Lady of the Star Wind Read Online Free

approaching until it stopped in front of him.
    Assessing the sentient’s pointed face and triangular, gray-furred ears, the wide yellow-flecked eyes, he wasn’t sure what he was dealing with. Nothing he’d encountered previously. Waving his blaster, Mark tried to shoo the being away for its own good. Not intimidated, the newcomer clutched his sleeve with four curved claws. “Come with me—I know what you need, but you must make haste.”  
    Instinctively trying to yank his arm away, Mark couldn’t free himself from the creature’s grip. “Who the hell are you?”
    “Come, come, there is no time, traveler.” Tugging harder on him and reaching with its other hand for Alessandra’s skirt, the creature sidled a few steps. “You must hurry.”
    He exchanged glances with Sandy. Eyebrows raised, she rolled her shoulders in resignation. “I don’t think we have any choices, do you?”
    “Not now, no,” Mark agreed. “Out of options here. All right, what do you have in mind, friend?”
    “Come, come, come!”
    The being’s vocabulary seemed to be pretty limited. Still maintaining its hold on Mark, releasing Sandy’s skirt as if it didn’t care for the feel of the silky material, the sentient backed away. It escorted them along the line of stalls, keeping low and stealthy. Mark reached for Sandy’s free hand to make sure they didn’t get separated on this strange jaunt. A hue and cry erupted behind them.
    Their odd guide led the way, weaving and dodging through the crowded aisles until the two humans were hard-pressed to match the pace.
    Mark checked their six, stumbling over refuse on the path. Around a corner, through a narrow passageway, past a blur of staring citizens, doubling back occasionally, they ran. All at once their guide darted sideways, into a dark purple tent, and stopped. The sudden change in direction, followed by the unexpected halt, took Mark and Sandy by surprise. She tripped on his heel, bringing them both down in a heap, tangled with their guide. Mark lay on the carpeted floor, watching in astonishment as six cops sprinted past the tent’s open portal, never even glancing inside.
    “What the seven hells?” Mark realized the strange being he’d fallen on top of was gone, vanished as if it had never been.  
    Rising, Mark reached to help Sandy regain her feet, relieving her of the heavy bag. She staggered as soon as she put her weight on the ankle she’d twisted escaping the wrecked groundcar.  
    “Welcome,” said someone from deep within the recesses of the tent.
    Still supporting Sandy, trying to shield her from whoever approached from behind them, Mark turned.
    A veiled woman, dressed head to toe in shimmering lavender, stood a few feet away, as if guarding the entrance to a second, larger room.
    “I’m sorry we’re intruding,” Sandy said between panting breaths. “The little—the sentient thought you could help us.”
    “The Nelafinari are never wrong in their assessment of Travelers,” their hostess answered, giving the last word a special emphasis.
    Mark couldn’t decide if he and Sandy were in more danger from their pursuers outside or from this uncanny new player.  
    A second group of Kliin’s mercenaries and local police ran by, two men stopping to stare into the tent where Mark stood. Cursing under his breath, he shoved Sandy behind him and aimed his blaster at the nearest adversary.
    “Do not.” A jarringly slender, seven-fingered hand reached out to grasp the barrel of the M27 and push it down. “The men you fear cannot see us. We’re outside their existence. For now.” In a heartbeat, the woman in lavender stood where she’d started, on the threshold of the other room. “I advise you to accept what is and move on. Our time is short.”
    “Mark!” Sandy’s voice quavered on a note of pure terror as she grabbed his arm, pulling him to face the entrance.
    Barent Kliin stood in the alley, glaring at the merchandise displays.
    Mark took one step toward the