Charlotte Boyett-Compo - Hungers Harmattan

AnElloras Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Hungers Harmattan

ISBN # 9781419907685

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Hungers Harmattan Copyright 2007 CharlotteBoyett-Compo

Edited by Mary Moran.

Photography and cover art by Les Byerley.

Electronic book Publication: February 2007

This book may not be reproduced or used in wholeor in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher,Elloras Cave Publishing, Inc. 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

This book is a work of fiction and anyresemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purelycoincidental. The characters are productions of the authors imagination andused fictitiously.

Content Advisory:

S ENSUOUS

E ROTIC

X TREME

Elloras Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romanticareading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (E-rotic), and X (X-treme).

The following material contains graphic sexual content meant formature readers. This story hasbeen rated S-ensuous.

S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing tothe imagination.

E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to theimagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. E-rated titlesmight contain material that some readers find objectionablein other words,almost anything goes, sexually. E-rated titles are the mostgraphic titles we carry in terms of both sexual language and descriptiveness inthese works of literature.

X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plotpremise and storyline execution. Stories designated with theletter X tend to contain difficult or controversial subject matter not for thefaint of heart.

Hungers Harmattan

Charlotte Boyett-Compo

Chapter One

Lieutenant Colonel Shanee Iphito glancedsideways at her image in the full-length mirror and she liked what she saw.

Her uniform tunic and trousers fit herperfectly with not one wrinkle or smudge on the slate gray serge fabric. Herblack boots were polished to a high gloss and the brass anchors pinned to thecollar of her tunic gleamed. Her fourragrethe braided black cord with ahanging brass tip that hung at her left shoulderdrew her eye and as it alwaysdid, made her heart swell with pride. The cord was given only to thoseGuardians who had been seriously wounded in action for it symbolized ahangmans rope and coffin nail. It was there to remind her that her life as aPrimary Riezell Guardian could be forfeit at any moment.

Putting a hand to her sleek braided chignonto ensure no hair was out of place, she straightened her shoulders, ignoringthe tug of pain that pulled at her arm.

You pass muster, Iphito, she said to themirror, chin lifted. She liked the way her white hair shone in the light andthough her eyebrows were that same color, the natural darkness of her Amazeencomplexion and the deep gray of her eyes only heightened her appearance. Sheknew she was a beautiful woman.

Pivoting with military precision, she lefther quarters for her appointment with the new head of Command Central GeneralMaximillian Strom.

Miriam Quillan glanced up as Shanee enteredthe office and frowned. She looked back down at the file she was reading.General Stroms secretary did not care for the Amazeen warrioress who had beengiven the coveted rank of Primary Riezell Guardian. Of all the Primes beforeher, Iphito alone rubbed Miriam the wrong way.

I am here, Shanee announced, knowing herdeclaration would annoy the mousy little secretary.

Take a seat, Miriam said through clenchedteeth. Youll have to wait.

Bristling at what she considered thesecretarys insufficient respect for her rank and position, Shanee remainedstanding, folding her arms over her chest. Her gray eyes bore into the top ofMiriams head, and if the look the Amazeen directed Miriams way could have killed,the secretary would have burst into flame.

Ignoring the other woman, Miriam made anotation in the file, laid it aside and picked up another just as the door toGeneral Stroms office opened.

What the hells keeping you? Get your assin here, Iphito, the general growled.

Shanee did not miss the humorous twitch ofthe secretarys lips. She narrowed her eyes to dangerous slits, and when Miriamlooked up at her with a smug smile, the Amazeen literally hissed at the otherwoman. She took a step toward Miriam only to have the general come out of hisoffice and grab her arm in a hard grip.

Stop that! General Strom snapped. Hepulled Shanee into his office and slammed the door behind her. This animositybetween the two of you women will stop. Today! He released her arm.

Shanee snapped to attention. Aye, aye,Sir! she said, though her jaws were clenched tightly togethernot merely fromthe anger she was feeling but because the man had aggravated the wound that hadnearly cost her her life.

Strom cursed under his breath as herealized what hed done. His blue eyes were stormy as he skirted his desk andsat down. I did not mean to hurt you, he apologized.

You did not, Sir! Shanee stated.

Liar, he countered then waved a handtoward one of four chairs sitting in front of his massive desk. Sit down.

Aye, aye, Sir! Shanee sat down primly inthe chair with her back ramrod straight, her knees and ankles pressed together,hands folded properly in her lap.

At ease, Colonel, Strom said. Its toolate in the day for such rigid posturing and it pisses me off.

Shanees shoulders sagged only a little inresponse to his order. Aye, Sir. Thank you, Sir.

The general leaned back in his form-fittingchair and put his fingertips up to his temples where a nagging headache hadbeen plaguing him all morning. And drop that lame-ass military protocol. Imnot Alphon Morrison so I dont require having my ego stroked with all thatbullshit. He made tiny circles against his temples with his index and middlefingers. We will be working together and not against one another. Is thatunderstood?

Shanee relaxed, sitting back in the chair.Shed heard nothing but good things so far about the man who had taken over thereins of the Riezell Guardians thoughlike nearly everyone elseshe knew verylittle about him or from where hed come to assume the head of Command Central.

Your shoulder is healing? Strom asked.

It is, she replied.

Had that Gearmnach blade struck anotherfew inches down, we wouldnt be having this conversation, he said.

The Gearmnach wasnt as skilled as hethought he was, Shanee said.

And paid for that mistake with his life,Strom said.

Shanee shrugged. The mission upon which shehad been meant to die had been assigned to her by the man who had been interimhead of Command Central. Apparently in league with what was now known as theNew Coalition, General Renaldo Sicar had sent the new Primary Riezell Guardianto an Ghermin and into an ambush. Shanee had been sent to anGhermin to die.

You do know Sicar was one of OShayshenchmen and the assassin as well?

I figured as much, she said with a sneer.If thats the best he has, no wonder hes still running with his tail tuckedbetween his legs.

Despite the throbbing pain in his temples,Strom chuckled. He can run but eventually Bakari will run him to ground. It issimply a matter of time.

Shanee nodded. Ryden Bakarithe warrior whohad temporarily resigned his position as Burgon of the Aduaidh Alliancewas onthe trail of the man who had ordered the destruction of the Burgons palace andwho had caused the deaths of his family. Once his vengeance was completed,Bakari would return to his position as the supreme leader of the Alliance.Though another man held the title for the time being, out of respect forBakari, he was still given the exalted designation by those who knew him.