Taming a Raven

by Kathleen Lash

  “General,” she said as she turned her attention to the screen. “Are you sure who has your Major Deacon?”

  “Our best intel igence believes it to be Theazians.”

  “Do you have a place of privacy, Sir, where I might access this data beast?” She scanned the room, seeming to once again notice the rank and file watching her. She looked unsure.

  He glanced around at his officers when they snickered at her term for the computer. Deadpan expressions replaced the grins quickly and silence ensued. “My cabin has a link, Lady.”

  She swal owed and her eyes final y glanced away. “Is it possible to clear this chamber for a time?”

  “No, Lady. If you require privacy while you access, we’l move to my cabin.” Ordering his second-in-command, he said, “LeRoy, hold course in Haven’s orbit until I give the order.”

  “Sir?” he asked.

  “Colonel,” he replied. Unaccustomed to having his orders questioned, he stared at the man who’d watched his back through many years of service.

  “We’ve been hailed twice in your absence and asked about our departure. Should the president contact us again—”

  “You’l inform him I’ve done his bidding, retrieved the raven and wil take action when the woman has two seconds to gain her bearings and give a direction. He’s personal y worked with a tracker and should realize the speed in which they process. Seems to me her ability with the data beast already saved hours of book searching and map fingering.”

  “Agreed, Sir.”

  He cast a glance over those present, scanning for any subtle change in expression. Not one dared display a hint of anything other than total acceptance of the term data beast. His stance on her presence changed the minute she displayed remorse over careless words. It somehow made him revisit the fact that despite her earlier angering behavior, she’d work for him, for al of them. As he understood it, the process wouldn’t be particularly enjoyable.

  LeRoy cal ed the group to order and they stood at attention. With his hands folded behind his back, he tilted his head slightly to the side, waiting for her. She stood reluctantly and he escorted her to the door.

  * * * * *

  The ship fascinated Reina. Her mind held images from schooling, which were nil compared to actual y being inside the great vessel Raze. More than one thousand soldiers occupied the hul if at ful capacity. A special docking station needed to be constructed to accommodate her girth and length. Her flight power in battle, intricate systems and stealthy engines were known to many worlds. It astounded her that she, Lady Reina of the Raven Clan from the smal planet Haven, did indeed walk the hal s of the greatest battle vessel ever constructed. Such a humbling experience.

  The general’s boots clicked with the tempo of his stride, which seemed unusual y long and determined. Personal y, she would’ve been happy with a more leisurely pace so she could take in everything flying by. At the end of a corridor, a lift sped them upward before they walked some more. People whom they passed stopped to give him attention and unfroze only once they’d walked by. She knew because she found the actions most unusual and kept turning to see what they’d do when he couldn’t spy them easily.

  He held her arm lightly and she felt the warmth and strength in his fingers as he led her toward a particular door. The door slid away before he escorted her into what must’ve been his chamber. The word chamber to her was likened to stone wal s, comfortable bed, furs piled high and sparse necessities. His chamber was large, warm and wondrously fil ed with incredible oddities.

  “Is this where you sleep, Sir?”

  “Yes.”

  She walked, touched and studied the top of the desk and the fine, supple material covering the chairs before noticing the art hanging on the wal s. To be in possession of such superior creations astonished her. The strokes of brush on canvas unmistakably revealed the artists who’d rendered them. The themes held her rapt attention because of the dark, foreboding nature and use of only black, gray and white. Fascinating! Such depth of emotion captured in each painting.

  She knew the general to be of the Domineer breed. It was little wonder such portraits of male power and feminine submission agreed with him. But, oh, the looks of stunned pleasure on the women’s faces! Could one feel so much pleasure from holding a man between her legs?

  “Are these genuine or replicas, Sir? Mazdone, Sarrious, Jennings—not their most famous works but certainly precious.” She spoke without thought as she gazed, studying the detail.

  “They’re real, Lady,” he replied, sounding bored or annoyed, she couldn’t decipher which.

  She sighed loudly at hearing his impatience and closed her eyes to stop her perusal of the stunning paintings. After turning to face him, she offered,

  “Once again, General, please forgive me. I’l offer the explanation this once and try very hard not to have to apologize for myself again. I have intricate knowledge of the toys you have at your fingertips.” His eyes winced slightly and she wondered what she’d managed to say. “What I have in my head is two-dimensional however, and my slack-jaw intrigue at al the pretty, pretty things you take for granted is probably terribly annoying to you. And for that, Sir, I apologize and wil try very hard to withhold my astonishment in the future.”

  With him immobile and glaring, perhaps she’d made a mistake speaking at al . She knew how to appropriately address a man of his rank and remained fairly certain she’d not breached etiquette. She also wasn’t a lack-wit on basic manners. Not understanding his penetrating stare, she moved to touch his arm in an attempt to reach past social propriety and converse—one being to another. “Have I done something or said something even more atrocious, General? If you’l speak plainly with me, Sir, I’l avoid whatever I’ve done henceforth.”

