Devarr would also be accompanied by Captain Lenk of the Palace Guard and Hulce, his Chief of Sciences, who was also Devarr's husband.
Six other worlds would be escorted early by BlackWing ships in disguise, while the remaining five ships would haunt the shipping lanes as usual. I'd heard from Dori, Captain of VII earlier—she'd been assigned to escort Revalus' contingent.
Travis and I'd discussed the new orientation meetings—we'd decided that there was also another reason for bringing in the new worlds early—they could become targets for the Prophet and his army.
That threat hung over both Alliances' security details, like the blackest of clouds concealing a tornado of terrible force. We merely waited for it to hit us. Until then, we wouldn't be able to gauge its strength or the extent of its destruction.
"We have visitors," Travis poked his head inside the Captain's cubby door. A wide grin accompanied that announcement. "They're in the galley, waiting for you."
"Tell them the Captain is on his way," I grinned back. I'd be more than happy to see Randl, and I'd read Vik Roth's dossier. He'd be a welcome addition to the crew, I think.
BlackWing X
Randl
Vik turned to look about him—I'd transported us to the galley, as it was one of the few places aboard ship that could hold all the crew at once.
I figured Trent, who was acting Captain for the day, and Travis, his brother and co-Captain, would want most of the crew to gather and meet the new member together.
As Kooper said, Vik was tall, strong and capable.
I wasn't sure Kooper knew everything there was to know about him, though. Zaria would expect me to keep those secrets, and I would.
Travis and Trent arrived first, grinning as they strode into the galley. I was engulfed in one hug after another, with plenty of back-slapping in between.
They went to Vik, next, offering handshakes and introductions. Then, the rest of the crew began to arrive; David, first, followed by Terrett, Jayna, Bekzi, Susan, James, Nathan and—finally—Sabrina.
I won't say my heart didn't flutter slightly because it did, but at least the sight of her didn't send me into immediate depression.
"We're overdue for a few beers," David declared after pretend-punching me in the gut.
"I hear that," I agreed as the others surrounded us. Travis and Trent let us do informal greetings and introductions for several minutes before asking everyone to take a seat in the galley. We were about to be advised of Kooper's plans for BlackWing X.
"Cloudsong," Jayna sighed as Vik and I followed her to our assigned cabins. I thought about asking her how she and Wyatt were doing, but I already knew Wyatt wanted to ask her to marry him—after the Conclave mess was over.
I didn't want to tip my hand by broaching the subject—this should remain a surprise for her, until the proper time came.
"Have you been before?" Vik asked. "To Cloudsong, I mean."
"No, but I've read the information. Have you been?"
"Once or twice, before and after it was populated by the displaced peoples from Carek Prime."
"They're lucky they had someone powerful on their side," Jayna huffed. "They'd be dead without that help."
I had a very good guess as to who'd provided that help, but didn't voice it aloud. "How long will we be in transit?" I asked instead.
"It takes four days to reach Cloudsong from our current location. Trent plans to get under way in two hours."
"Gives me enough time to unpack," Vik said.
"I was thinking the same," I agreed. "After that, I hope I can get tea in the galley and watch stars flash past."
"I'm amazed by the gift you carry," Vik said. "Kooper says it allows you to see everything."
"It does."
"Heard you were a good hire," Vik grinned as Jayna stopped in front of his cabin first.
"Remains to be seen," I grinned back.
"See you in the galley in a few." Vik walked inside his cabin, the duffle he carried scraping the side of the door as he passed through it.
"Yours is the same as last time," Jayna said as she and I continued our journey. "Randl," she added, "I can't tell you how happy I am that you're not dead."
"We have you set up to train with Bekzi again, starting tomorrow," Travis said. He held a mug of Falchani black in his hands as he and I sat at a galley table. We'd just gotten underway to Cloudsong, and I'd gotten my mug of tea from Susan, who'd been happy to hand it to me.
