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The Dragon's Assassin Pre-release!

Writer's picture: Lacey St. SinLacey St. Sin

Happy Friday readers! For those of you who have been so patiently waiting for a continuation of the Amber Aerie Series I have great news! I have, at last, completed most of the edits and have decided to put the book up for pre-release on Amazon. Release date is the 23, after which I will make sure it is available on other platforms as well so that you can buy it at your preferred retailer. Thank you all for your patience and encouragement, and happy reading!


Keep reading for the next chapter of Needing Cassidy!



CHAPTER 20


The answer turned out to be Sirinchea, a bacterial infection that had plagued the Livarian people long before civilization had wiped it out. Apparently it was back, lingering around waiting to infect unsuspecting lifeforms. Fortunately, they still had record of the disease in the information they managed to save in the database. Unfortunately, the scavenging teams had not come across the specific antibiotic medication, which made sense since the infection had been all but obliterated until now, so the medicine was rare if not gone completely.


“I think the combination of our two strongest bacterial treatments will be sufficient,” Tor was explaining to the group as they sat at the table in the main entrance the next night. They had all been given the first treatment that afternoon. “The Noxilla should kill the infection entirely, but a small extra dose of Pharivol will ensure that any of the Sirinchea resistant to the Noxilla does not take hold. We will need to monitor symptoms, of course, and likely re-establish the beneficial bacteria that the human body requires, but I expect to see rapid improvement.”


The sun had broken through the clouds, both literally and figuratively. The storm had abated, without bringing down the energy field, and now the mood within the medical building had lightened considerably. Hell, Becky was blushing, though Gorth's hungry looks from across the table might have had something to do with that. They were still quarantined until the symptoms abated, but good news was good news.


A pattern of beeps from Tor's light tool alerted the group to the delivery of the evening meal.


“I’ll get it,” Becky offered hurriedly, rising before anyone could protest and escaping the tension at the table. Gorth’s eyes followed her, and Cassidy half expected to see the same from Tor, but he was lost in some data file on his tablet.


“I’m worried about the hivasa after that storm,” Emily took the opportunity to change the subject.


Cassidy glanced out the window. Not that she could see the gardens from the building. The wind had died down to a very reasonable bluster, and the heavy clouds had parted for the time being. The world outside was vibrant and green and she longed to get out and enjoy it before the next storm. Emily was right too, the rain had pelted down with a lot of force, she would be surprised if there wasn’t some damage to the gardens. It drove a bit of impatience through her, the need to go and check, yet she was trapped.


“I’m more worried about the Horthang, from what you were saying it was already fading fast,” Becky had composed herself while retrieving the plates. Her color was still up, but she pointedly ignored Gorth and began setting the food on the table. “Maybe it needs to move to the north side of the compound, or I could construct a shelter for it specifically. It’s possible that with the rainy season starting it’s too dark and wet.”


Cassidy didn’t know much about mushrooms, except that they tended to grow where you didn’t want them. She did know that the beautiful sample Becky and Emily had been trying to keep alive was not doing as well as it should.


Despite the concern over the gardens, and the still very visible rash, Becky was glowing, her eyes filling with that spark of life that had been missing over the last few days. It was, Cassidy had to admit, rather adorable.


She plopped the plates in front of each of them, excitement for her idea growing. “Actually, I think a shelter, maybe a greenhouse would be amazing...”


Cassidy let her focus on the conversation fade. Tor had looked up from whatever he had been reading on the tablet but was now frowning at his plate in dismay.


Tonight’s fare was small fried crackers, along with thin, curled slices of meat, and a generous scoop of chef’s delicious vegetable puree. None of which were likely an issue on their own. But the journey from the meal hall to the medical building had jostled the selections until they slid together in the center of the plate. She had watched him eat often enough to know that to Tor having the variety of foods touching was a particular sin. In fact he generally spent the first few minutes of every meal ensuring a wide division between the items on his plate.


She looked down to her own plate, it wasn’t perfect, but it seemed to have fared the journey far better. Most of the selections were at least salvageable from one another.


Wordlessly she reached over, grabbing Tor’s plate and switching it with her own. Taking one of the crackers from the center and scooping up some of the puree with it.


She didn’t miss the surprise, or relief that crossed his face.


“I think a greenhouse would be a great idea,” She joined the conversation, “not just for your mushroom, but there are several spices that are too delicate to take a beating like yesterday’s storm. We haven’t attempted to grow them yet because without that kind of shelter it would be pointless. Now that the water supply is a little more stable maybe we can even get some sort of drip irrigation arranged for it.”


Becky nodded, though a strange look crossed her expression as she watched the plate exchange. “I will bring it up with Pheobe, I think that’s the kind of project the tech team would be able to figure out, though I would really like to help with the design of the greenhouse itself.”


Cassidy smiled. "Well it looks like we will be out of here soon, maybe we can have a greenhouse planning party to celebrate."


"Oh I can't wait, no offense Tor, but I hope I don't have to see the inside of this building again for a long, long time," Emily sighed.


"I bet you’re ready to be done here too, once you’ve figured out the orchard problem,” Becky smiled at Cassidy.


Cassidy forced a small smile, uncertainty weaving through her. “If I figure it out.”


“Of course you will,” Emily joined the encouragement.


The conversation drifted back to the greenhouse, and the celebration. They hadn’t yet had any kind of party and the idea seemed to be getting grander and grander as the women planned until the entire compound was involved. Even Gorth was putting in a suggestion here and there.


The only one who didn’t speak was Tor. She wasn’t sure if it was the meal or the conversation, but his mood had visibly soured. Maybe he just really hated parties. She was left to contemplate the thought when he excused himself and disappeared from the room.

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