“Going to take the time to fall apart now?”
She shrugged and pushed back against his solid warmth. “I’ve moved past it. Besides, you rescued me.”
“I did, didn’t I?” He grinned, finished the last two centimeters of beer in his glass, and asked, “What happened to your ‘punch a H’san’ plan? You had the chance and didn’t take it.”
She finished her own beer while she thought about it. She hadn’t punched General Morris either in spite of the freedom being an ex-gunnery sergeant gave her. Ah hell, who was she kidding? There was no such thing as an ex-gunnery sergeant. She shrugged again. “Maybe I’ve grown as a person.”
Craig’s arm tightened as though he’d heard what she hadn’t said.
Riding the encouragement from multiple mouths, Binti jumped up onto a chair and raised her glass, waited until silence fell, and called out, “To the dead!”
“There’s nothing honorable about dying!” The roar filled every corner, every nook and cranny of the bar. Had the hatch been open, it would’ve spread out into the station and filled that as well. Torin couldn’t stop herself from laughing at the expressions on the faces of those who’d never served. They didn’t need to declare they’d never forget the fallen; that was both a given and for solemn vows by graves and at memorials. Civilians had a tendency to fetishize military dead without ever considering how and why they died. Nights like this were for acknowledging the ultimate futility of war, because no one knew that better than those who’d fought.
When the bar finally silenced again, Lies, swaying slightly, rose to her full height and yelled, “To the living!”
This time, Torin laughed at the variety of responses. She stood, raised her glass, and added one more. “Let’s try and keep them that way!”
APPENDIX
THE CHARACTERS OF THE PRIVILEGE OF PEACE
Wardens
Strike Team Commander Lanh Ng
Human
Strike Team Alpha
Torin Kerr
Human
Craig Ryder
Human
Binti Mashona
Human
Werst
Krai
Ressk
Krai
di’Crikeys Alamber
di’Taykan
Strike Team U’yun
di’Ahaski Yahsamus (Tech)
di’Taykan
Marie Bilodeau
Human
di’Burlut Nicholin
di’Taykan
Harris Zhou
Human
Elisk (LT)
Krai
di’Numanja Tylen
di’Taykan
Lorkin
Krai
Ranjit Kaur (Cap)
Human
di’Hajak Sirin
di’Taykan
Orrnis
Krai
Aszur
Krai
Strike Team T’Jaam (partial list)
Doug Collins
Human
di’Tagawa Gamar
di’Taykan
Strike Team Beta (partial list)
Porrtir (pilot)
Krai
Dornagain
Finds Truth Through Inquiry
A Lie is a Bad Defense
Tell Me Again Until I Believe You
Support
Dr. Deyell, R&D
Rakva
Paul Musselman, bar owner
Human
Myril, forensics
Katrien
di’Nakamot Bishami, forensics
di’Taykan
Dr. Collins, medical
Human
Dr. Tyrub, medical
Slaink
Sergeant Urrest, armory
Krai
Nalvon, armory
di’Taykan
Taylor, legal
Human
Dr. Finz, tank specialists
Rakva
Dornagain
Marines
General Morris
Human
Lieutenant Jonnez
Krai
Sergeant Britt Zelinski
Human
PFC di’Valing Noshikin
di’Taykan
Captain di’Rearl Stedrin
di’Taykan (mentioned)
Staff Sergeant Beyhan
di’Taykan (mentioned)
Corporal Hollice
Human (mentioned)
On the Berganitan
Captain Carveg
Krai
Chief Warrant Officer di’Palik
di’Taykan
Commander Kahananui
Human
Lieutenant di’Paliic
di’Taykan
Civilians
Presit a Tur durValinstrisy, reporter, candidate
Katrien
Representative Hurring, Justice Minister
Trun
Dr. Lushin, linguist
Trun
SciRe Vin’tic, astrophysicist
Mictok
Girstin, intern Sector Central News
Krai
Chief Justice Genesvah
Niln
Cothi Hurexical, mine supervisor
Niln
di’Murrin Keezo, Docking Master
Lysentias, political aide
Niln
Lakshinz, political aide
Niln
On Seven Sta
Lieutenant Maaren, Planetary Law Enforcement
Human
Marilissa Kotas, ex-Navy cook
Human
Silsviss
Cyr (Ret) Tyroliz, ex-Warlord
Ser Ozborz, pilot
Humans First
Anthony Justin Marteau, ex CEO Marteau Industries
Commander Luiz Belcerio, ranking officer
Fredrick Solomon, ex-yeoman
Marie Neems, ex-private
Tara Kalowski, ex-Navy armaments officer
Madeline Laghari, ex-Marine explosives tech
Mini Paddison, station resources Berbar
Boomer MacVale, communications tech
Dr. Anika Shote, xeno-anthropologist
Olaf Janssen, helm
Kari Omondi
Dr. Robert Banard
Clab’insto Arekog of Terabookog
H’san
About the Author
Tanya Huff may have left Nova Scotia at three, and has lived most of her life since in Ontario, but she still considers herself a Maritimer. On the way to the idyllic rural existence she shares with her partner Fiona Patton, six cats, and a chihuahua, she acquired a degree in Radio and Television Arts from Ryerson Polytechnic—an education she was happy to finally use while writing her recent Smoke novels. Of her previous twenty-three books, the five—Blood Price, Blood Trail, Blood Lines, Blood Pact, Blood Debt—featuring Henry Fitzroy, bastard son of Henry VIII, romance writer, and vampire are among the most popular. Tanya can be found via Twitter at @TanyaHuff.
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