Rivers of Orion by Dana Kelly (a court of thorns and roses ebook free .TXT) 📕

said Hector. “Take a deep breath, okay? Being higged means you got money. Being well-higged… you can figure it out. Anyway, they don’t honor Galactic Credits here, which is why I offered to pay.”

“They can pay another way,” said the bartender, and he glanced toward the cozy corner up on the third floor. “If the skyman takes heed, all your food here is free. Regale us with tales of adventures authentic…” Over and over, he lifted his arms toward the crowd.

The patrons began chanting, “Regale us with tales of adventures authentic! Regale us with tales of adventures authentic!”

Orin shook his head, and his ears turned beet red. “No way. I can’t do this.”

“May I?” asked Mike, and he stepped forward. “Good people of the Cherry Grove Cantina! My name is Mike Santos, and I’d love to tell you a little bit about my corner of this great big galaxy we call the Milky Way.”

The crowd slowly fell silent. The bartender grinned as he retrieved several leaf-shaped slices of steak and plopped them on the grill. He mixed butter with olive oil, and brushed the meat with it, adding a handful of spices. The steaks sizzled, and he folded them over on themselves. He turned down the heat and listened as Mike spoke.

“We’ll start with something sad, like so many good stor—” He caught himself. “Like so many good scealers do. My very best friend and I stepped into a flying car for what turned out to be his uncle’s last ride…” Mike spun the story of the sky van collision, and how it brought Nimbus into their lives.

Apple served them the steaks with a side of mashed potatoes. She added a few shots of whisky and a bottle of port. Mike stuffed a few bites into his mouth and gulped some wine before continuing.

“Together, we faced a few dust ups over the years, but between Orin’s time on the high school wrestling team, Nimbus’s gift for shapeshifting, and my own skill in hand-to-hand combat, we usually triumphed. Then one night, as fate would have it…”

As he told them about the events outside Nostromo’s Descent, the crowd stirred. Mike paused his narrative as he tracked to where they were looking. The cozy corner stood empty, and the man who had occupied it slowly walked down the stairs to the second floor.

Apple leaned in close. “Don’t stop scealing, for goodness’ sakes!”

“Right.” Mike returned his attention to the crowd. “Well, Orin stood there, floating over the restaurant, with two halves of that truck held high off the ground…” As he continued, the skyman began to walk down to the first floor. “…we didn’t know what had just happened,” said Mike. “Orin passed out, right as the local law showed up.”

Just then, Casey, Malmoradan, Shona, Cajun, and Edison entered the establishment. “My dear listeners, I present to you the takedown crew,” said Mike. “Plus, Cajun and Dr. Stone.” He gestured toward them, and the crowd cheered. For a moment, they chanted Cajun’s name.

“It’s the beard,” grumbled Cajun.

“No, it’s you,” said Hector, and he hugged him sidelong. “Glad you vagrants could make it.”

“What the hell is going on?” asked Casey.

April gestured toward Mike. “He’s telling our story. It’s a very important part of the Cherry Grove tradition.”

The patrons made room for their guests, and Casey’s team sat down at the tables near Mike. As he resumed his tales, Apple approached to take their orders. “No thanks,” said Casey. “We already ate.”

“Wave me over if you change your mind,” said Apple. “Got a feeling all this will be free.”

Mike shared stories about their time at the Beacon Street police station, as well as the visit Martin’s driver paid them at his dorm room. “Now, Torsha and I weren’t about to fall for that ruse, so we gave him the slip. We holed up in an empty office directly over a reclamation facility…” Mike shared his account of their daring escape from the marketplace pursuers, their body-swap with the denshi-tengus, and how they snuck aboard Fox Mendes. As he narrated the pirate invasion, the skyman at last stepped into view. “…and with that, I subdued the man in the armored vacuum suit! Now, there wasn’t much time, so I, uh… hello.”

“Do continue,” said the skyman. He stood within a few paces of Mike. Noticeably taller than most of Cherry Grove’s denizens, the swarthy, aged man wore a thick, bearskin cloak that cast shadows over everything but his bestial smile and alabaster eyes.

“Right,” whispered Mike, and he cleared his throat. “Now, I knew there wasn’t much time…” He recounted everything, right up to the point of Shona’s exchange with the lantern skink. “And that, dear listeners, is my scealer.” He smiled at Shona, Orin, and the rest of his comrades. “That is our story.”

The skyman grinned. With a hearty laugh, he hugged Mike tightly, before drawing Orin and all of Casey’s team into a mighty embrace. “Your story is joined with our story, for as long as anyone lives to speak it. Welcome to Cherry Grove!”

Hector added himself to the hug.

“I still haven’t decided about you yet,” said the skyman, and he frowned at Hector.

“Oh,” said Hector. “But…”

Beaming, the skyman drew Hector into the embrace. “Long have you been welcome here, old friend. Everyone, eat, drink, and make merry! Today, two stories become one, and we should all celebrate as in the days of old!”

A raucous cheer rang out. Music and dancing filled the cantina.

Chapter 23

The Vessel

A dozen Cherry Grove locals accompanied Casey and her team as Hector led them back to his office. Outside, the storm raged on, and some of the chill had seeped into the structure’s lowest levels. Cylindrical heaters rose slowly from several street corners, and scattered groups gathered around them.

“Officer Cartwright!” shouted Rusty from down the way. Dressed now in something that resembled a security uniform, he hurried along the concourse. “Did Candy find you this morning?”

“Hey Rusty,” said Casey, and she stepped away from the