfully. “Very well. Again, Colm will help your team.”

Colm felt his gut harden. “Go in a ship? To the moons?” He’d never once considered stepping foot off Markaria. He wasn’t sure warriors were meant for space. Sure, after he’d met Aurina and her brothers, he’d thought about it, but the reality of it…

“What do you say, barbarian? You up for some flying?”

The challenge in Honor’s voice made him straighten. “I think I am, Agent Brandall.”

“All right,” Niklas called out. “I need the archeologists to stay and open this escape pod. Everyone else, we all have a busy day planned for tomorrow, so get some rest.”

Honor shot Colm a small smile. “Thanks for your help today, warrior.” Then she walked away, but not in the direction of the personal rooms assigned to their visitors. He knew she was headed for the large room Honor had asked for, to use as a training room for her security team.