"Charles Ingrid - The Sand Wars 02 - Lasertown Blues" - читать интересную книгу автора (Ingrid Charles)

suit.” The Purple smiled again, that thin elegant smile. “I have a similar
problem.” He swung his chair about abruptly, looking down at the grounds
as Amber made a sound. “You’re going to be late. I suggest you hurry.”

“I’ll do that.” Jack got to his feet. He saluted sharply. “With your
permission, sir.”

“Go on. I’ll keep Amber up here with me, if you don’t mind.”

Storm grinned. “I have little to say about it. Just make sure she doesn’t
mind.” He closed the observation office door on Purple’s dry chuckle,
feeling uneasy. He and the officer had discussed Amber’s role in his life and
he didn’t like leaving her alone with Purple. He shrugged. Amber could
handle herself.



Amber swung around to look at the silver-haired man who ran the
Emperor’s personal guard. Jack felt a loyalty to this man, won fairly in
combat situations they’d seen as mercenaries against, and then with, one
another. She didn’t feel the same loyalty. She kept her street wariness honed
like a fine blade. It helped her to survive.

She crossed her legs. “I know this isn’t social.”

“No. And it has nothing to do with today’s events, exactly. What
happened to Jack today didn’t help any, but it clarified the situation a little.”

Amber felt a sudden chill across her bare arms. She chafed them in
response. “What is it? I don’t like what you’ve done to him. He has a whole
new mindset.”

“It’s you. Your relationship with Jack is a liability he can’t afford if he
makes the Guard, and we’ll both be damn surprised if he doesn’t. These last
weeks have been spent fine-tuning Jack back into what he used to be—an
unstoppable weapon that only needs to be pointed in the right direction. He
hasn’t time to foster you.”

Amber gave a wry smile, one that never quite reached the coldness of
her golden brown eyes.

“You mean I’m a chink in his battle armor, so to speak.”

The Purple smiled back. “Well put. Yes. He’s going to have to ask you to
let him move on. There’re separate quarters for the Guard… you’ll be left in
his old quarters, no problem there. And you’ll be provided for.”

She stopped rubbing her arms and simply held herself, bracing herself
for the impact of the commander’s words. She looked at him. “Suppose I
don’t want to be left alone.”