Dexter looked at him, opened his mouth to respond, then thought better of it and closed it. It was warm to the touch but he knew damn well from what he had glimpsed earlier that it had not been hidden next to either of her thighs. Dexter just smiled and winked at him, then followed Jarnella up onto the main deck.
Jenna gave him a funny look as he left, while Bekka gazed thoughtfully at Jarnella. Rosh stood still for a moment, trying to decide whether he should be upset or not at Dexter’s response.
* * * *
“Captain, something’s been bothering me,” Bekka confided in him several days after they had left Port Freedom. They were swapping out on the helm, something that Dexter was discovering he might not want to be a regular part of much longer.
He loved flying a ship, that much was true, and he was a good pilot. However, he often felt that his time could be better spent not glued to the helm as he often was. He wanted to make Bekka the primary helmsman – er, helmswoman, but she would need a backup or two, and thus far he did not have enough crew to support such a thing. They still ran extremely lean, something he hoped to fix.
But first he had more immediately things to deal with. “What’s bothering you?” he asked her, rising up from the seat and letting her take over. He stretched out his stiff muscles while he waited for her to find the words.
“It was Jarnella,” she began. Immediately Dexter’s heart beat a little faster at the memory of the intoxicating and seductive woman. “Well, not just her. All of Ormitor’s servants were a bit strange.”
“A bit strange?” Dexter asked. If only she knew the half of it!
“Yes Sir, I can tell things about people, it’s part of my talent, like if they’re special or not,” she explained.
“Special?” Dexter asked, raising an eyebrow.
Bekka frowned. “Not special, really… but different. Magical, I guess.”
It was Dexter’s turn to frown. “Magical?”
“Yes, there is something about them that is unnatural and magical,” Bekka said.
Dexter nodded. It made sense and explained both Jarnella’s otherworldly seduction and the trick with the laces of her bodice. He almost grinned as he remembered how he had particularly liked that trick.
“Are they his apprentices?” Dexter wondered aloud.
Bekka frowned and shook her head. “I don’t think so. I can’t explain why, but they don’t seem to be practitioners, rather magic is a part of them.”
Dexter took a deep breath and let it go. He smiled his understanding, or lack thereof, and thanked her, then let her take over the helm while he made his way up to the main deck.
The stars moved slowly at first, then faster and faster as the Voidhawk reached cruising speeds under Bekka’s skilled guidance at the helm. Dexter paid little attention to them, however, instead he stood off the bow and stared into their future, pondering the nature of his current employer almost as much as he pondered the nature of his servants. Mixed here and there in his thoughts were questions about his cargo as well.
“Captain,” Jenna said, coming up beside him. It was a greeting more than a question or a prelude to something else.
Dexter sighed and let his unanswered thoughts slide. He turned and offered Jenna a smile. “How’re things running?” he asked her.
Jenna shrugged. “Kragor’s done a fine job with the ship… for a dwarf,” she said. “Rosh handles the rigging well, and everyone else chips in as needed. We’re running lean at tactical speeds, but doing well out here.”
Dexter nodded, her observations mirrored his thoughts as well. “I want to add a few more hands, I think,” he said rhetorically. “A couple more helmsmen would be nice, giving us spare hands on deck and let me get off the helm and be a proper captain.”
Jenna smiled. “I don’t know if there’s anything proper about you,” she said with a smile. Then she added, “Sir.”
Dexter chuckled and took note that she was wearing her studded leather cuirass, greaves, bracers, gloves, and boots that he had seen her oiling. She noted his interest in her body, or at least her attire, and smiled appreciatively, but did not comment.
“Figure out what our cargo is yet?” Dexter asked her, knowing her curiosity would have her poking around it.
She shrugged. “Something in a box. Bekka insists there’s magic about it, so I’ve been staying away.”
“I thought elves had a sense of magic about them?”
Jenna snorted at his question. “And I thought humans bred like rabbits and had no wits about them.”
He chuckled. “Alright, sorry, you’ve a point there.”
