Neversfall - Ed Gentry [17]
"Well, sir, thank you."
"Actually, sir," Adeenya said. "I was just asking Taennen what he knew about the prisoners as I've not yet had the opportunity to interview them."
"We've spoken about this, Orir," Jhoqo said. "No one has been allowed to interact with them yet. It's much too dangerous."
"Very well, sir, can you at least tell me what you've learned?" Adeenya said. "Clearly that information is not too dangerous as you know it and stand before me unharmed."
Taennen started at the woman's bold words. "Orir, I don't think-"
Jhoqo chuckled and waved a hand casually. "No, son, it's fine. If I were in her position, I'd be asking too. So, what have you learned from my durir so far, daughter?"
"Nothing, I'm afraid," she said.
Jhoqo nodded at the woman and turned a smile on Taennen. Pride shone in his eyes. Adeenya bit back her anger. She needed to know more about the creatures, and their secrets were in her way.
"Commander, I am already disadvantaged with a company appropriate only for the simple task I was advised of." she said. "I cannot do my job here if I don't have all the information available."
Jhoqo cocked his head and looked at her. "You have all the information you need, Orir," he said. "Unless perhaps we're of differing opinions as to what your job here is."
"Sir?" she asked.
"Your job, Orir, is to follow my orders and support the Maquar in this endeavor," Jhoqo replied.
Adeenya took a deep breath and said, "Sir, this is a joint mission. We are here to support one another."
"But you must agree that I am in charge?" Jhoqo said.
"Yes, sir. Of course, sir," she said.
"Very well. Then, why are we still discussing this?" he said with a small smile.
"Sir, the safety of this mission is part of my duty. Important information necessary to honoring that duty is being kept from me, sir," she said.
Jhoqo squinted at her for a moment and said, "Are you accusing me of something, Orir?"
"No, sir," she said. Adeenya did not fear the man before her, but his rising ire did not bode well for her career. Accusing an officer of negligence was a serious offense. Add it to that the fact that she had already tackled the man, and Adeenya saw her life as a soldier falling away.
"You need to be sure of what you are saying, Orir," Jhoqo said, stepping toward her.
"Sir," Taennen said. "I believe the orir is just trying to do her job. I would be just as persistent as she were our roles reversed."
Adeenya did not know who was more surprised by Taennen's statement, she or Jhoqo. The Maquar commander spun and faced his second. "Durir?" Jhoqo said.
"Sorry, sir," Taennen said, lowering his head.
Adeenya could almost see the younger man's spine melting away and thought it a pity. Her hopes for him had been raised when he had stood up for his principles.
She spoke again before she lost her momentum. "Urir, we've never seen anything like these creatures. Before she died of her injuries, one of my people told a comrade that the ant-creatures had done something to her… had tried to do something to her mind but had failed," Adeenya said.
"I need to investigate that. It could be disastrous for this mission."
Taennen's head snapped up and his eyes met Jhoqo's. "Gods damn it. You knew!" Adeenya said. "Orir, keep your voice down," Jhoqo said, glancing around.
Adeenya seethed and wished to say more, but after several breaths nodded. "Yes, sir," she said.
Jhoqo sighed. "You may as well tell her now," he said to Taennen.
"Yes, sir. I… experienced something similar," Taennen said.
"What is it? What are these ant-things doing?" Adeenya asked.
"They call themselves formians, Orir," Jhoqo said. "Formians… where are they from? What are they doing here?"
"We don't know," Jhoqo said.
"Urir, I need-" Adeenya began.
Taennen stepped nearer her and shook his head. "We really don't, sir."
Adeenya was skeptical but decided she didn't have much choice. She had achieved more progress than she had expected to. "May I speak with them now that I know?" she asked.
"I suppose it couldn't hurt," Jhoqo said. "Once we've halted for meals. But I'll