Voidhawk

by Halstead, Jason

  Ignoring her he turned to Gedmun and made sure that Kragor, Rosh, and Jenna – who was glaring daggers into him – could see him as well. “The girl was on my ship, that makes her my responsibility. I’m not for being played a fool, Captain. If she wishes to go with you, I’ll let her…”

  “I must stay with you, Master, or I will have no purpose,” Keshira said behind him, interrupting him.

  Jenna’s eyes narrowed. Rosh’s grin spread and his hand inched down his side so that it was close to one of the large daggers on his hip. Kragor muttered something in dwarvish and took up position outside the door to prevent anyone from entering or leaving the room.

  “Well there you have it,” Dexter said, not entirely comfortable with it. “She stays.”

  “Unacceptable,” Gedmun said, staring at her. “Bring her!” He snapped to his remaining nine sailors.

  One of them stepped forward, then another. They both grabbed her arms, one to a side, and tried to force her forward. Dexter waved subtly at Rosh to not draw steel…yet.

  Keshira did not budge. Both sailors strained but were unable to move her. One pulled her arm and managed to raise it some, but then she surprised him by yanking back on it, pulling him off balance. Then she pushed, hard, and sent him staggering into a wall. She looked at the other sailor and he quickly let go of her arm.

  “Seems she means it, Captain,” Dexter said.

  “That’s not possible!” The shaken sailor blurted out, staggering away from the wall and looking at her. “No woman’s strong enough to throw me like that!”

  It did seem impossible, he was a good sized man wearing a studded leather harness and armed with a dagger, crossbow, and short sword, all items that would weigh him down further.

  “My helmsman says there’s magic involved. The crate was magicked, ‘haps she is as well?” Dexter suggested.

  Gedmun, his cheeks flushing red with frustration and anger, nodded and spat out, “fetch Anaskus!”

  The sailor closest to the door turned to leave and stopped abruptly when he saw Kragor in the way. Dexter nodded to Kragor and the dwarf moved out of the way for the Federation soldier to hurry up on deck and head over to his ship.

  He returned several tense minutes later with a man who’s dress resembled nothing like the other sailors save for the insignia of rank on the right collar of his tunic. Clearly, from the multiple pockets on his loose fitting tunic and pants, as well as some of the runes embroidered into his clothing, he was a wizard.

  He stopped as soon as his eyes fell on Keshira. The initial male reaction was to be expected, but his bordered on the professional as well. He moved forward again, walking around her and studying her. Her eyes followed him, though the pleasant smile on her face never faded.

  He stopped in front of her, then closed his eyes and uttered several words in an arcane language that left Dexter feeling nervous. His hands gestured in accordance to the words of the spell, then he was finished and his eyes opened. They glowed with a purplish light and as he stared at Keshira, then he grunted and stumbled backwards, his hands going to his eyes to cover them.

  He turned to the others, the purple light fading from his eyes as he did so. “This is no matter of slavery,” he said, confusing everyone.

  “But she was sold to a man as a servant and imprisoned!” Gedmun spat out, infuriated at the possibility of losing her.

  “It, Captain Gedmun,” Anaskus said. “This thing is not human.”

  Everyone turned to stare at Keshira, who seemed unperturbed by his proclamation.

  “She looks human to me,” Rosh said, his eyes devouring her and his voice daring the wizard to declare otherwise.

  “It is a construct. A golem. A soulless and unthinking creation of magic and flesh. The wizard that created her is unequalled in skill, but she is no more human than the wooden floor upon which we stand,” he said, delivering his report.

  “Is this true?” Dexter asked Keshira, having trouble believing that she was no more than a mindless automaton.

  “Yes, Master, I was created to serve you,” she – or it – said in response to him.

  “No, damn it!” Dexter sputtered. “Not me, you were to serve another, Sir Drayful!”

  She smiled at him, which was infuriating. “I know only you, Master, the one I awoke to see and am now bonded to forever. I am yours to command.”

