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

indicates one who associates with those in power. The Guard do not speak other languages.”  
    “I thought other languages came easy for the Korvali,” Ferguson said.
    “They do. But one cannot learn without exposure to the new language.”
    “And the Korvali Guard aren’t exposed to outside languages?”
    “No.”
    “Why not?”
    “The Korvali are forbidden to learn the languages of outsiders, Captain. Only those given permission to leave Korvalis may learn them.”
    “You said your father taught you,” Ferguson said. “He was one of these people given permission?”  
    Eshel’s face clouded over. “At one time, yes.”
    “Why at one time, Eshel?”
    Eshel paused, his eyes shifting elsewhere momentarily. “The kunsheld did not like my father and began refusing to let him attend scientific meetings on Suna.”
    “And why didn’t the kunsheld like your father?”
    “My father did not agree with many of the kunsheld’s policies.”
    Ferguson sighed impatiently, pushing her water bottle away from her. “Eshel, why do I need to ask one thousand questions to get information out of you?”
    Eshel stared at her. “You ask me questions, Captain; I answer you in truth. It is not our custom to provide superfluous information unnecessarily, nor is it our custom to obtain information by such detailed questioning.”  
    “Detailed questioning is something you’d better get used to if you’re going to be part of this organization.” She paused, watching Eshel. “Is your father a traitor?”
    Eshel sat still in his chair, gazing at Ferguson. He said nothing.  
    “Answer me, soldier,” Ferguson insisted.  
    “I will not discuss my father. Captain .” The address came out with a bite, almost as if he were mocking her.  
    Yamamoto could see Ferguson’s temper beginning to flare, so he took his cue. “I hope you aren’t concerned about our having revealed your identity. You’re still under our protection, and I believe they strongly suspected that you were the one who survived.”
    “It does not matter that you revealed my identity. They knew I was here the moment they stepped onto this ship.”  
    “How?”
    “We have extremely sensitive instruments that can detect DNA fragments from shedding skin and hair. The instruments can scan large areas within minutes. I have been here long enough to leave traces of myself, including on the hangar deck, where Tom and I have visited on several occasions.”
    The Captain’s face showed a flash of anger as she looked at Yamamoto. “These men were supposed to be scanned and their weapons removed.”  
    “They were,” Yamamoto said.  
    “The instrument can work passively, once initiated,” Eshel said.
    “I thought your people were technologically ‘simple,’” Ferguson said. “Isn’t that the word I keep hearing? Simple?”  
    Eshel didn’t reply.  
    “Tell me this, Eshel,” she said. “Other than trying to find out if you’re the one who survived, why did these men come here?”
    “To gain information about you.”
    “What information?”
    “Any information that will help them to reclaim me.”
    “Reclaim you?” she said. “They can’t reclaim you. You’re under our protection now, and there’s nothing they can do about it.”
    “You underestimate them, Captain.”
    Ferguson’s lip curled. “And you underestimate us. You’re dismissed.” After Eshel left, she rose from her chair and looked out the window. “God damn it, he irritates me.”
    “Is it Eshel who irritates you, or that we’ve been had by his people?”  
    Ferguson threw up her hands. “We don’t know what we’re dealing with, Suko. We don’t know what these people are about. Their defining characteristic, other than their arrogance, is their unwillingness to share their homeworld or their technology with us. Now we have one of them on my ship, forcing a relationship with them that they don’t want and we aren’t prepared to deal with.” She shook her head.