"Tanya Huff - Valor 2 - The Better Part of Valor" - читать интересную книгу автора (Huff Tanya)

"I take everything I do seriously. It's how I keep my people alive."
After a moment, she let him look away.
Hair clamped tight to his skull, the lieutenant took a step back,
opened his mouth, then snapped it closed again. Torin gave him credit
for recognizing he was in a battle he couldn't win and waited patiently
while he brought his emotions under control. The general's
compartment was barely three meters down the passage, and the last
thing he'd want was to have General Morris inquiring about his temper.
Or wondering where the hell he'd been.
Seconds before Torin was about to point that out, the di'Taykan
turned on one heel, and marched down the passageway, graceful in
spite of a rigidity of spine that promised they weren't through.


"You're looking better than the last time I saw you, Staff Sergeant."
"Thank you, sir." So was he. Last time she'd seen the general, he'd
had two black eyes, a broken nose, and a poleaxed expression—all of
which she'd been essentially responsible for.
Given his current expression, he was thinking pretty much the same
thing. "Yes, well, we've a new situation here, so let's put the past
behind us, shall we?"
"Yes, sir."
It was more neutral noise than agreement, but General Morris took
the words at face value, smiling and nodding—both of which put Torin
on edge. Damn, she hated smiling generals.
"You're probably wondering why I had Lieutenant Stedrin bring you
to me."
 She was, but she wasn't expecting an explanation.
The pause went on long enough so Torin began to think the general
himself was also wondering. She was about ready to throw in another
Yes, sir, to prod him forward, when he squared beefy shoulders and
said, "You'll be Senior NCO for this mission and, as you were my
personal choice, I felt I should be the one to introduce you to the
officer commanding." He touched the edge of his comm unit.
"Lieutenant."
"Sir." Stedrin's voice snapped out of the desk so crisply Torin knew
he'd been hovering over it, waiting for the call.
"Have the captain report to my office immediately."
"Yes, sir."
Generals did not make introductions for staff sergeants.
Staff sergeants did not ask generals what the hell they were up to.
Unfortunately.
General Morris sat back in his chair and steepled his fingers,
looking over their blunt ends at Torin.
"How much do you follow politics, Staff Sergeant?"
"I don't, sir."
"You just do your job?"
Best to ignore two star sarcasm.
"Yes, sir."
He nodded and continued. "As you're well aware, politics are a part