"That's fine," I said. "Although I have a special request."
"What's that?"
"I'd like to get some blade practice in two or three times a week, with either you or Trent, it doesn't matter."
Travis went silent for a moment, as he absently tapped the side of his mug with a finger.
"You've been gone for a while, haven't you?" He lifted dark, unrevealing eyes to mine.
"Yes. I can tell you and Trent where and how long, but nobody else—if you want to know."
"I think I know where, just from your question," he said. "Keep the information to yourself. I think it's important that you do so."
"As do I."
"Someday, I may ask who gave you blade training," he added.
"And I may tell you," I said before lifting my mug to sip tea. I'd gotten used to Falchani black, but still preferred other kinds of tea—if they were available.
"Mind if I join you?" Vik walked in.
"Sit," Travis nodded toward an empty chair.
"Thanks." Vik folded his long frame into a galley chair and scooted it toward the table. Susan appeared as if called to ask him what he wanted.
"I'll have what Randl's having," Vik said right away.
"Having a meeting and didn't invite me?" David walked in. Susan waved at him—she knew he wanted coffee.
"You like meetings?" Vik asked.
"No. I just don't like being left out. And I like coffee."
"So you'll suffer through a meeting, rather than be left out of it?"
"Especially if there are pastries and coffee," David said. "The good kind, not that cheap shit."
"I hear that," Vik agreed.
"What do you have planned when you finish your tea?" Travis asked me.
"I have plenty of research to keep me busy," I said. "I have a report for you on Vrak, too. I visited him recently in his dungeon, and learned a few things. I'll probably get more information from Quin regarding him, too, and I'll add my assessment to her findings."
"Meet Trent and me in the Captain's cubby before dinner, then," Travis said. "I'll be spending my afternoon there, writing reports and doing grunt work."
With that, Travis rose, saluted us with his mug and walked out of the galley.
"I have a few things to do, too," David said. "The engine is scheduled for a routine check. You know where to find me if you need anything." He followed Travis out of the room.
"Your little brothers grew up just fine," I told Vik, who almost spit tea across the table.
Vik
I needed an ally. I found him under the most unusual circumstances. I'd already attempted to contact Zaria, who miraculously replied to my mindspeech.
You can trust Randl with your life, she'd informed me, but no further information was given.
Who the hell was Randl Gage, that Zaria trusted him like that? Most people who were born blind had electronic eyes, which enabled them to see almost as well as a sighted person.
This man saw everything anyway, including what was hidden behind the best of masks. As a test, I sent mindspeech to Randl.
May I join you in your training session with Bekzi tomorrow?
Even Bekzi wouldn't recognize me; that's how good the disguise was. Randl had seen past it immediately.
Absolutely, came the reply. Any time you want. I figure David and I will have a few beers before bedtime tonight. If you'd like to join us, you'd be welcome.
Yeah. I'd like that, I agreed.
My cabin at twenty-three bells, then.
Thanks.
/> Gungl, Vogeffa II
V'dar
I'd been plotting revenge for nearly a year, and the taking of ASD ships should have occurred without difficulty. The crew should be under my command, too.
Instead, I'd lost more than thirty of my own, when the decoy ships were boarded by the crew I'd sent to Bornelus.
As if someone—well, I knew who it was. It could only be the one who'd faced me on Pyrik, after all. He'd taken information from me—what little I hadn't bothered to hide, anyway.
I'd announced myself when I removed the soil from Bornelus. As I'd heard or seen nothing of him in the past ten months, I was cautiously hopeful he was dead or debilitated.
Neither of those things proved true.
Perhaps he hoped I'd be angry enough to act rashly in return.
Yes, I was more than angry enough. As for acting rashly, that was not my plan. There were other ways to get what I wanted. "Varok, attend me," I shouted.
"I am here, Prophet," he said quickly.
"Good. We have plans to make. Do research now. I wish to contact Adarr Gramm, Rale Linn and Jewl Yarro."
