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lately. She hadn’t had a break in way too long. Even this quiet dinner was something to be savored. In recent weeks, she had been eating on the run more often than not.
    “Captain, the man named Ben has called back, asking for Jake.” The woman from the bridge had come down to the dining area with a small tabletop communications device in her hands. She plugged it in to the receptacle discretely hidden under a small panel and connected the line. “Go ahead,” she instructed once the line was open. “This connection is as secure as we can make it.”
    “Jake?” Ben’s disembodied voice came through loud and clear over the conferencing system that allowed everyone to hear as well as be heard on the other end.
    “We’re here, Ben. How’d you make out?” Jake asked.
    “I’m at the healer’s with the Guards. Everybody’s okay. The one kid will need a bit of time to get back on his feet, but he’ll be all right. If their employer is around, they’d like to speak with her.”
    “And I want to talk to them too,” Ria said, directing her voice toward the speaker that sat in the middle of the table.
    “I’ll hand the phone to Dorian,” Ben replied.
    A moment later Dorian’s voice came over the speaker. Ria hadn’t realized until that moment that she’d been holding her breath.
    “Who’s there?” Dorian asked, his habitual suspicion making Ria smile, though he couldn’t see her.
    “It’s me Dor. How are you guys?” Ria replied in a voice that was, surprisingly, a little choked up.
    “We’re fine. Are you safe?” Dorian always put her safety first. It was just one of the reasons he was one of her elite Royal Guards.
    “Safer than you at the moment. I’m in good hands, Dor. Don’t worry about me. Now, please, give me details. What happened after I was swept away from the action?”
    “Milady, you scared the shi—heck—out of us, if you’ll pardon my saying so. One minute you were in the center of our formation, the next you were gone and all I saw was your foot disappearing through the window up top. How the heck did you get up there?”
    “I had a little help,” she answered, though she was more interested in what had happened to her team after she’d left. “A friend came to my—our—rescue. I don’t think any of us would have made it out otherwise.”
    “I hate to say it, but you’re right. The moment the attackers realized you were gone, they broke off. We did our best to delay them so you could get away, though next time, I really wish you’d tell us if you plan to take a scenic tour of the roof.”
    Ria laughed. “I promise, Dor. If there’s time. Though this wasn’t planned. At least not on my part. We’re just lucky the cavalry arrived.”
    “Luck had little to do with it,” Edvard broke into the conversation. “The man who rescued you is a seer. He knew where he had to be and he made it happen.” Edvard shifted around in his seat, as if uncomfortable with something, but he didn’t let it stop him from continuing to speak. “Dorian, this is Edvard,” he addressed the open phone line. “Are you still dropping your left when you move in to strike?”
    “Ed?” Dorian’s voice held a hint of both disbelief and pleased surprise. “Oh, thank the Goddess she’s with you. You’ll keep her safe.”
    “Yes, I will,” Edvard agreed, holding Ria’s gaze with a serious light in his blue eyes. “I’ve pledged to aid her in whatever way I can, and I’ve got the personnel to back that promise up. I don’t want you to worry.”
    “Understood, sir. I know we’ll all feel better knowing that she’s in such good hands,” the usually taciturn Dorian replied. It was obvious to Ria that her Guard had a history with Edvard. From the comments going back and forth, she figured Edvard had had some hand in Dorian’s combat training.
    “Now what about the rest of the team?” Ria asked, bringing the conversation back around to what she really wanted to know.
    “Bronson went