“New target, light cruiser, bearing azimuth seven hundred and forty, vector three-three-nine, three weapons batteries of three-barreled Culverin.”
Stubborn Bull growled.
“What’s going on? Have they lost their minds?”
Yv swore colorfully and yelled. “Captain, if they do not stop, I will begin to respond on full power.”
“What the crap! Go to maximum power!” said Stubborn Bull, jumping to his feet.
It was all over in a moment. A tense silence hung over the control center. Everybody stared at each other blankly, wiping the sweat from their foreheads.
Next thing, Don Krushinka’s voice came over the main screen. “Stubborn Bull, who is your gunner?”
Stubborn Bull lost the plot and burst out.
“Oh, you old pig, where was your brain when you agreed—”
He was interrupted by a sonorous voice.
“It was my call ... Stubborn Bull.”
Stubborn Bull immediately bit his tongue, and Tera appeared on the screen repeating Don Krushinka’s question. “So, who is your ...?” She cast a questioning glance at Don Krushinka.
He finished her question. “... gunner?”
“Lucky,” Stubborn Bull growled back angrily.
Don Krushinka nodded, then a strange expression appeared on his face. Tera’s voice came over the screen.
“I want to meet with him.”
Don Krushinka turned away, apparently looking at Tera, then turned back and asked. “Do you have a backup?”
Stubborn Bull jumped to his feet angrily.
“You can’t have him”
“Even if I ask you nicely?” asked Tera with a sweet smile.
Stubborn Bull stubbornly clenched his teeth but said nothing.
“Well, so, what do you think?” Don Krushinka pressured him.
“Just a young jerk,” growled Stubborn Bull. “A student from New Simaron.”
“So, his nickname is probably something like Bloody Head or Iron Fist,” chuckled Don Krushinka.
The apprentice heard the phrase and blushed, and Stubborn Bull laughed.
“Well, now his nickname is Sharp Thicklips.”
Tera gave them a puzzled look then laughed loudly. At that moment, the door to the control center burst open and Beer Keg tumbled in.
“I swear by Saint Feoktist, have you all lost your minds in here?” He glared around the control center angrily. “I was trying to wet my throat, when ...” Beer Keg stopped short of indignation then concluded, “I am not rich enough to wash my battle suit in good beer!”
The silence was broken by a roar of thunderous laughter, including from the screen.
Don Krushinka turned to Tera.
“Well then, what do you think, your majesty?”
She nodded.
“I authorize your ...” she paused, trying to remember the word, “contracts. Look, though, you reported to me that you had concluded three hundred and twenty agreements with the captains but aren’t there about five hundred ships here?” she asked, turning to the screen, on which a broad panorama of the squadron was being shown.
Don Krushinka shrugged.
“The others rely on the rule of privateering. It is your right to agree or reject them.”
“What is this rule of privateering?”
Don Krushinka explained.
“Those who have signed a contract get a deposit: a quarter of the total amount due, and those who survive get the rest. These others,” he nodded at the ships holding off in the distance, “go with us at their own risk, but if they survive in the battle, they will qualify for the remaining three quarters of the amount due to the lost ships.”
“So, they will go free of charge?” Tera stared in astonishment at Don Krushinka.
He shrugged his shoulders.
“That is the sacred rule of privateering. No violation is tolerated.”
“So, what happens? Will the noble dons attack us and take their revenge?”
Don Krushinka snorted at such conjecture.
“Maybe so, but most likely the traitor would be declared free of recognition.”
The captain of the flagship indignantly blew air out through her teeth and muttered contemptuously, “Men ...”
But Tera and the officers present stared at him. Don Krushinka grinned and continued to explain.
“Not a single captain would ever enter into a contract with him again, and all his property is declared free prize. None of the noble dons, regardless of whose service they are in, would protect him.” He looked around at the suspicious faces and continued. “Fifty years ago, the former Duke of Ikrum refused to pay up. A few years later he needed an urgent delivery of grain shipments from the Sultanate of Regulus. It was well known that he had been declared free of recognition, but he hired Tahir bulk carriers, and through nominees, he put together a strong convoy of almost fifteen pennants. On the way, two pirate corvettes intercepted them. After half an hour of negotiations, the entire convoy returned to Tahir, where pirates smoothly sold off the cargo, paid the crews for the additional inconvenience, then allowed the convoy to arrive at Ikrum. When the frantic Duke demanded an explanation, the captain of the convoy calmly replied that he had been hired to guard the ships. On this point everything was correct, the ships were intact, and the crews complete with no complaints. They had been paid in full, but the cargo itself was free of recognition, and that was not within his remit.”
For a few minutes there was silence in the cabin, then Tera shook her head thoughtfully. “So how does the tale end?”
Don Krushinka grinned. “The foolish Duke tumbled headfirst from the ancestral castle battlements, but his son - he turned out to be smarter. He found all the survivors and paid them all that had been owed to them along with a percentage for each year of delay. The money of those who did not survive, he donated to the Order of St. Michael, which runs shelters for those invalided during the conquest.” He paused. “But at this moment this law does not apply to you, because so far, your state has not yet issued a letter of agreement, so you can announce in advance that you refuse to abide by this rule. That is within the rules and they will leave.”
