Heroes Adrift Read Online Free

Erstwhile.”
    â€œI’m sorry,” Karish said, and this time he seemed to mean it. “I know you were really enjoying things being calm.”
    Yes, I was. I should have known better than to think it would last. I’d obviously jinxed it.
    But hey, at least I had an excellent reason not to go to Doran’s mother’s dinner party. Always a silver lining.

Chapter Two
    Risa Demaris was a regular and a Runner, a professional thief catcher, who had looked for Karish when he’d been abducted by Creol. I liked Risa. Like Karish, she wore her emotions on her skin, and while that could be wearing, I couldn’t help but feel a certain admiration for people who could do that. And she was a rough and ready look into the world outside the Triple S, a harsh jolt of reality when I forgot, as I frequently did, that the life I had was quite different from that which most others experienced.
    And she was fun.
    I went to her flat first because she would be the easiest to say good-bye to. She lived in one of the rougher quads of town, where the streets were narrow and lacking in cobbles, as Runners didn’t make a lot of money. There were times when I felt that if Risa would stop spending money on high-priced liquor and other unnecessary things she couldn’t afford, she could live in a nicer area. On the other hand, Risa was a good Runner, and as able to take care of herself as anyone I knew. Maybe where she lived didn’t matter much to her. And it wasn’t any of my business.
    It was the evening before Karish and I were leaving, and I hadn’t been invited to go tavern crawling, so that meant Risa was probably home. If not, I would have to track her down. Not only would it be plain mean-spirited to leave High Scape without saying farewell, after all Risa had done for me, but she would likely roast me over a spit when we saw each other again.
    If we ever saw each other again. I had no idea where this thing with the Empress would take me.
    I knocked on Risa’s door. I heard no answer. I knocked again, imitating the heavy and distinctive rap I’d heard Runners using, hoping Risa, if she were there, would be less inclined to ignore it. One more knock, and I would leave.
    Instead, I heard, “Keep your britches on!” from deep inside the flat, and something rattled. The door was yanked open, and Risa stood there, tying on her black Runner’s cloak. In the solid black of the Runner’s uniform, Risa was an imposing figure. She stood taller than Karish, with long lean muscles and beautiful brown skin. Her hair was red, brighter than mine and shocking against the darkness of the rest of her person.
    At the sight of me, Risa let her hands and her cloak fall. “What are you doing, knocking like that?” she demanded. “I thought you were from Headquarters.”
    â€œI apologize for alarming you, but I need to speak with you.”
    â€œIt’ll have to wait until tomorrow, Dunleavy,” she said impatiently. “I’ve got company.”
    â€œKarish and I are leaving early tomorrow,” I said quickly, before she could shut the door. “I don’t know when we’ll be back.”
    â€œWhat do you mean, you’re leaving?” Risa scowled. “You’ve only been here, what, two years? Posts last longer than that.”
    â€œWe’ve been taken off the roster.”
    Risa stood aside, inviting me in with a gesture of her head.
    She did have company, a man lolling in her bedroom. She had been prepared to let him lie there when she thought she was going to answer a call of duty, but she was now insisting that he leave. Over my protests, though I thought I was more embarrassed than the irritated man hopping along as he yanked on his boots on the way to the door.
    â€œI really wish you hadn’t done that,” I muttered once the door had closed behind him.
    â€œSit,” Risa ordered.
    â€œYes, ma’am.” I sat on the