  Rosh cursed under his breath and he heard another muttering from Jenna that also sounded far from complimentary.

  “It is a possession, Captain, not a person. I fear there is nothing for us here,” Anaskus said to his captain.

  Gedmun opened his mouth and then shut it. He nodded his head, not trusting himself to speak, and gestured for his sailors to return to his ship, the Gavel. He cast a last longing glance at Keshira before storming out in the wake of his men.

  Dexter turned to look at Keshira, then turned away to look at the others. Rosh was grinning like a fool and Kragor was watching the others leave. He turned and met Dexter’s eyes and could only shrug. When Dexter turned to see Jenna he saw her open and then close her mouth, then she shook her head and hurried out of the cargo hold.

  “What’s wrong with her?” Rosh asked, confused. Dexter just shrugged, equally lost.

  “Let’s help them cast off, then we’re to head back to Port Freedom and get this taken care of,” he ordered, heading towards the main deck himself.

  With Jenna nowhere to be found, they released the lines holding the ships together and bid the Federation ship safe travels, though the Federation Captain was similarly nowhere to be found.

  * * * *

  Several hours later, Dexter had scoured the ship and found no sign of Jenna. He went to the last place she could be, which was also the most likely place he expected her to be, in her cabin. He knocked on the door and was again greeted with the question, “Who comes?”

  “Dexter,” he responded.

  She was silent for a long moment before saying in a softer voice that he barely heard through the door, “come in.”

  Dexter opened the door and stepped in, absent mindedly wondering if she was going to be partially nude again. His life had become complicated enough that any pleasure he might have derived from the thoughts was missing. Well… almost.

  “It’s your ship, Captain,” she said once he was in her room. “I told you the door’s always open for you.”

  Dexter nodded. “So you did,” he admitted. “Everyone deserves some privacy though.”

  She nodded. “It’s appreciated. What can I do for you, Sir?”

  Dexter frowned. He took a deep breath and let it fly. “What’s your bother? I need you on the deck when we’re in a situation.”

  Jenna’s eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed angrily. She ground her teeth together then nodded. “Yes, Captain, won’t happen again.”

  Dexter groaned and threw his hands in the air. He turned to leave and then turned back. “No, damn it, what’s the problem?”

  “No problem, Captain,” she said in clipped tones. “Happy to be here.”

  Dexter shook his head and wondered what he could say to bring her out of her funk. Ultimately he could think of nothing so he just left a peace offering on the way out, “alright, my door’s always open too, if you want to talk.”

  Dexter barely heard her parting comment as he headed out of her passage, “I’m sure Keshira’ll be bending your ear a-plenty.”

  Barely back up on the deck he walked past Rosh, who was showing Keshira, per Dexter’s orders, how to work the rigging of the ship. She had changed from the dress she had been wearing to a more functional tunic and pants that were baggy on her. She still looked beautiful in spite of her poor fashion.

  “Captain!” Rosh said, getting his attention.

  Dexter stopped and looked at him, then nodded for him to go ahead.

  “She’s amazing, Captain,” he said honestly. “Stronger than…well… the strongest man I know!”

  “Who’s that, Rosh?” Dexter asked, already knowi
ng how powerful the man was and promising himself to never run into the man Rosh considered the strongest man alive.

  “Well, me, I guess,” he said, scratching his scruffy chin. Dexter laughed, unable to stop himself.

  “She learns fast,” he continued. “I show her something once and she’s better’n me at it!”

  Dexter grunted, offering a half-hearted smile. It did him little good to hear that she was as promising as she sounded, since he planned to be rid of her as soon as they returned to Port Freedom.

  “Well, keep at it, we’ve four days to return to Port Freedom, no telling what we might run into this far out,” Dexter said.

  “Wait, Captain,” Rosh said, looking around and lowering his voice. Dexter paused for Rosh to continue. “I hear you’s looking for more helmsmen?”

  Dexter stopped, not sure he heard him right. He nodded after a moment and Rosh finished his request. “I’d like to learn me how to fly a ship… Sir.”