Tera looked thoughtfully at the screen and nodded. “You know, Noble Don, I have learned a lot today. Let them remain with us. I really know too little about The Enemy to realistically assess the possibilities. Now, down to business. Prepare proposals in my headquarters for the inclusion of all the dons’ representatives and pick me an intelligent liaison officer.” With these words, she left the control center without noticing the burning glare from the captain of the flagship.
Don Krushinka shook his head in amazement. Today really was a special day. Today, this wayward girl had called him a noble don for the very first time.
4
Yv, shifting from one foot to the other, stood in front of a high double door and stealthily cast curious glances at two ladies. They were taller than him by half a head and were wearing full dress uniform made from velvet and brocade.
They stood, frowning angrily, and clutching gilded partisan spears in their far from delicate hands. He noticed that the edges of the blades had been sprayed with kelimit. The glittering ceremonial weapon could deliver a lot of trouble to any unwelcome intruder yielded by the right hands.
He sighed, once again wondering what the hell had brought him to these galleys. Then he immediately pulled himself together, glanced at the guards, and furtively crossed his fingers behind his back, driving away the malevolence.
The ladies were also clearly intrigued, not by the fact of his appearance here in itself. The news had quickly spread throughout the military units, and everyone on the flagship should have already been aware that he was being appointed as liaison officer to Her Majesty.
What was really interesting was that in the long history of this ship he was only the second man to be allowed on board. The Royal Navy had their prejudices against the mixing of the sexes.
Yv sighed again, straightened the cu
ffs of his shirt, which were peeping out from the front of his ceremonial dress jerkin, adjusted the sheath of his sword for the umpteenth time, and looked at the door. One of the guards, who had been looking him up and down in curiosity, immediately stared straight ahead, as befits one of such an important position, without even blinking.
Yv was involuntarily amazed at such a high level of training. It was unlikely that any of the noble dons could do something like that. However, few of the noble dons ever stood on ceremonial guard duty. Yv frowned irritably. He didn’t like standing about in front of closed doors, but the old adage about an alien monastery and its charter came to mind, and he sighed again.
Yv had arrived at the flagship the previous day. When he, and Pip who was carrying their belongings, set foot on the deck of a large, ribbed landing bay, they marveled at its size. It was so huge that it could easily accommodate a couple of corvettes, and Don Krushinka met them personally. Slapping Yv on the shoulder good-naturedly, Don Krushinka led them down a corridor past a crowd of women in uniforms, technicians in space overalls, women in combat suits with the helmets reclined back, adorned with colorful stripes, chevrons, and other decorations.
They were allocated a cabin which was about twelve times bigger than the ones for four persons that they were used to, and it even had a hot tub with hydromassage. Don Krushinka gestured around it broadly, smiled and said, “Make yourself comfortable. This entire football field is just for you alone.”
While Yv walked around the cabin, Pip spread out and hung up his clothes in a huge closet. They took up barely a tenth of the available space. Don Krushinka, who had made himself comfortable on a chair in the corner, nodded to Pip.
“Do you remember how to get back to the elevator?”
“I remember, Noble Don.”
“Run down to the kitchen, two decks below, and ask there for food. It’s all ready.”
After the door closed behind Pip, Don Krushinka turned to Yv and said, “Listen, my boy, I am appointing you as Tera’s liaison officer. Do you understand why?” He paused, waiting for an answer. Yv shrugged. Don Krushinka sighed and continued. “I know why your nickname is Lucky, Yv, and I fear for Tera.”
Yv looked at him dumbfounded. Before that, he had only once heard that his luck was more than merely something random—that was on Zovros. Or rather, he did not know exactly where, but if all he went through was not nonsense, then he had got back to Zovros. Don Krushinka waited a while for Yv to consider this, then he continued. “Your cabin is located in the admiral’s compartment. Tera is nearby. Never be more than a step away from her, or at least, stay as close as you can. If you manage to avoid this mess alone ... then one can assume that your luck has come to an end.”
“I’ll try.” Yv forced himself to reply.
“That is not the answer I was looking for! One guy once promised to fly my corvette, but he couldn’t get it off the ground.” Don Krushinka sighed again. “Make sure you do it, my boy, OK?”
Yv felt that he could not refuse, but he couldn’t say yes either, because he didn’t want to lie. So, he nodded silently. Don Krushinka gave Yv an understanding look, rose from his chair, walked over to the door, and let Pip inside before leaving for the corridor. Pip entered the cabin all red-faced with embarrassment and carrying a huge tray in his hands.
***
The double doors outside which Yv had been waiting for so long finally swung open, and, in the corridor, women in the embroidered uniforms of senior officers were discussing something animatedly. At the sight of Yv, they immediately fell silent and walked past him, eating him up with their prying eyes. Yv felt naked. Finally, they all passed him by. Yv stood still for a moment then hesitantly stepped toward the door. The guard tensed and Yv backed off when suddenly the door opened wide again, and another tall lady leaned out into the corridor. Glancing at Yv with a watchful gaze, she said dryly. “Please come this way ... officer. The queen is waiting.”
