BlackWing: First Ordinance, Book 3 (17 page)

I was grateful.

It had also taken my mind off many troubles, and I was grateful for that, too. Terrett smiled and saluted me with his cup before drinking. I ducked my head and smiled, too.

* * *

BlackWing I

Bear Wright

"We have two ships bound for Vic'Law today," Ace set a comp-vid on my desk. He and his wife, Wynn, wanted to join the crew; they'd arrived with Marco and Cori DeLuca the night before after getting Ashe's permission to leave SouthStar and come with us.

The one who'd surprised me by coming on his own was William Winkler.

"So we follow at a reasonable distance and engage Cayetes' ships when they show up?" I asked.

"That's the plan," Ace grinned. He'd allowed his pale, blond hair to grow longer; a lock fell over an eyebrow as he nodded. Ace was a rare, white wolf when he shifted. Wynn, his mate, was even rarer—a unicorn.

Marco was a black wolf—Cori a panther. Winkler was perhaps the ultimate werewolf—for years, he'd acted as the Dallas Packmaster on Old Earth.

"What if we need backup?" I asked.

"We have something planned—a fleet of six is at our disposal at the Le-Ath Veronis space station, all painted, named and numbered
BlackWing
Two
through
Seven
. I talked Lissa into it yesterday. They're hidden in a private hangar."

"What if we need them immediately?"

"Then it's my job to transport them," Winkler chuckled.

"Outfitted with crews, I take it?"

"Most of them. I believe Farzi and Nenzi have command of number two."

"They can transport themselves," I pointed out.

"Less for me to do," Winkler shrugged.

"Never thought I'd be a pirate," Ace slapped Winkler on the back.

"All we need now are eye patches and a parrot," Winkler quipped.

* * *

Vic'Law

Quin

"You think Cardino and Churg are holed up in Puntia? That's less than a hundred clicks away," Sal said.

We were deep in our meeting to determine how to keep the people of Mundia warm and supplied through what looked to be a terrible winter. Snow fell outside the library window; I watched large flakes swirl and eddy as the wind blew them against the mansion. While I'd slept through the night, snow had already accumulated that would cover my boot-tops. More was coming before the night was out, too.

"They'll attempt to cut off our supply of natural gas, now that their efforts to destroy the plant and burn down most of the city have failed," Caylon tilted his head in acknowledgment. Already we understood that they'd anticipated this storm and had timed their attack on the power plant before its arrival. Without our intervention, many in Mundia would be frozen by morning.

"It's likely that food deliveries are already interrupted, although Shim will bring that information with him when he and his twenty arrive tonight," Berel pointed out. He and Bel Erland had already discussed this, I could tell.

"I've had word from Winkler—they're tracking two ships that left port bound for Vic'Law today," Sal said. "They intend to stay a safe distance behind until Cayetes' ships show up to take the cargo and leave both crews dead."

"What's the cargo?"

"Textiles, clothing and specialized orders for the families on one ship," Sal said. "The other has wheat, imported beer, electronics, that sort of thing."

"Because the warehouses between here and Puntia are supposed to supply Mundia with food," Kaldill tossed up a hand in frustration. "I can arrange for exports from elsewhere to feed the city—at least for a short while. We need something long-term."

"Greenhouses and hydroponics? Mundia is beside a river," Bel Erland said. "We have plenty of water, even if supply ships are stopped."

"What about the manufacturing concerns, here?" Justis asked. "What does Mundia make that can be marketed elsewhere?"

His observations made me think of Puntia and what Barstle Cardino and Nardes Churg could be manufacturing to sell elsewhere. If my suspicions were correct, those two had been in league together for several years. Somewhere, too, was the distribution point for the drakus seed. That intensified my desire to look at Barstle, Nardes and their connection to someone from the Xilva family—I'd know exactly what they were plotting and how deep their betrayal of Vic'Law ran.

"If there are any existing buildings that aren't in operation or are manufacturing something that isn't really needed by the residents, then I suggest repurposing them," Berel said. "I feel we can have a thriving greenhouse section quickly if we work toward that goal."

"We can ask for enough wheat to keep the city in bread for a few weeks after we take those two ships," Lafe suggested.

"I think same," Yanzi agreed.

"I want to find the source of the drakus seed," I blurted. "Whether it is grown here or delivered at Cayetes' command. We need it gone. I worry that Barstle and Nardes are intending to use it to take Vic'Law. What Cayetes has planned for them afterward I don't wish to know."

"What evidence do you have for this?" Caylon asked.

"All those men—who were firing at Justis and me—all of them had drakus seed in their systems. I believe that Cayetes or someone else has devised a way to keep from killing the drakus seed addicts, but with the intention of keeping them under their thumb through their addiction."

"How did those men die, Quin?" Caylon asked.

Hanging my head, I struggled not to weep. "I killed them," I whispered. "I called to the drakus seed in them. It overwhelmed them immediately and stopped their hearts. I killed them."

Turning, I ran from the room, barely able to see through my tears as I sought my suite.

* * *

Bel Erland

"At least we know, now," Caylon sat heavily on a sofa near the fireplace.

"I hope you understand that this talent is something she will use only as a last resort?" Kaldill's voice was low and filled with anger. "Justis' last protection jewel had fired before she did this. She was protecting his life."

"You act as if I'm Quin's enemy," Caylon snapped back. "I assure you I am not. The Orb, on the other hand—I do not trust it. As long as it has control of Quin, then I will be suspicious."

"Then be suspicious outside her hearing," Lafe growled before leaving the library.