He looked at Jenna a little more closely, suddenly realizing something. “You’ve been talking to Bekka?”
Jenna shrugged. “Here and there. It’s a small ship, not much for conversation. Besides, Kragor’s and Jodyne are dwarves; you’re always turning me down, which is bad for a girl’s self-esteem; and Rosh is…well… Rosh.”
Dexter chuckled, Rosh was indeed Rosh. He could not help but like the big guy, however. His simple ways were not proof of a simple mind, as he had first thought. Instead it was just the man’s way of dealing with life to keep matters from becoming complicated.
Dexter smirked at his armsmistress’ response, but kept his thoughts to himself, lest he provoke her unnecessarily.
“What about that wizard’s whores?” Jenna asked, surprising him.
“His whores?” Dexter asked, the word somewhat uncomfortable in his mouth. “They are his servants, not whores.”
Jenna gave him a disdainful look. “The man kept all four of them in his cabin with him. You really think he wasn’t enjoying more than conversation.”
Dexter chuckled in spite of himself. He certainly could not blame the man if he was. In fact, that many beautiful women…
Jenna’s gaze narrowed slightly as she saw the grin on his face. She spat over the railing and walked away. Dexter watched her go, wondering what had bothered her so much. He found his gaze drawn to the way her hips swayed. He noted that they seemed to sway even more when she was angry, although why she was angry he did not know.
Dexter also noted that he desperately needed to bed a woman. Much longer without and he might even start finding Rosh and Kragor appealing!
His musings were cut short when he felt a slight shift in the Voidhawk’s momentum. He turned and looked about, seeing the velocity of the stars dropping sharply. They had entered the gravity field of another object, either another ship or an asteroid or planet.
“Ship ahoy!”
Dexter looked up to where Kragor was taking a rare turn in the crow’s nest and saw him pointing off the port bow. He turned and stared at it, then cursed. It was a Federation frigate.
“Come to port and bring us alongside, she’s heading straight for us,” Dexter called out to his crew. “Kragor, signal that we’ll stand down for boarding.”
The dwarf ran out the flag while Jodyne, Rosh, and Jenna scrambled about the rigging and tiller, making the ship turn to meet Dexter’s commands. They closed rapidly with the frigate, and before they knew it they found themselves receiving the ropes tossed over by the Federation sailors.
“Federation Captain Gedmun D’arcy requesting permission to come aboard,” a short man from the frigate said.
“Permission to come aboard granted,” Dexter said signaling for Rosh to help the Federation sailors extend the gangplank.
After it was secure and Gedmun made his way over, with a squad of ten well armed Federation sailors, Dexter greeted them and said, “I’m Captain Dexter Silvercloud, of the free trader Voidhawk. How may I be of assistance?”
“Captain, nothing personal here, just your bad luck to be run across. I’m afraid I have to inspect your ship for contraband,” Gedmun said, surprising Dexter with his realism.
Dexter smirked, “very well, my first mate, Kragor, will show you to our hold.”
Kragor shimmied down from the crow’s nest atop the mast, surprising more than one of the Federation soldi
ers with his speedy descent. He moved beside Dexter and looked up the short distance it took to meet the gaze of Captain Gedmun. “You’ll be wanting the cargo holds then?”
Gedmun nodded. “Aye, and the steerage and ballast.”
Kragor grunted. They had never been so full that they needed to take on steerage, they had no ballast either, for they stayed out of most atmospheres and only landed in small controlled water harbors. There were several two hundred and fifty gallon barrels of water in the bilge, as well as some spare wood for repairs to the hull should they be necessary, but little else was of concern.
“This should be a short inspection, Captain,” Dexter said. “We’re only transporting a single item of cargo, a box for a wizard to Sir Drayful the Wise, governor of Grafton. It’s magically protected and he insisted it only be opened by Sir Drayful.”
Gedmun frowned but said nothing. He nodded after a moment then said, “thank you, Captain. Kragor, after you.”
