Jack Campbell - Tarnished Knight

Drakon gave out a short, sardonic laugh. “Then why are you here with me?”

“Why haven’t you already pulled a weapon on me?”

He grinned with real humor this time though a dark defiance of fate stayed in his eyes. “Because I never made a very good CEO. Go ahead and call Boyens while I get the ground forces fully activated.”

Perhaps I do have one knight, Iceni thought. A knight of darkness and shadow. But maybe it’s just his armor that is tarnished. Maybe inside that armor is someone who is still capable of doing something that doesn’t bring personal gain, who, as he told me, really does want something worth dying for. Or is he blemished inside as well and just recognizes that our very slim chances will become none at all if we turn on each other now?

She said nothing more to Drakon before she called the Syndicate flotilla with an offer she hoped it would not refuse.

I remain indebted to my agent, Joshua Bilmes, for his ever-inspired suggestions and assistance, and to my editor, Anne Sowards, for her support and editing. Thanks also to Catherine Asaro, Robert Chase, J. G. (Huck) Huckenpohler, Simcha Kuritzky, Michael LaViolette, Aly Parsons, Bud Sparhawk, and Constance A. Warner for their suggestions, comments, and recommendations. Thanks also to Charles Petit for his suggestions about space engagements.

I remain indebted to my agent, Joshua Bilmes, for his ever-inspired suggestions and assistance, and to my editor, Anne Sowards, for her support and editing. Thanks also to Catherine Asaro, Robert Chase, J. G. (Huck) Huckenpohler, Simcha Kuritzky, Michael LaViolette, Aly Parsons, Bud Sparhawk, and Constance A. Warner for their suggestions, comments, and recommendations. Thanks also to Charles Petit for his suggestions about space engagements.

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Copyright © 2012 by John G. Hemry.

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FIRST EDITION: October 2012

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Campbell, Jack.

The lost stars : tarnished knight / Jack Campbell. — 1st ed.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-1-937077-82-2 (hardcover : alk. paper)

eBook ISBN

1. Space warfare—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3603.A476L67 2012

813'.6—dc23

2012016425