Yv frantically rearranged his sash and stepped inside.
Tera was sitting at a table, looking at something on a screen built into the armrest of her seat. There was a soft click, and the door closed. She turned her chair around and looked up at Yv with big, green eyes. Yv had been with women before, many in fact.
Sometimes just for a night or two. With some, when stuck in a place for a long time, he lived with them for several months, and a couple of times when his contract had been long-term, the relationship had dragged on for several years.
But he never felt what he was experiencing at that moment. Maybe he just was not ready for this. Yv had seen her before. The first time, in the tavern that evening, then on the screen in the control center, but it had been twilight in the tavern and weird on the screen. What opinion can be made about a person when their face is blown up to the size of a human being, except that the pores of her skin were much smaller than those of Don Krushinka, and in contrast, she had no warts. But now ... Yv bowed deeply.
“I beg your pardon, your majesty, I ... just feel ... confused.”
Her eyes flashed with surprise, then she laughed loudly. “Among my court, it is unlikely to find someone who is capable of such an ingenuous confession.”
“What’s the point in lying?” Yv replied, embarrassed.
Tera shook her head, then suddenly asked an unexpected question.
“Do you intend to continue wearing these rags?”
Yv blushed slightly but recovered a little from this question. No one had ever laughed at his best jerkin, in any case, not without the inevitable consequences. Added to that, his second-best jerkin was in such a state that he would never have dared wear it in her presence. It was not that he did not have the funds. After the raid on Zovros, he could arrange a dozen jerkins for himself. The simple fact was that they had skipped Warang in such a hurry because they were afraid to miss out on being hired. He had no time to go to a store or tailor, but it had not even occurred to him anyway. What don would spend money on a new jacket when you couldn’t notice the repairs to the old one? Now the tailors were far away.
Tera shook her head again and turned to the officer standing next to her.
“Umarka, after our conversation, escort the don to the tailor, but leave us alone for now.”
Umarka bowed her head sharply at Tera’s order, then opened her mouth to say something, but Tera gave her such a look that she pressed her lips together tightly and left, throwing an angry look at Yv from the doorway.
Tera looked at Yv and pointed to a chair opposite her. “Take a seat, Don.”
Yv sat down somewhat awkwardly, placing his hands on his knees. Tera just smiled. “I would like that when we are alone, we behave without much ado. I hope you don’t mind?
“No, of course not ... Your Majesty.”
It was noticeable that Yv was new to this kind of treatment.
“Well then,” she bent down and held out her hand. “My name is Tera.”
For a few seconds, Yv stared at the delicate, almost transparent fingers before his mighty hand. Then he took her hand gently with his rough paw, and mumbled awkwardly, “My name is Yv, but my nickname is ... Lucky.” His own nickname suddenly struck him as somewhat pretentious, and he added hastily. “I didn’t invent it myself, it’s just what people call me ...”
Yv felt even more embarrassed and fell silent. When he came to himself a little, he realized that Tera was trying to free her hand from his. He released her and blushed.
“My apologies, somehow I don’t feel ... quite at ease.”
“What?”
He felt even more embarrassed.
“It is just that I have never been ... anywhere ... well...”
She nodded her understanding.
“OK, let’s assume that our introduction has taken place. If you do not mind, I’d like to know a little bit more about you.”
Yv nodded but remained silent. Tera pondered for a few moments.
“Maybe it’s better this way. I will ask questions, and if you deem it necessary
not to respond to something, or conversely, share more details, then just say so.”
Yv nodded again.
“Well, that’s fine then. Tell me, Yv, how old are you?”
He suddenly felt terribly old.
“Ninety-seven.”
She shook her head in amazement.
“We do not all live up to that age and you look very young.”
He shrugged his shoulders.
“It isn’t down to me, but to what is known as modified genes, although I have little idea what the term means. I have been told that I could make it to two hundred years of age, unless, of course, I get run through by trolls. So far I have been lucky...”
“Did you use to fight hand-to-hand? After all, you are a ships gunner.”
“When the trolls board a ship, it often happens that everybody has to grab their sword. Among the dons, almost everybody has a military specialty, and veterans like me have more than one. If you defeat an attack, then you will always find somebody who can steer the ship home, but during a boarding raid, every blade counts. Besides it often happens that when you agree a contract, the position of gunner is already occupied, so then you join the boarding party.”
He paused, as if trying to remember something, then finished in a hollow voice. “There are always vacancies for that job.”
“How many years have you been fighting in this war?” Tera asked, after a pause.
He grinned.
“We call it the Conquest.” A thought crossed his mind. “I think I was twenty-two years old. It was the year when the second New Simaron fell. I was just about to go to university and got on one of the last privateers to break through the blockade. So, seventy-five years.”
Tera stared at him attentively. Although Don Krushinka had told her much, she had not particularly paid much attention to his stories. She had known him for a long time and was used to seeing him stood silently at the back of her Aunt’s throne. Now, in front of her, was a man who had fought with The Enemy, the ones that had killed her parents, who had lived in this world four times longer than her and managed to survive.
Swords Above the Stars Page 26