The dwarf nodded to Dexter then led the Federation captain and his sailors into the cargo holds. Curious, Dexter nevertheless remained on the deck with Rosh and Jenna. He knew the Federation and their rules, but he also would not put it past an overzealous Federation captain to try something special.
A quarter of an hour later Captain Gedmun returned to the main deck with a rather heated looking Kragor behind him. “Captain, your mate refuses to allow my men to open your cargo.”
Dexter tried, and failed, to hide his scowl. He had been afraid something like this might happen. Before he could reply they all felt a supernatural chill pass through them from feet to head. It was accompanied by a scream that faded away quickly. With scarcely a glance at Jenna, Dexter was running to the stairs and from there to the cargo hold from whence it had come. Jenna and Rosh were right behind him, as was the Federation captain and the three sailors that had followed him up from the hold.
Dexter cursed when he entered the hold. One of Gedmun’s men was on the ground, his expression one of horror. The other sailors stood away from the crate, terrified of it. Dexter knelt and checked the corpse, then had to make room as Gedmun knelt beside him and did the same.
“What happened?” They both asked of the other Federation soldiers.
Several started to talk at once, then they all stopped and one stepped forward and resumed. “Percy, Sir, he figured he could get it open on his own and save you the trouble of an argument with their captain.”
“And?” Gedmun said, his glance spearing into the sailor.
“Well, he started to fiddle with the lock, he did, and then he stiffened up and his eyes roll back in his head. We all felt the cold then, Sir. It came outta that crate then Percy screamed like he was taking it all in himself,” he reported, glancing at the others for support. They were all nodding at the sailor’s recounting of the supernatural terror.
“Captain, I have to confiscate this box and put your ship and crew under arrest,” Gedmun said, turning to face Dexter.
Rosh started to move forward but Jenna stopped him with a hand on his arm. Dexter ignored them and focused on the Federation captain. “The wizard insisted the crate not be opened until it reached its destination. I told you the same. That your man tried to open it is his fault, not ours!”
Gedmun nodded and sighed. “So he did,” he admitted. “I can’t and won’t hold you accountable for his death, it being accidental and all.”
“What I must do,” he continued, glancing at the box and then back at Dexter. “Is hold it for magical examination. This was bound for the governor of Grafton, yet it killed the first man to open it. That says, to me, that it could very well be a magical assassination attempt.”
Dexter cursed. He had never considered that angle. Perhaps Ormitor had been willing to offer him whatever he wanted, knowing that he would be apprehended and killed after he delivered death to Sir Drayful. With Jarnella brokering the deal she kept his mind in the clouds enough that he never stopped to consider any alternatives, he was too focused on the beautiful woman and her sensuality.
The key! Dexter had a key. He looked to Jenna and Rosh. Jenna nodded, indicating she would follow him in whatever decision he chose. Rosh simply looked ready to explode into action.
“I can open the crate,” Dexter said, facing Gedmun again. “I will prove that there is nothing of the sort inside of it, or die in the attempt myself.”
Gedmun looked at him, frowning. Finally he nodded. “Very well, Captain, go ahead.”
Dexter took the key from his pocket, noting that it still felt as warm as it had when Jarnella had given it to him. He knelt down next to the box and hesitated. Turning back to the Federation captain he said, “If this be my final act, my crew and ship – and I – knew nothing of the nature of this box. Take it if you wish and return to Wizard Ormitor of Port Freedom with any grievances. But, let my crew and ship be on their way.”
Gedmun thought Dexter’s request over and then, at last, nodded. “If it is your last wish, I will honor it.”
Dexter turned back to the crate and took a deep breath. He felt a small hand on his shoulder then and, without turning, knew Jenna was offering him encouragement. He slipped the key in the lock and wondered, in hindsight, if anything happening to him would happen to her as well. He turned the key in the lock, feeling and hearing a resounding click.
