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

a red and black bandana on his head. The maritime throne made him look tiny. “Greetings and salutations, Imperium! I’m happy to inform you that you’ve been cleared for docking. Transmitting the landing codes now!”

Eridani glanced frostily at Gretchen.

“It’s safe,” whispered Gretchen, and she nodded.

“Good,” said Eridani, and she accepted Bombal’s transmission.

◆◆◆

“I don’t feel good about leaving Torsha behind,” said Eridani. She and Eleski lingered in the launch bay, near the Starwind.

“A more reasonable disposition is required in order to avoid needless confrontation aboard the Black Doubloon,” said Eleski.

Eridani glanced her way. “I still don’t like it.”

Gretchen and Katsinki appeared at the lift and approached from across the deck. “Are we cool?” asked Gretchen when she had drawn near. She gestured between Eridani and herself.

“We’re fine, but if we’re going to work well together, you need to be completely honest with me about every tactical consideration you’re aware of,” said Eridani. “Torsha’s my first mate on paper, but you’re functionally my second-in-command. I’ll be leaning on you pretty heavily until I get the hang of captaining Imperium.”

“I’ll be better about that,” said Gretchen. “I promise. Here.” She passed Eridani a wad of black fabric. “You should change into this. Unfortunately, I don’t have any fancy footwear that’ll fit you, but at least your chucks are black, so we can make it work.”

Eridani held up the cloth, and it unfurled into a badly wrinkled dress. “This is too big for me.”

“It’s not that big.” Gretchen glanced between the garment and her captain. “You’re taller than me, but it’s long, so it should fit. No one’s going to take you seriously in a Hawai’ian trench coat and cutoff shorts.”

“I’ll try it on,” said Eridani. “Thanks for lending me your dress.”

“No problem, Captain.”

Eridani excused herself to the washroom across the way and closed the door. Moments later, she emerged wearing the very same clothes she had been wearing, with Gretchen’s dress draped over her arm. “People are just going to have to cope with my crazy style,” said Eridani.

“I could’ve sworn it was long enough,” said Gretchen.

“That’s not the problem,” said Eridani, and she rejoined her comrades. “You have…” She returned the dress and gestured. “…big boobs.”

Gretchen laughed and nodded. “That’s true. Sorry, I don’t wear dresses that often. I guess I hadn’t taken that into consideration.”

“If you are willing to confer your garment, I am able to make adjustments, so it fits,” said Katsinki.

“Sure,” said Gretchen, and she tossed him the dress. “It’s yours now, Captain.”

“One moment, please,” said Katsinki. Softly, his silver eyes glowed, and one of his forearms separated into an assortment of tools. After a flurry of snipping and sewing, his forearm returned to its original configuration, and he handed Eridani the altered garment. “It is ready.”

“Thank you very much,” said Eridani, and she headed back to the washroom. “I’ll be right back.”

She soon emerged, with her day clothes in hand. A thick braid of golden hair fell over her bare shoulders. The dress fit her perfectly. “I hope this will do,” she said as she approached, and she wore a composed smile.

“Shoot me if you don’t look the part,” said Gretchen. “I’ll start preflight.”

Eleski gazed. Her ears and cheeks glowed brightly. “Um, you… Captain. I will, uh…” She pointed at the shuttle. “Help. Help Gretchen. I mean.”

“Sounds like your vocal modulator’s out of alignment,” teased Gretchen. “Maybe you should look into that first.” She stepped into the cockpit and lowered the cargo ramp.

“Please excuse me,” said Eleski. She ran up the ramp and vanished around the corner as she hurried for the cockpit.

“After you, Captain,” said Katsinki, and he followed Eridani aboard. They crossed the shuttle’s cargo compartment to a partially enclosed lift. Affixed to the overhead directly above it, a steel marquis displayed, “VIP Room.” It glowed under a ring of blacklight.

“What a sleazebag,” muttered Eridani. “The more I find out about this guy, the happier I feel about what Torsha did.” She opened the lift’s waist-high gate. “No lecture? This seems like the right time and place for it.”

He shook his head. “You are already aware of life’s inherent value. All of Husthar’s truths were drenched in blood. I neither mourn nor regret his passing. It is unfortunate Ostonk perished by mistake because it robs his victims of justice. However, the summary refutation of his murderous truths is justice enough, I suppose.”

“Sounds like you’re glad they’re dead,” said Eridani, and she boarded the lift.

Katsinki joined her. “Indeed I am.”

Moments later, they set foot on the upper deck. Moving single file, they followed a narrow passage that ended at a door. Eridani opened it into a cozy lounge. Comfy leather couches and a full wet bar lined the bulkheads, and she spent a moment gazing through the crystal canopy as Eleski joined them.

“Gretchen did not require my assistance,” said Eleski, and she smiled awkwardly. “We will need to secure ourselves in a seated position prior to takeoff.”

“Right,” said Eridani, and she entered the lounge. They all sat down and buckled their lap restraints, making themselves comfortable on the rear couch.

“I have never been in this compartment,” stated Katsinki. “It is exceptionally luxurious.”

“I have only been in here to clean it,” said Eleski.

Eridani stretched out. “It reminds me of the limo I took to prom.” She perked up and sniffed. “Did he put…? Is that cologne in the vents?”

Katsinki winced. “Affirmative. I detect traces of jasmine, a well-known aphrodisiac.”

“What a sleazebag!” said Eridani.

Eleski quietly sighed.

“Everyone ready?” asked Gretchen. She sounded loud and clear through the surround-sound speakers.

Eridani scanned the lounge for a microphone but found nothing of the sort. “Not even for karaoke?” she muttered, and she retrieved her phone. “That’s a little surprising.” She selected Gretchen from her list of contacts and typed in, “Yes.”

“There’s a comm system built into each of the sofa arms,” said Gretchen. “You can push one of the buttons on the side to talk to me.”

Eridani quickly found one. “Hey, Gretchen. Yes, we’re ready.”

“Good. Hold on tight!”

Moving slowly, the shuttle taxied out,