  “Lady Raven—”

  “It would make me feel less foreign if you’d cal me Reina, Sir. I understand your military protocol and the absolute need for formality, but to have my name spoken without title would make the smal flying creatures in my stomach take a nap.” His expression softened as his gaze became less intense.

  She smiled because of it. She felt better immediately and quietly released the breath she’d held.

  “Lady, I may not address you informal y. To do so would suggest familiarity. As for your hand on my arm…” He looked down pointedly and she removed her fingers from him instantly before he finished. “A touch so casual might suggest a deeper interest than I believe you have.”

  “I’m sorry but I don’t understand. You held my arm as we walked,” she said before noticing the set of his jaw and his eyes narrowing the slightest bit.

  “No, don’t get angry with me again, please explain. I have knowledge of your customs.” Best she tel him the exact truth, for she feared he’d see through any embel ishment. “Wel , in truth sharing between us, not an extensive learning in your ways. But the only way I can learn is to be told.”

  “My touch was social y proper while escorting you, Lady. Your warm hand on me however, caressing me while you speak, is an intimate gesture. It offers invitation for me to touch you similarly.”

  Stil confused, she grabbed his hand and placed it upon her arm. “But you may do so. See? I’ve taken no offense and as it stands, your hand is quite reassuring.” He jerked away, breaking al contact before his angry expression came back. Casting her eyes down, she realized there’d be no learning from the general. “I offer no further apology for my actions because you won’t teach me. And that’s fine. There’s an entirely different approach to my stomach troubles and your anger, Sir. I’l become a fine little soldier in your army and fol ow commands. After al , I’m here for that purpose. You may use me at wil to get your baby major back.”

  When she glanced up, his eyes narrowed even more. Impossible, but it happened.

  “First, let me explain you’re never to use the word baby and major in the same breath. Second, I require your services for which your clan wil reap the benefits. I don’t use women.”

  “But I�
��m a raven and you’l use me to track the minor major, er, the president’s little major. Is that not so?” His huffing caused her to relay some bewilderment. “We speak the same language but apparently it’s my words that offend you. Why? You understand me, you take my meaning and I’m certain there’s no inflection in my tone. What’s wrong with you?”

  “Wrong with me! Wrong—with—me, Lady? A major is never a minor.”

  By the way the man bit out each word, she reckoned silence might’ve been more appropriate. But he’d touched her so gently in the breeding chamber and even took the whip from the materna. Forever making wrong assumptions, she hurried to correct her latest. “But the president has several sons of which Blaize is the last born. Am I not correct, Sir? Isn’t his other son Blain also a major? So in reference to Blaize, how should I address him to make myself clear?”

  He suddenly burst into laughter and she took several steps away. By the stars, the man was mad. He was angry one moment and laughing the next. A body could have a range of emotion but for one to replace another without the slightest preamble gave her reason to keep a distance.

  “Forgive me, Lady, it never occurred to me you knew of Deacon’s other children.” After quieting his laughter, the smile remained. “If you’l refer to his youngest simply as major, it’d suffice. He is the one we seek, so I won’t misunderstand you.”

  “Oh.” But what caused his sudden change? How would a being know to use just a title? And what brought about his sudden fit of laughter? He appeared angry at her description and then found humor in it?

  The smile fading, he said, “But on the use of a raven, the word in that context isn’t appropriate.”

  “No, but why? Won’t you be using me, Sir?”

  His intensity came back and with the light crystal ine blue of his eyes focused on her, she temporarily regretted asking. She wondered again about his sanity.

  “Its connotation is sexual in nature, Lady.”

  “Real y?”

  “Real y.” He didn’t sound overly enthusiastic about the prospect.

  After mul ing it over, she wondered why the sexual aspect of the word bothered him. Obviously she repel ed him, or perhaps his tastes ran in a different direction. As long as ravens had been tracking for the Governance, their urges were general y met by the senior officer. Had things changed since her education? Would she be expected to satisfy the maddening sexual desire alone? Of course she could do so, had tended herself often during punishment when others weren’t permitted to bring her to climax. But that’d been during discipline and she’d yet to misbehave! At least not intentional y.

  She wondered why she’d hoped and prayed al those years for the chance to have just one opportunity to see such things, experience this life before she’d breed. Over the years, she’d often dreamed of tracking for the Governance, flying about the stars while learning of new worlds, testing her education and honing her skil s. Also, knowing that providing service would get a male between her legs made it al the more appealing. It’d be just her luck to have one little mission to find a minor major before she’d be dumped right back into the breeding chamber. Alas, as fate would have it, her time aboard the Raze would be much the same as her time on Haven. She loved children, knew her duty, but…

  Gage studied her reaction and knew his warning was taken to heart because of her crestfal en expression. She appeared to be bright, lighthearted and very enthusiastic until then. Unrefined curiosity and energy vibrated from her. She was unlike any female he’d dealt with and he’d attempt to look beyond her words so that his explanations wouldn’t damage her ego in the future.

  “Lady Reina?”

  “Yes, General?”

  “You requested privacy and a computer link. Would you please begin?”

  “Certainly.”

