Read Blood Will Tell for Free Online

communications net—probably he hadn’t wanted his underlings to be informed of current events. Previously she had avoided the crime lord’s noisome personal suite, having no reason to go there, but a scan of the communications system for the palace showed that his were the only rooms with a properly connected console.
    Even after standing empty for days, the chambers emitted a foul reek, as if something had crawled in there and died—which it might very well have, she reflected. But the rooms seemed empty enough, although she tried to avert her eyes from the walls, which were covered in erotic art so garish it would have made an Eridani blush.
    The comm station, in direct contrast to the barbaric decorations of the rest of the room, was sleek and new, a very late model. Nevertheless, she had a difficult time finding a clear channel at first—many of the images that came through were fuzzy and filled with static. Most disturbing of all, the channels that usually carried the official Gaian-generated newscasts and other Consortium-based programming were completely blank.
    “What the hell...?” she murmured, hands moving over the keyboard. Had the entire planet erupted while she and Thorn were secreted away here in the abandoned compound?
    Apparently it had. Finally she was able to locate a relatively clear station, one that was filled for a moment with an unfamiliar symbol, one that appeared to depict two crossed lightning bolts against a dark blue background. Then a dark-haired woman’s face filled the screen. She wore the typical Iradian garments of ivory and beige, but her head scarf had been pushed back down over her shoulders.
    “Although isolated fighting still continues, largely it appears that the local Gaian garrisons have collapsed. Leaders of the insurgency are now convening in Aldis Nova, where they are in the process of setting up an interim government. During this period of transition, we encourage residents to remain in their homes whenever possible—”
    Hand shaking, Miala turned off the comm. What the hell? Oh, there had always been unrest, isolated flare-ups here and there as the Iradians tried to establish their own sovereignty, to tell the Gaians the world was a colony no longer and that it should have its own voice in the Consortium. But that’s all they had been—flare-ups, tiny spot fires that the Gaian Defense Forces quickly quashed. Had that simmering unease finally come to a boil during the months she had been isolated here at Mast’s compound?
    What this might mean for her, she wasn’t sure. The Gaians kept a tight rein on Iradia, but at least their presence had maintained some semblance of order. With the local garrisons apparently crushed for now, she could only think anarchy would soon follow, no matter what that announcer had said about an interim government being set up.
    Miala found herself hoping that Captain Malec had made it off-world before the insurgency struck. Perhaps he had been off-duty, enjoying the brief leave he had mentioned to her during that long-ago meeting in his office, and so was safe. For a member of the GDF, the only security lay in being far away from Iradia.
    Her mouth was dry, and it wasn’t just because of the parched air. Perhaps she and Thorn were safe here for now—or perhaps the collapse of the Gaian forces would be the final impetus to send all the scum of Iradia running in their direction. Even as she hurried down the deserted corridors of the compound, she found herself mentally reviewing all its defenses, hoping they would be enough, worried that they were woefully inadequate. Maybe it would be better if they just ran for Thorn’s ship now and got out while they still could.
    Not that Thorn would have any reason for taking her with him now, before the treasure had been secured. There was also the very good chance that he was still far too unwell to drive a skimmer, let alone pilot a spacecraft.
    Miala hadn’t even realized she was running to the