Vampirates 6: Immortal War (33 page)

Darke turned his head away. Seeing that the fire was dwindling in the grate, he walked over and lifted the poker again. For a minute, there was silence within the cabin, followed by the hiss, spit, and crackle of the fire as it grew strong once more. Carefully, Darke set down the poker and turned to face Grace.

“I had no idea you felt such anger toward me,” he said. “But I’m honestly glad you have shared your feelings with me, and, now you have said things as you see them, I can
understand how you feel.” He came to stand behind her chair, resting his hand on her shoulder. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice little more than a whisper. It took her back to a time when he had spoken only in that whisper, but now his voice grew louder once more. “I never thought I was keeping secrets from you and Connor. I was just trying to protect you both. When you set out from Crescent Moon Bay, neither one of you could have anticipated just what you were sailing into.”

His hand remained on her shoulder. At his words, Grace found herself back in Dexter’s old boat as it splintered around her and she was thrown into the ocean.

“That storm,” she said. “Our shipwreck. It didn’t happen by chance, did it? None of this happened by chance. It was time to call us back.”

He was silent for a time, then she felt his hand lift from her shoulder and he moved around to stand in front of her. “You’re right, of course,” he said. “After Dexter’s death there was no reason for you or Connor to remain in Crescent Moon Bay. It was, as you say, time to call you both home.”

Grace froze as everything came into focus. She couldn’t believe it had taken her so long to figure it out. “You were drawing both of us back to
The Nocturne
but the plan went wrong. You hadn’t reckoned on Cheng Li rescuing Connor.”

“Quite so,” Obsidian said with a nod. “So—the time
has come to put an end to all the secrets. You are strong enough now to know everything. Where shall we begin?”

Grace had no hesitation. “With Mosh Zu’s prophecy.”

Obsidian nodded. It took him only a moment to collect his thoughts, then he began to tell the story. “Five hundred years ago, in the time just before the New Flood, my comrades and I were summoned to Sanctuary.”

Grace leaned in closer. “Mosh Zu called you?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Obsidian nodded once again. “Let me show it all to you.”

“Show me?” Grace asked, confused.

“You’ve done this before,” Obsidian reminded her, turning to glance at the fire once more. “Look through the flames and I’ll take you there.”

Her heart hammering, Grace focused her eyes on the veil of flames. At first, her vision blurred as she watched the flames flicker and dance. She waited for the fire to fade and the world beyond to come into focus.

Just as she had anticipated, the fire receded and she found herself gazing into a familiar room: Mosh Zu’s meditation chamber. She recognized the mosaic floor with its imposing pattern of a compass. Mosh Zu was kneeling right at the heart of the mosaic design, looking down into a copper bowl filled with water.

As Grace’s senses tuned into the scene more deeply, she could hear the motion of the water in the bowl. She watched as its surface became agitated. Mosh Zu kneeled above it, as still as a statue in his orange robes. His eyes
were intent upon the surface of the water, which was now spinning in circles. Grace wanted to step nearer, to gain a closer look at the bowl, but she found herself rooted to her seat, as if held by an invisible force. And the first of four masked captains entered the room.

Cheng Li stood in the center of Ma Kettle’s Tavern, her back to the vast circular bar. She was taken by surprise at just how busy the tavern was. The whole ramshackle building reverberated with the noise of pirate troops making the most of every last precious moment of their transitory freedom.

“Commodore Li!” called out Sugar Pie, weaving through the crowd. “What a nice surprise! You look amazing, considering what you’ve been through!”

Cheng Li shrugged. “It takes more than one demented cowboy Vampirate to get this woman down.” Her look told Sugar Pie that she had nothing further to say on that particular subject. Smiling pleasantly, she glanced around the crowded tavern. “I see that business is booming.”

Sugar Pie nodded. “I hate to say it, but war has been very good for business.”

“That must be something of a comfort to Ma Kettle.”

“I hoped it might be, Commodore Li.” Sugar Pie’s expression changed. “I thought seeing the old tavern buzzing like this might bring Ma back to life.” She shook her head sadly. “But she’s lost all interest in the tavern. Time was, I’d have strained my vocal cords trying to persuade her to take just a little break on a night like this. But tonight, she hasn’t even come out front once. She just seems to want to stay in bed, muttering to Scrimshaw about Molucco and the old days.”

Cheng Li frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. I think all you can do is give her time.”

Sugar Pie nodded. “You’re right. Time is supposed to be the best healer. I’m going to keep a close eye on her. She’s been like a mum to me—it’s the least I can do.” Her face suddenly brightened and it was like the sun breaking through dark clouds. “Enough sad talk! It’s no way to welcome you back. I’m going to fetch you and your crew a round of drinks—on the house. And there’s no need for you to stand about here with the hoi polloi. There’s a VIP booth over there with your name on it.”

“Thank you,” Cheng Li said. “But I’m happy to stay here for a minute or two. I’m waiting for someone.” Her eyes returned to the entrance. “Ah, and here he is!”

Both women’s eyes settled upon the arresting young
man in a blue-gray uniform who now shook the hand of Pieces 08, the tavern’s trusty security guard, and proceeded past the velvet curtain into the bar.