Everybody save Jenna, Rosh, and Gedmun backed away. Kragor watched from the doorway to the hold, unable to enter due to the sheer number of bodies and plainly irritated by that simple fact. Dexter reached out, feeling no different, and lifted the lid of the crate, noting that it seemed more like a large chest than a crate all of a sudden.
Inside the crate mists swirled. They rose out of the crate, making some of the sailors curse or whimper in fear. They faded on contact with the air, however, and revealed their contents.
Laying upon silken sheets was a young woman who looked to be no more than twenty years old. She was dressed in a silken midnight blue gown, her wavy raven tresses framing an angelic face. She was a woman that bore only a faint resemblance to Jarnella and her fellow servants, for she possessed breathtaking beauty. Her eyes opened and beheld Dexter above her. She smiled and mouthed a single word.
“Master.”
Jenna’s hand on his shoulder clamped down, her fingernails biting into his skin before she retracted it. Beside her Rosh’s intake of air could easily be heard. Gedmun gasped beside him and stared at her. Dexter cursed, knowing that his life had just gotten more complicated.
“No, lass, I’m not your master, I’m just…” Dexter cursed, not knowing what he was.
“Yes, you are my Master and I am your servant, Keshira.”
“Captain, you know that transporting slaves in Federation Space is illegal,” Gedmun stated, his voice soft and respectful in spite of his pronouncement of doom.
“Don’t s’pose it helps me none that I had no idea she was in here?” Dexter said, turning away from the girl and back to Gedmun.
Gedmun continued to stare at the newly discovered woman. He glanced at Dexter finally and shook his head a bit. “What’s that? Oh… no, no I’m afraid it does not. She’s going to have to come with me, I’m afraid.”
“I cannot leave my Master,” she said, her voice silky, pleasant, and promising all sorts of hedonistic pleasures.
“Stop saying that!” Dexter said, turning back to her. He rose up and turned to his crew, his eyes pleading for help. Jenna’s gaze was smoldering with fury. He had no idea what had gotten into her, but he knew no help awaited him there. Rosh, on the other hand, had eyes only for Keshira, and it was obvious what was on his mind.
“Captain Gedmun, clearly this be no matter of slavery. I, we, none of us, had any idea she was in that box! There be magic involved in this, and we’ve got no wizard among us!” Dexter protested, clearly agitated by the turn of events.
“I understand that you were unwitting dupes in this, Captain,” Gedmun said, puffing out his chest and offering his hand to Keshira. “Which is why I will es
cort this young lady to a safe Federation port and let her be on her way back to her family or friends.”
When she made no move to rise, he lowered his hand closer to her. “My Lady, take my hand so I can escort you to my ship.”
“Half a minute there, Captain,” Dexter said. “This business is between me, this girl and Ormitor. If it’s all the same I’d rather head back to Port Freedom and have words with him over this. He assured me my cargo was legal. I’m not for smuggling flesh, I’ll have you know.”
“You may deal with your employer as you see fit, if the Lady will come with me, I’ll let you, your crew, and your ship go and naught will be mentioned of it,” Gedmun assured him, again gesturing for Keshira to take his hand.
Dexter glanced back down at Keshira and saw her still staring up at him patiently. Expectantly. He sighed and gestured at her while saying, “get up, already!”
“Yes, Master,” she said with a smile that would melt steel. She gracefully climbed to her feet from the box, standing up and presenting herself. She was even more beautiful standing.
Her dress clung to her body, accentuating her natural curves and making them so perfect as to seem almost unnatural. She stood just shy of six feet tall, only a hair shorter than Dexter. Her deep and expressive eyes were a sapphire blue, which was further set off by her dress. Her hair now fell about her shoulders, but it fell in curls that, when straightened, would probably allow it to fall to her shoulder blades.
Every man in the room, and the dwarf in the hallway, stared at her, momentarily spellbound.
“Lady Keshira, follow me to the Gavel… that’s my ship,” Captain Gedmun said, his voice showing signs of irritation that she was all but ignoring him.
“Stay where you are,” Dexter said, then shook his head when she replied, “yes, Master.”
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