The Dark Half of the Sun (The Young Ancients: Timon) by P.S. Power Page B

the look on anyone else's face.
    Except that he couldn't help it and glanced back anyway. The Captain had clothing on and was making herself a nice pair of combat leathers already. George nodded to him and passed the healing device to Kara, who only needed to hold it for a minute or so.
    Finally she spoke, her voice much improved and nearly smooth compared to earlier.
    "Where are we headed?"
    Timon looked at the time, knowing that they'd want to know where they were as well as the destination.
    "The Capital, it's hard to know how exact I was picking the direction, but we should be about a third of the way there, barring any major errors on my part."
    "Good. We need to go to the palace directly." There was something hidden in the words, but it wasn't a message for him, Tim realized. It was for the others.
    He nodded, not looking back again.
    "There's food in the baskets too."
    That got more noise from behind him again, as the large woman snagged the big basket and started to eat something. Kara cautioned her to slow down, or she'd be ill from it but there was a snort in response.
    "No. The healing amulet prevents that kind of response, even if you're starving, which I am. You know, Tor used me for the female template for it. He said that should mean it will work better for me than any other woman. I've got to say I'm enjoying that part right now. Good thinking, bringing snacks on the rescue mission." There were some more eating sounds then, followed by the wine bottle being opened.
    Kara made a sound that seemed a little disapproving at first, but turned into a dark laugh after a moment.
    "That was Timon. We asked for a lift from his new transport service. Apparently it comes with the deal. Imagine what we'd have gotten if we were paying him?"
    That got another laugh, but it was enough of a point that he stopped them, forgetting his own embarrassment for a few minutes.
    "What would you want? I mean, if you were paying for it?"
    Captain Petra spoke first, almost relaxed sounding as she did it, "well, right now I could use a restroom. Other than that? Oh, some music to pass the time? Or reading materials? I can't complain about the food though, it's really good." She showed just how much so by taking a bite part way through the last sentence.
    He could see about arranging that then, couldn't he? How he'd manage a restroom he didn't know, but the rest was doable. A musician? That would take up an extra seat and the flights were pretty short for the most part. Maybe just for special trips?
    George cleared his throat then and looked around.
    "Have you considered some art? Nobles do love such things and I believe that you can redecorate the inside of the vehicle as well, if you use your imagination? It won't add to your service expenditures either, if you can do it yourself."
    All good ideas, he filed them away for later. After he had some clothing and maybe some food himself. He didn't want to complain about the food vanishing, since he couldn't eat and fly at the same time anyway, and it was clearly an emergency, but he'd forgotten to have anything, being too nervous before. Now it was kind of poking at his insides a bit. He'd live, but it wasn't comfortable.
    They were able to find the Capital city with only a bit of redirection on his part, the purple glowing river that circled the top of the wall in a half loop showing where it was from a long way off. That also let him locate the palace pretty easily, since it was near the center of the bend on the top portion of things. He made the craft glow a brilliant purple and gold too, the front half being the color of metal shining in the sun, so that no one seeing him trying to land would think he was some kind of enemy. No one mentioned it, until they climbed out to find a half dozen Royal Guard standing there waiting for them, along with the King, who was very properly dressed, considering the time of night. He noticed that Timon wasn't, but didn't comment on it, not even smirking a