The Refugee (The Korvali Chronicles Book 1) by C. A. Hartman Page A

obtain Korvali technology without it being willingly offered.” She paused. “Since you’ve come all this way, I suggest you meet with the Alliance delegates on Derovia about this issue. I can arrange the meeting from here, if you prefer…”
    “That will not be necessary,” the elder Guardsman said. “Eshel is… very intelligent. He is also quite treacherous. His father was a traitor and a most untrustworthy individual. You have chosen to let Eshel live among you, but be warned that you have placed yourselves in great danger.” He stood up, and the other did the same.  
    Ferguson, not expecting the sudden end to the meeting, awkwardly stood up, nodding at Yamamoto. Yamamoto nodded at the MAs, who followed him and the two Guardsmen out of Ferguson’s office.  
    Back at the hangar deck, with little ceremony and no verbal exchange, the Guardsmen retrieved their weapons belts and returned to their ship.  
    “What a couple of freaks,” one MA muttered to his comrade, who snickered. When he saw that Yamamoto watched him, the MA cleared his throat, muttered an apology, and resumed his silence.  
    Once the ship left and the bay door shut, Yamamoto returned to Ferguson’s office, where she would be waiting for him.
    “What do you think?” Ferguson said, turning away from the window and facing him. Before he could answer, she offered her own commentary. “Maybe it was unwise to be straight with them. Perhaps I should’ve sent them to the Alliance. Let them deal with it.”  
    “Perhaps,” Yamamoto replied. “But we, not the Alliance, are Eshel’s caretakers. They must deal with the political implications of Eshel’s asylum, but we must deal with Eshel.”
    She made a face. “Yes, which means we must deal with the Korvali. It’s as if they’re focusing on every word, looking to pick apart anything you say. But they were more reasonable than I thought they’d be, considering.”
    “Agreed.” He sat down. “But something doesn’t add up. Their making such a long voyage, visiting in person…”
    “Yes, and that speech about Eshel wandering the galaxy…” Ferguson shook her head.  
    “It’s more than that. I suspect the entire conversation was a ruse. They wanted something.”
    “Such as?”  
    “I don’t know.”  
    “Do I have reason to be concerned, Suko?”
    “I know one way to find out. Ask Eshel’s opinion.”
    She scowled. “For what? So he can refute what they said? I don’t trust him any more than I trust them.”  
    “He may offer useful information about this unexpected visit.”  
    She nodded in consent.  

    When Eshel arrived at the Captain’s office, he stood at the door and saluted, his gaze shifting from Ferguson to Yamamoto.  
    “At ease, Eshel,” Yamamoto said. “Please sit down. We were just paid a visit by two people from your homeworld. They were Guardsmen, seeking the identities of the deceased refugees, and yourself.”  
    Eshel’s eyebrows went up.  
    “Unfortunately,” Yamamoto went on, “we’re unaccustomed to interacting with your people. We suspect some level of deception on their part.”
    “Deception is a possibility, if not a likelihood,” Eshel replied.
    “We will show you a video of the conversation. Any observation you can offer would be useful.” Yamamoto used the remote to pull up the video on Ferguson’s large viewer, locating the point at which the two Guardsmen entered her office. Eshel watched the video from start to finish, his expression showing no reaction to anything he saw. When finished, he turned to Yamamoto.  
    “As you suspect, you were deceived. They wore the robe of the Guard, but they are not Guardsmen.”
    “Do you know them?”
    “I recognize them. They work for the kunsheld. The younger is Minel. I do not know the elder’s name.”
    “Why would they pretend to be Guardsmen?”
    “To confuse you.”
    “Is there any way to detect such deception?”
    “Yes,” Eshel said. “Skill with your language always