Sugar Pie nudged Cheng Li. “Now he’s a walking definition of tall, dark, and handsome! Though a little pale for my liking.”

Cheng Li smiled. “He’s a Nocturnal.”

“Of course!” Sugar Pie said. “You know, I’m still getting used to them coming in here. Time was, a Vamp stepped past that curtain and we’d be on an all-points alert.”

“He’s not a Vampirate,” Cheng Li said, her voice heavy with feeling. “He’s a Nocturnal. It’s an important distinction.”

“Yes, I know,” Sugar Pie said. She was momentarily chastened but soon recovered, as she watched Lorcan stride toward them. “I haven’t seen him here before. I’d have definitely remembered such a pretty face.”

“Once seen, never forgotten,” agreed Cheng Li, raising her hand to signal to Lorcan. Cheng Li noted that many pirates, especially the women pirates, had turned to register the young Nocturnal’s arrival. She observed with undeniable satisfaction the envious eyes now turned toward her as Lorcan stood before her and gave the Alliance salute.

Flushed with pleasure, she returned the salute and dared to look once more into his unnervingly blue eyes. “Commander Furey, I’m so glad you were able to join us here tonight.”

Lorcan smiled. “I mustn’t stay long, Commodore Li, but I was keen to congratulate you all on the victorious return of
The Diablo
.”

“As usual, you are much too modest,” Cheng Li said, feeling the warm glow she always seemed to in his presence. “You know full well that the victory was, in a very considerable way, due to your inspired strategy.” She noted that he received praise a little awkwardly. His momentary unease only made him more charming. She reached out for his uniformed arm, deliciously aware of the daggers of envy being launched in her direction. “Come with me,” she said. “There’s a VIP booth waiting for us.”

Smiling again, Lorcan removed his cap. “Lead on, Commodore Li,” he said. “As you know, I’m something of a stranger in these parts.”

As they made their way through the crowd toward the roped-off booth, a familiar figure suddenly appeared before them.

“Cate!” Lorcan said, apparently catching her by surprise. She looked lost in her own thoughts but stopped and smiled to see her comrades.

“Lorcan,” Cate said. “You’re about the last person I expected to see here at Ma’s.”

“I invited him,” Cheng Li said with a smile. “We’re on the same side now.”

“Yes,” Cate nodded. “Absolutely.”

“Congratulations, Cate,” Lorcan said, clasping her hands. “It was a textbook victory.”

Cheng Li was momentarily perturbed by the display of easy affection between her two subordinates, but she recovered well. “Too modest by far,” she said, shaking her head. “You two have rewritten the rules on maritime warfare. Your names—
our
names—are now assured of their place in pirate history.”

“This war isn’t over yet,” Lorcan reminded her.

“Indeed not,” Cheng Li said. “We must now turn our attention to the next phase in this combat. I believe we are reaching a decisive moment. I thought we could talk further about this tonight.”

Cate smiled at Lorcan. “You see, my friend, there’s no such thing as a free drink.”

They had reached the VIP booth. As the velvet rope was moved aside for them to step forward, Cheng Li lost no time in advancing her cause. “Tell me, Commander, has Obsidian Darke thought any more about strategic alliances with other Nocturnals?”

Lorcan’s face was clouded as he replied. “Obsidian and I have talked many times of this, but I’m afraid I have no firm progress to report to you.”

Cheng Li shook her head. “I don’t understand why he remains so resistant,” she said, claiming the prime position at the table. “Surely he must see that we pirates cannot continue to bear the brunt of this war alone? Not when there are potential allies among the Nocturnal realm. He
must
bring them into play—and fast.”

“I agree,” Lorcan said, sitting down across from her. “But when it comes to persuading Obsidian, he is as obdurate as his name suggests.”

Cheng Li frowned. “He
must
yield on this point.” She laid her hand on Lorcan’s arm again. “Would it help if I talked to him directly?”

“I’m not sure,” Lorcan replied. “I’m not doubting your considerable powers of persuasion, but, on this matter, his mind appears to be firmly set.”

Cheng Li shook her head. “It’s up to you and me to find a way to stir him.” She glanced up, expecting to see Cate, but instead found herself looking at Bo Yin.

“Where did Cate get to?” Cheng Li asked her.

“She has a headache,” Bo Yin said. “She’s gone back to the ship.” Over Bo Yin’s shoulder, Cheng Li could see Cate’s familiar shock of red hair moving through the barroom like a flaming torch. “She might at least have said a proper good-bye—to our guest,” Cheng Li said, frowning.

“It’s all right,” Lorcan said. “I don’t think Cate has the taste for social gatherings just now. What with her grief for Bart and all.”

Cheng Li watched Cate disappear into the crowd, then returned her full attention to her companion. “You’re very understanding,” she said. “Perhaps even a little
too
understanding.”

“I don’t think so,” Lorcan said softly, but with steel in his voice. “Give her some time.”

“Is that an order?” Cheng Li’s eyes met his.

“No,” he said, his expression becoming more yielding. “Just a tip from one good friend to another.”

Basking in his choice of words and the honeyed brogue that never failed to delight her, Cheng Li sat back in her seat, at last beginning to relax.