Justis was already gone—he'd raced after Quin following her disappearance. I'd risen to follow, but Justis beat me to the door.

Therefore, I stayed in the library to listen to the others.

* * *

Quin

"You saved my life." Justis' arms were wrapped tightly about me. I'd wanted to weep my heart out alone, but he'd found me anyway. "The first time you have to kill may be the hardest, but it's never easy, my love. I'm grateful for your intervention, or I wouldn't be here with you now."

I hated having to do it
, I sent. I couldn't speak the words aloud, so I chose mindspeech.

I hate that you had to do it, too. We're hunting criminals, beloved. You must be prepared to protect yourself and those you care for
.

I would do it again—I can't lose you a second time
, fresh tears fell.

I'm sorry you thought me dead
, he replied.

"How is she?" Lafe arrived and took a seat on the bed on my other side, his weight making the frame creak softly. His hand ran gently down my feathers, soothing what had been ruffled during the dash to my suite.

"Upset about killing those who deserved it," Justis responded.

"My love, they would have killed you without a second thought—you'd be dead if Kaldill's shield hadn't held. He explained that to me afterward, over a bottle of very strong wine," Lafe straightened another feather.

"Most trainees aren't faced with such terrible opponents so early in their instruction," Caylon appeared. "You have my apologies, young virsee."

"I want to fold space," I quavered the moment Caylon disappeared.

* * *

Le-Ath Veronis

Magul stood at the railing of the tour boat, staring at the glass castle. The structure was enormous. Certainly larger than he'd imagined after seeing the images on his comp-vid. If he were used to appreciating such things, he'd have thought it breathtaking. Instead, he glowered as he imagined how much trouble it would be to get into it.

Swimmers were lifted regularly from the waters by vigilant Black Wing guards and deposited wet and shivering on the deck of the boat they'd leapt from. They'd drown otherwise—the current surrounding the castle was much too strong to swim.

Vardil Cayetes had sent him to accomplish an impossible task. He wouldn't accept any excuse for not getting the job done, no matter how valid Magul's reasons might be.

"Do you suppose the Red Wing King ever comes out?" a woman sidled up to him. Magul recognized her face and preened at her interest—she was quite becoming. Perhaps a dalliance before the day was over? It would take his mind off his task and help convince her at the same time.

"I have no idea," Magul offered a false smile. "Perhaps we can find out. Together."

* * *

BlackWing I

Bear Wright

"They're here," Marco pulled up a map of our immediate surroundings. Cayetes' ships—three of them—had slipped in behind the two freighters. They were now between us and the intended targets.

"What kind of defense system do the freighters have on board?" Ace asked.

"Just the standard laser cannons—in case they're fired on," Winkler replied after studying a comp-vid he held. "These shipping lanes are generally safe."

"Not anymore," Amos Thompson observed dryly. "Who's up for target practice?"

* * *

Vic'Law

Quin

"Mr. Thompson is in charge of BlackWing's weapons," Sal said. "He was a sharpshooter when he was in the military. He doesn't miss his targets."

"You mean Cayetes' ships are under attack now?" Mell asked.

I'd been lured to the kitchen after Justis and Lafe stopped my tears, with the promise of hot tea and a fresh cookie. We'd found Sal already there, eating a plate of cookies.

"That's what I heard," Sal nodded. "Winkler called in another ship—the BlackWing II, so that ought to do it. They'll redirect the freighters after they take care of Cayetes' crew."

"What will they do with them? The crew?" I asked. Sal handed me a cookie off his plate with a grin. "Other than leaving them in an escape pod or two, nothing—I hear Kooper and the ASD will just happen along and take them into custody. If we can get Alliance newsvids here, I figure we'll see them hauled off to jail. Cayetes will be livid."

"He'll try to kill what we've captured," Justis pointed out. "So they won't talk."

"True. If they're taken to Le-Ath Veronis, I'd like to see Cayetes' assassins try to get past Lissa's guards."

They may have Sirenali with them
, Terrett said.
My love, are you all right?
He and Berel walked into the kitchen together
.

I'm all right
, I replied.

"Lissa knows to post guards who aren't susceptible to a Sirenali's obsession," Sal said. "Although they can cause enough trouble to make up for that between the space station and the palace."

Let's hope they can't speak, then
, Terrett frowned.

"Cayetes needs to stop making them," I muttered. "He's abusing them, if my guess is right."

He would
, Terrett agreed. I blinked at him before turning away. Yes, I understood some things about Terrett's past—things he didn't like to recall. I didn't want to cause him pain by bringing them up.

"Our guests will be here in an hour," Kaldill folded into the kitchen to remind us. "Dress casually so we won't upset or offend our visitors."

* * *

Our guests arrived together, although they had a difficult time getting up the hill in the snow. They should have accepted our invitation to pick them up, but they weren't sure they could trust us.

Not yet.

Kaldill, Berel and Bel Erland greeted them at the door and brought them into the dining hall, which Mell, Pellen and Jeslin had managed to make as plain as they could. The food was also plainer than might be found on many a table belonging to those in power on Vic'Law—by design.

Still, the food was very good, with a few additions that our guests would certainly appreciate. They were brought to the table; Shim made introductions and the meal went well.

"I think we can have things well in hand by the end of an eight-day," Kaldill explained. "You must understand that Mundia is a special case for us, and we don't want it falling into the hands of Barstle Cardino and Nardes Churg.

"Because this is the largest manufacturing city on Vic'Law," one of our guests complained.

"Once our mission here is complete, we will leave the city with its citizens," Bel Erland interjected.