  “I’d still work the rigging and deck off shift,” he hurried to add.

  Dexter cocked his head and thought about it, after only a short moment he shrugged and smiled, surprising his anxious deckhand. “Alright, we’ll try it out.”

  Rosh grinned ear to ear, then clapped Dexter on the back, which sent him staggering. He straightened and smiled weakly before turning to leave.

  “Um, Captain… one more thing.”

  Dexter turned, “yes?”

  “I know that Fed wizard said she was belonging to you and I was wondering if I, um, if I could, ya know, borrow her?”

  Dexter’s eyes widened and he fought the urge to laugh at the incredible request. “Rosh…I,” he paused, then shook his head, unable to find words to say. “No, Rosh, I don’t know what she is but while she’s on my boat, she’s nobody’s property.”

  “Yes Sir,” Rosh said, nodding and turning back to his work quickly, his cheeks already flushing red with embarrassment at the rejection.

  Kragor found Dexter on the forecastle, staring at the stars. Or, perhaps, he was trying to see into the future, the dwarf could only guess.

  “Dex,” Kragor said by way of greeting, leaning against the railing beside him.

  Dexter offered the dwarf a smile. “Hell of a day,” he replied.

  “We need a bigger crew, boy-o,” Kragor said.

  Dexter nodded. “I’m working on it,” he said. Then he chuckled before adding, “Can you believe Rosh wants to learn to be a helmsman?”

  Kragor shrugged. “Who ya think told him to ask you?”

  Dexter looked at his first mate and long time friend and then chuckled again. “Figures,” he said. “And Jodyne thinks I’m the troublemaker!”

  Kragor could not hide his grin. He did, however, glance at the deck to make sure his wife was not on it and able to hear him. His eyes fell on Keshira and he watched her work, her strength amazing as she worked the ropes that Rosh showed her.

  “She’s a sight,” he offered.

  Dexter turned to look at her and sighed. “That she is… and it makes sense now. All of Ormitor’s servants… they’re like her.”

  Kragor nodded. “Aye, I was thinking as much. Strong, beautiful, and not alive. I’m for guessing he’s not a man to be on the wrong side of.”

  “Wizards,” Dexter grumbled, to which Kragor agreed by way of spitting over the railing.

  “Reckon we’ll be on that side when he learns she didn’t make it to Grafton,” Dexter said.

  “Aye,” Kragor acknowledged. “We could run. Hide, stay clear o’ this part o’ the void for a bit.”

  Dexter gave him a look that confirmed what the dwarf already knew. He missed the old Dexter, the mischievous man that would poke fun at anyone he could, especially if they were bigger, stronger, and more powerful or dangerous – so long as he had a hole to bolt to. The new Dexter was responsible for a ship and crew, and he knew it and acted it. While Kragor missed the old Dex, he admired the man he had turned into even more.

  “I’m not for wanting her, old friend,” Dexter said. “I’ll have no slaves about me.”

  “You heard the wizard, she’s not alive! She’s an object… a thing,” the dwarf said. It was a bit eerie, he supposed, but she looked to be able to do the work of two men.

  “Look at that,” Dexter said, gesturing at her with his chin. “She look like a ‘thing’ to you?”

  Kragor stroked his beard thoughtfully, trying to come up with something to shore his argument. He could not and grudgingly admitted as much, “guess not. Them others din’t seem like her, them was more… lively.”

  Dexter looked at Kragor, realizing the dwarf had just pointed out something that bothered him. Why was Keshira less lively? She behaved like a child, soaking up everything around her, but unlike a child she had no personality. Jarnella had been full of personality, or at least it seemed like personality. Perhaps it was just part of her conditioning, to be a sultry seductress.

  Remembering Jarnella brought a rush of blood to Dexter’s face. To think, he had almost let himself be seduced by a…a… well, whatever she was. A construct, the Federation wizard had called her. He shook his head to rid himself of his incriminating thoughts.

  “I’d best relieve Bekka from the helm,” he muttered. Kragor nodded to Dexter’s back as the captain headed for the forward staircase.