"The Big Three?" He called them by the name these criminal masterminds had gained for themselves. Word had it they collaborated at times and shared in the spoils of this illegal act or that plotted murder.
"Yes. Should we find them, we find everything we want and more to make our plans work. They have ships and wealth. We'll take what they have, and they will obey me or die."
"I will begin the search immediately," Varok dipped his head to me and left the room.
Captain's Cubby, BlackWing X
Randl
"Randl, this is Captain Dori Anderson of BlackWing VII," Travis introduced the woman to me. "Her ship is the one that reported the soil taken from Bornelus."
Short, curly blonde hair framed a lovely face. Behind sky-blue eyes lay a will of iron and a determination that many aspire to and would never attain.
"Captain Anderson," I dipped my head to her in respect.
"I've heard a lot about you," she said. "Travis says you were the one who told Kooper that Bornelus was a trap, and to have our ships reverse course. Thank you for that."
"You're welcome," I said.
"Sit," Travis said. "Trent will be here in a minute."
"Your eyes," Dori began.
"Bother me not at all," I said. "I don't use them to see anyway."
"That's really unusual—and amazing."
"I'm used to it."
She laughed. I liked the sound of it. I'd already seen many things about her, and an interesting fact had surfaced; she knew Salidar.
Not only did she know him, she'd gone to school with him, and he'd been her first crush—until they'd had a falling out.
Since then, she hadn't gotten serious about any man. Her focus was on her ship and crew, now. I admired that about her.
Salidar, I sent, I met Dorilou Anderson.
She has claws, he returned.
I've seen that already. I didn't hide the amusement in my voice.
"Did I miss anything?" Trent spared a grin for all of us as he swept inside the Captain's cubby.
"Waiting on you, bro," Travis said. "Randl is about to tell us what he found on Vrak."
"What has our prisoner been up to?" Trent settled in a chair and waited expectantly for me to explain.
"I went to see him, disguised as the Prophet," I said. "The first thing he did was ask about his children."
"That's not frightening," Trent sighed, sarcasm evident in his words.
"Quin and I have looked at the images of the real Vrak—when he was young," I said.
"This is another Phorde Gaster?"
"Funny, that's exactly what Kooper said," I acknowledged. "Somehow, these people are made exact replicas of other people. Kooper and your mother suspect that the Lyristolyi drug may be involved somehow, but my research on that isn't complete, yet."
"That would explain the cloning effect—right down to DNA and fingerprints," Travis agreed. "That filth is an abomination, and we hoped it was gone when Vardil Cayetes was killed."
"Maybe not," I shrugged. "But remember, if the drug is involved, then Phorde and Vrak were given that substance years in the past, before Vardil's death."
"That's true," Travis turned to his brother. Mindspeech was exchanged between them—I didn't listen in.
"We've had a really hard time with this sort of thing in the past," Dori covered the brothers' mindspeech by speaking aloud.
"I understand that," I agreed. "Don't worry—they're not upsetting me," I leaned my head in the twins' direction.
"Sometimes they get so wrapped up in their own world they forget other people are in the room," Dori raised her voice.
"Huh? Did you say something?" Travis turned to Dori with a grin.
"Jerk," Dori teased him.
"When do you think you'll have research done on the drug?" Trent asked me.
"I have a lot to get through—from Kooper and your mother, so in three or four days," I said.
"About the time we reach Cloudsong," Travis said. "I'd like a full report at that time, barring unforeseen difficulties."
"I should have it ready for you."
"Will you copy me?" Dori asked Travis.
"Sure. Kooper probably wants all the BlackWings to have it, but I'll double check with him."
"Want to stay for dinner? It's pot roast night," Trent asked.
"Pot roast? Absolutely," Dori agreed.
"So then, the pirate captain complained that we bruised his wrist when we cuffed him, and tried to file legal action against us," Dori said. "We caught him transporting a kidnap victim, and all he has to say is his wrist is bruised."