  He offered her access by extending his arm. She took a moment and appeared to study him to make sure it’d be al right before she sat at the console. Why? It irritated him she thought twice prior to accepting his invitation. His actions were seldom if ever contradictory.

  “My schooling is older than it should be,” he said once she’d sat. “I was taught once knowledge of the subject is gained, you utilize some unnatural ability to start the process of location. I believe we were told you run your hands and fingers over star charts until a solar system then planet can be selected. Do you need those things?”

  “No thank you, Sir. Your virtual data wil be adequate. My comfort is with technology, not paper. Before I begin, do you have any questions about the role you’re to play?”

  “Pardon?”

  “I need you to keep me on task, guide me and write down any clues I give.”

  “Clues!” So much for looking beyond her words.

  “Wel , General, it’s not as if I’l close my eyes, twirl my fingers through the air, stab at a planet and cal it done! This is a joint venture, Sir, and I damn wel need a guide. Is there someone on your Raze who’s worked with a raven?”

  “No. Those with direct knowledge have moved up in rank, perished or retired. My crew is ful y trained with the latest technology, not practices from decades past.”

  She looked scared and he wondered what other fascinating tidbits had been glossed over in the text. To play along with her probably wouldn’t require much. Alone in his cabin, the chance of anyone witnessing the idiot game he’d invariably be forced to participate in were nil. If indeed by some miracle it gained him a scrap of information, it’d be worth his temporary discomfort and humiliation.

  “Explain what you’l need.”

  She swal owed and her gaze searched his. “This should be easy for you. You seem an intel igent man, um—general. Let me hear your voice as I fly.

  Guide me with your words and remind me who we’re looking for. I’l relay things back as I search. Write them down. Speak not only of the—major, speak of the Theazian you believe has him. It should be fine. I have more knowledge from the data beast than any raven who’s taken flight. Are you ready?” Whatever happened, he firmly believed the stark panic in her voice to be quite real. At least in her mind. “You’re not entirely at ease. Is there cause for concern?”

  Silently staring, assessing him, determination lit her eyes. “No. Al wil be wel so let’s begin.” Her hands touched the console and brought it to life. Her command of the computer tremendous, his fascination was intense as he watched her navigate. Star systems spun as galaxies rotated through her fingers. The process went on quietly for five minutes as he studied her technique, the dancing of fingertips amidst the light. When a particular star system appeared, her hands slowed and moved almost lazily through the cluster of planets. Her ability impressed him. He hoped not to witness any head rol ing, chanting or other such melodramatic behavior.

  The only warning he’d received from texts related to the raven’s flight was to watch her closely. Of course she wouldn’t physical y fly about the room, but he prepared for something equal y ridiculous. He recal ed a tidbit in relation to a raven taking on an animal quality.

  About to ask if she’d located something, hardly able to believe it possible, he glanced at her face. He stood abruptly and nearly knocked the chair over in his haste. Her expanded pupils completely fil ed her eye openings. Her skin looked chalky and she took in breaths with great speed as if she’d been running. As for appearing akin to an animal, she didn’t. She looked like an underworld demon.

  “Lady, are you wel ?”

  Her head went back and her neck stretched prior to her chin coming down close to her chest. The three-dimensional model of the stars and planets in the Zyone sector rotated. Tilting her head slightly to the side, she gazed through the tops of her eyes. Her appearance disturbed him on a gut level. And the longer she gazed, the more her fingers sought, the less she looked like a woman.

  “Lady Reina!”

  A vibration went through him as she communicated nonverbal y. How the hel would he gather clues from her screeching? He sat back down and instinctively touched her arm. Fr
igid cold entered him as his body became lighter and the room grew dark.

  “Reina!”

  You’re not meant to follow here. Her gentle words formed in his mind without ever coming through his ears. Release my arm and ground me with your voice.

  To release her would require a physical body, of which he had none. Dark emptiness erupted into bril iant light before spinning violently. Arrays of color burst. Then nothing, absolute nothingness surrounded him. Death.

  His ears rang, his eyes burned and he sat back in the chair until his mind refocused. When he could once again see, he found her hovering alone in that place of hel . The hand that touched her was stil numb from cold.

  “Reina?” he asked with a raspy voice.

  “Here. Alone. Focused. Waiting.”

  “Where are you?”

  “Zyone. Lost.”

  “Come back to me.”

  “My people. Help me. Guide me.”

  “You’re not wel .”

  “The name—give me the baby’s name. Tiny, tough little man who’s determined to play more than simulation games with virtual soldiers. Wants the blood, battles, victory, glory. Ful of pride, this babe, standing on the remains of those he’s trampled in his reach for the stars.”

  “Major Deacon?”

  “Blaize, as in fire.”

  The map spun as she leaned forward. She gazed into the light at images, tilting her head first to the left then to the right. How could she navigate or concentrate in the dark? He couldn’t comprehend how she stayed on task.

  “Bound, beaten, the blood his, not from faceless others as was his dream. Penance, remorse and terror hold fast,” she said, the words flowing quickly. “The stink of burning death is heavy in his head. He asks forgiveness through despair. Hush, baby major, hush now. Feel my presence. Know that we’re searching.”