  On the bridge Bekka decelerated the ship and rose from the helm slowly, stretching out the stiffness that inevitably set in. It was a shock, separating from the helm, because the consciousness had to part from the ship and re-associate with the body.

  “We’ve got a new deckhand?” Bekka asked him.

  Dexter nodded, having forgotten that Bekka had not been around during the encounter. From the helm she could sense everything that took place on the ship, and she could see in all directions from it, but she could not see inside the ship or onto the main deck.

  “Only till we’re back at Port Freedom and the wizard takes her back,” Dexter said.

  Bekka looked at him blankly, not understanding. Dexter sighed and explained the encounter with the Federation wizard and captain in the cargo hold, as well as what they knew of the girl that was with them. Dexter was more than a little dismayed to see how excited Bekka was getting as he explained things. While not a wizard herself, she was a sorceress, and magical mysteries such as this interested her keenly.

  He replaced her on the helm, anxious to give a simple direction for his thoughts, and let her explore the deck and learn what she could on her own about Keshira.

  * * * *

  They were less than a day out from Port Freedom and still Dexter found Jenna unwilling to converse with him or, if she could manage it, even willing to spend time in the same part of the ship with him.

  Keshira had come to him the first night and inquired how she might service him. Shocked and dismayed, and a little bit disturbed at the improper thoughts he had, he had sent her away to continue her work. He first had learned that she required no sleep, but she could do so if commanded to.

  Now, with only hours remaining until they returned her, Dexter found himself curious about her. More than that, she had begun to become a natural part of his crew, interacting with them when they spoke with her. That she could handle the duties she had learned from Rosh was beyond question. While still bland, she did seem to have a hint of a personality about her. Dexter found himself wondering what more might lay hidden beneath her beautiful exterior.

  Bekka had become fascinated with her, perhaps even more so than Rosh. She studied her and chatted with her whenever possible, trying to learn everything she could of her. As Dexter stood on the bow of the ship Bekka was busy talking to her as she worked, in fact. Bekka did most of the talking, but Keshira responded to any questions asked, though she had yet to ask a question of her own.

  “Keshira, come up here please,” Dexter called out to her. She rose from where she had been kneeling on the deck scrubbing and sanding the planks to keep them smooth. Bekka looked at Dexter and smiled, then wandered to
wards the stern where Rosh was working on something.

  “Yes Master?” Keshira said when she had climbed the stairs and stood before him.

  “Captain… call me Captain, not master,” Dexter insisted.

  “Yes Captain,” Keshira said, smiling brilliantly.

  Dexter looked at her, studying her face and eyes. She seemed so alive, so real. He could not imagine her as artificial. “Tell me about yourself,” he asked her, hoping to find something more to support his line of thinking.

  She looked at him blankly, not understanding the question. “I am your servant, Captain. Command me and I will obey. I will do anything you desire.”

  Dexter sighed; this was not going well. “No, that’s not what I desire. I want you to tell me about yourself. Where were you born…er, created. When? How? Have you any friends or family…or, um, others like you? Anyone you’re close with?”

  “I knew nothing until I awoke and saw you. That was all that was needed to form my bond. I do know how to do many things, all of them designed to make your life easier and more pleasurable,” she said. “Some things I require your permission to use.”

  “What? What things?” Dexter asked, surprised.

  “I am unable to use my powers until you approve their use,” she said.

  “Powers? Like what?” Dexter had a feeling he had just unraveled more of Jarnella’s allure.

  “Minor glamours and cantrips.”

  Dexter found himself rubbing his chin thoughtfully, then realized that he was starting to act like Kragor. He shook his head and dropped his hand. “Show me an example, please.”

  Keshira beamed, pleased to finally be given an order to complete by him. It looked as though a gust of wind blew over her face, for her hair bounced and flowed, swayed by unseen and unfelt currents. Dexter gasped when he realized that she suddenly looked even more alluring and sexy than she had when she had first come out of the crate.