Hammer of Time (The Reforged Trilogy) Read Online Free Page A

managed to find you?"
    "She was trying to get caught," Logan countered. "The galaxy is huge. Trying to find any one person is next to impossible. So I usually find out where my prey likes to be. I go there myself and then wait. Or else I let it be known that I have what they want and they come to me."
    "Can we do that with her ?" Gripper asked. He had no nickname for Xartasia and seemed reluctant to give her one.
    "I do not know what my cousin wants or what she intends to do," Maeve said.
    "But whatever it is, she's got to be leaving some kind of trail," said Logan. "Everyone leaves their marks. We just need to find it. Gripper, I'll need you to come into Hanjirrah with me tomorrow."
    "What?" Gripper jumped to his feet and banged his head on the mess ceiling. "Me? Why me?"
    "I'll need mainstream access and there's no signal outside the city. There's going to be a lot of information and I need an extra set of eyes. Yours work, right?"
    "Yeah," Gripper answered skeptically, apparently not quite sure about this fact. "I guess…"
    "What of me?" Maeve asked, a little stung that her lover had not asked for her help.
    "You don't like computers," Logan reminded her.
    "Oh… yes," she agreed sheepishly. "Is there something else I can do?"
    "I was going to go find where the Arcadians live around here," Panna said. She finished drying the pan and replaced it in a cupboard. She closed and latched the door with a click.
    "To find out if they've heard anything about Xartasia?" Xia asked.
    Panna's high cheeks went pink. "Uh, no. I just wanted to talk to them, actually. Maybe see if any of them have some glass armor from the old kingdom to go with the princess' spear. But I can find out if they've heard anything about Xartasia. Do you want to come?" she asked Maeve. "I'm sure it would mean a lot to them to see their princess alive. Everyone thought the whole royal family was dead."
    Maeve scrubbed hard at a bowl to cover her hesitation. She did not like to advertise herself. It was Maeve, after all, who had accidentally summoned the Devourers into the White Kingdom. Even before that, she had been only a cousin to the royal family, in no danger of ascending to the throne or doing anything important. Maeve had meant her words to Logan; she was no princess. Not really. Not anymore.
    "I will stay," she told the sink full of soapy water. "I am sure I will be of more use here."
    "Sure," Duaal said. "There are plenty more dishes to do."
    Maeve darted a glance back over her shoulder at the new captain. Was he taunting her again? No. Maeve saw a teasing twinkle in his dark green eyes, but it did not seem malicious. Maybe Duaal even thought that he was offering Maeve a legitimate excuse to remain behind.
    "Yes," she said in an admittedly brittle tone. "I have dishes to do."
    Panna's face fell, but she nodded. "How about you, Xia?" she asked.
    The silver-skinned Ixthian woman nodded. "Sure, I can go with you."
    "What about me?" Duaal asked. "Don't I get an invitation?"
    Panna actually stuck out her tongue at the human. "I'm sure you have plenty of work here on the Phoenix," she told him. "Overseeing the dish washing and such."
    Anger flashed in Duaal's eyes and a swirling red dot of fire kindled in the palm of one hand. The proud young mage had never liked being teased. But then the flame snuffed out and Duaal laughed. "I guess I do. I should put in for supplies in case we figure out where in the three hundred hells we're going."
    "Want to trade jobs with me?" Gripper mumbled. He was chewing on one of his thick claws and spoke awkwardly around it. "I can do dishes."
    "I think Maeve and I can manage," Duaal answered with a smirk on his dark lips. "You enjoy your trip with Coldhand."
    Gripper looked at Logan again and whimpered.
    ________
     
    Maeve's song echoed off the metal walls of her bunkroom, a rising note of passion and pleasure. Her wings curled around Logan as his touch set her blood afire. Here in his arms, it was easy to forget her fears.