by C. Litka
01
I stood at the railing of the Complacent Dragon's after deck looking down on Windvera. The continental island stretched out below like a giant relief map, fading to blue haze in every direction. Captain LyeCarr was carefully aligning the ship, setting his gyroscope and photo-electric bug-eye for his course with the aid of radio beacons from several Laezan Communities. Once we put Windvera astern, we'd have only the bright spot as a reference point until we reached the Outward Islands, some 15 rounds ahead.
Naylea stepped beside me at the railing, close enough to brush shoulders which I took to be a rare show of affection from my former assassin and present traveling companion. I gave her a smile, but didn't push my luck. I kept my hands on the railing.
'It's been fun, hasn't it? Except for those half a dozen near encounters with death.'
'Par for the course.'
So it seemed. Still, 'Even so, we travel well together. All of us. I'm going to miss it when we get home,' I said.
'We're not home yet - you still have a couple of dozen rounds to conjure up still more near encounters with death.'
'Don't say that!'
'With you along, it's almost a given.'
'That's hardly fair. We may've made a mistake in not deploying your pirate piece right at the start of the chase, but after that we just encountered the given dangers of the Pela.'
'Which seem to always turn up when you're around.'
'Well then, don't tempt the fates of the Pela by giving them ideas. Naming names and all that.'
'Right. I came out to say that if you're still willing to help prepare the meal, I can use you. You can slice vegetables can't you?' she said turning back towards the bridge and the companionway down to the small galley.
'I'm excellent at slicing, and chopping, as well. I served my apprenticeship under the Drays - hundreds of hours helping out in the galley as captain.'
'How many times did you have to re-grow your fingers?' she asked as I followed her down the steep steps to the galley.
'I am known for being very careful. Even in the kitchen.'