"Did the suit go forward?" Travis grinned.
"Are you kidding? The kidnapped victim was a minor royal from Moor'Kin. His family pointed to the bruises and cuts on the victim. If the original suit was accepted, the subsequent suit would have to be accepted, too. The captain withdrew his complaint. He was facing enough jail time as it was, without adding a civil complaint to the rest of his charges."
"Attempting to draw attention away from his own guilt," I said with a smile. "People with a weak character do that a lot."
"It would have been different if we'd actually harmed him—the laws protect prisoners taken in space. The physician said the bruise likely came from an attempt to escape the cuffs, because they're padded enough to protect the skin under normal circumstances."
"Now that's funny," Trent grinned and pointed his fork at Dori. "He wanted to file charges for an injury he caused himself."
"You think that's funny? You should hear the one about the crow shapeshifter," Dori laughed.
"How did that turn out?" Travis' eyes gleamed in anticipation.
"Oh, we had to write a full report on the ocelot that escaped and grabbed the crow with her claws, with only minor injury to the crow, I might add."
"What did said crow do?" David set his beer on the table. It appeared he loved good stories.
"Oh, he liked shiny things, like most crows," Dori said. "He had a cargo hold full of jewelry and valuable ancient coins to line other peoples' nests."
"Where did the ocelot come from?" Sabrina asked.
"There," Travis and Trent pointed at Dori, who laughed again.
Sabrina
I'd gotten the idea that Captain Anderson had claws—I just hadn't imagined the physical kind. I reminded myself to get better at identifying shapeshifters; it appeared there were plenty of them sprinkled throughout the BlackWing fleet.
"You should meet Amos Thompson, he captains BlackWing I," Travis told me. He'd read my expression easily concerning shapeshifters. "Amos is a white buffalo, and his wife, Flossie, is a swan."
"Flossie's a damn good cook," David said.
"As are Bekzi and Susan," Dori countered.
"That goes without saying," David grinned.
"Then we're all on the same page."
"How will we fit? Must be a damn big page
."
"Are we having an argument?" Dori asked. "You're an owl, remember? Ocelot here," she added, tapping her chest.
"Are you saying ocelots are better than owls?"
"Shapeshifter logic, here we come," Trent hid a smile.
"As if we could all be dragons," Randl intervened.
"Are you dissing dragons?" Travis tossed his napkin on the table in mock fury and glared at Randl.
"This is your Captain speaking," Trent stood and held up both hands in surrender. The entire table of diners dissolved into laughter.
Chapter Four
Randl
"Good beer," Vik said, wiping sweat off the label of his Refizani Blue.
"I've had plenty of it while doofus here was missing," David pointed his bottle toward me.
"I've had a few, too," I admitted. "Whenever possible. Thanks for calling me doofus, man."
"Insults are a free service I provide," David grinned.
"Can't argue with free." I raised my bottle to him and drank.
"You need a better desk chair," Vik slapped the arms of my chair.
"Look, tall dude, it fits him. I don't fit in it either—not really." David, who sat at the end of my bed while I leaned against both pillows at the top, made a face at Vik, whose lanky frame looked ready to spill out of the chair that wasn't suited to his height.
"We're like a bad set of bookends," Vik grinned at David.
"Right on, man," David clinked his beer bottle against Vik's.
"I need to turn in, soon," I said. "Bekzi won't appreciate a hungover trainee."
"Back to that, huh?" David asked.
"I'm joining him," Vik said. "To brush up, you understand."
"Well, hell, why don't I come too—to keep you in line?" David lifted an eyebrow at Vik.
"Sure. Bekz won't mind."
"Bekz is awesome," David agreed before emptying his bottle. "Get your beauty rest, Goldilocks," he told me and slid off the bed. "Papa owl needs sleep."
MindMage: BlackWing Pirates, Book 2 Page 4