Page 27 of My Tiny Giant
Chapter 7
“C AN I ASK YOU FOR A favor?” Agan said as we walked out into the large clearing, and the high timber wall of the Ravil Army base came into view in the distance. “Could you set me down now, please?”
The urge to deny his request was strong. The open space around us appeared free of either fescods or yirzi ; however, who knew what dangers lurked in the grass. For someone of Agan’s current size, even a jungle rat would present a formidable enemy. I didn’t want him to get hurt if I could easily prevent it by just keeping him safe in my bra.
At the same time, I realized Agan didn’t want his soldiers to see him tucked between my breasts. Simply him showing up in his current state might already mean unwanted attention and added challenges for him.
With a glance at the wall of the base, I nodded reluctantly then quickly swept the clearing and the sky above it with my gaze, watching for any creatures on a hunt.
All seemed quiet.
“All right.” I reached into my neckline and scooped him out. “Just, you know, stay close. Okay?”
If my concern annoyed Agan, he didn’t show it. I carefully set him down on the ground where the short grass reached above his waistline. As he took off toward the wide gate in the wall ahead of us, I slowed my pace to match his.
He stomped through the grass determinedly—walking so fast, he nearly broke into a jog. Yet I still had to move at a leisurely pace to allow him to keep up with me.
It took us considerably longer to reach the base that way, but I didn’t complain. I understood how important it was for Agan to preserve his dignity and independence in the eyes of his comrades.
When we finally reached the wall, I knocked with my fist on the massive gate with a square metal plate in the middle.
“Identify yourself!” someone shouted in Ravil from the other side.
“Lieutenant Emma Nowak, Special Armored Unit from Earth.” I glanced down at Agan. His voice was no longer loud enough, the guard wouldn’t hear him even if he yelled. “I’m here with Lieutenant Agan Drankai of Ravil Army,” I yelled for him.
The metal square slid open with a screech, revealing a barred window. The guard’s handsome face came into view.
“You’re a woman,” he stated, his eucalyptus-colored eyes opening wide. “Are you an Aldraian?” His gaze slid down my front. “Couldn’t be. Their females have darker hair and three pairs of breasts each.”
I cleared my throat, quickly crossing my arms over my chest. I’d been to this very base a couple of times—both had been quick stops when we didn’t travel directly to or from our spaceship orbiting Tragul. During my visits here, I wore the armor suit. It occurred to me that this could be the first time the Ravil guard ever saw a human woman. And judging by his comments and expression, it was.
“No. I’m not from Aldrai. As I said, I’m Lieutenant Emma Nowak, Special Armored Unit from Earth.”
“A woman? Lieutenant?” The guard blinked his long dark eyelashes at me in apparent shock.
“Yes.” My reply came out rather clipped, this time. I was beginning to lose my patience. Ravil men were handsome, brave warriors who appeared to be stuck way too deeply in the bog of their stereotypes. “I am a human female lieutenant ,” I said with emphasis then remembered the name Agan had mentioned earlier. “Lieutenant Drankai and I need to see General Trulgadi.”
“Agan? Where is he?”
“Right here.” I crouched down to Agan and stretched my hand his way. “May I?”
He clenched his jaw, not looking very pleased, but climbed onto my palm, allowing me to lift him up to the window.
“Hi Zonko,” he greeted the guard somberly.
“Agan? Is that you?” Zonko gaped at him, his mouth dropping open. “What the fuck?”
“Exactly,” Agan replied flatly. “Can we come in? Before the fescods show up?”
The fescods had been driven north from the base through the joint effort of the allied forces. The chances of them attacking us this far south were slim. Agan obviously just wanted to put an end to Zonko’s intense gawking.
“We need to see General Trulgadi as soon as possible. It’s the matter of utmost importance.”