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

“I understand,” said Gretchen, and she pocketed the lockbox.

They crossed the deck, where Gretchen pulled open the door, and they stepped into a wide staging chamber lined with old tubes and crates. A bedraggled fellow staggered toward them. “Beware the… hic! Beware the beast that hides amongs us!” he slurred, and he belched long and loud. He raised an upside-down tankard toward Eridani and looked surprised to notice its inverted state. “Oh no,” he muttered, and he shook the stein.

A loosely uniformed man emerged from a nearby latrine and sighed. “Get out o’ here, Toddy,” he said, and he nudged the drunkard with his boot. “Go on, now! Get!” He sat behind a broad, rusty desk as Toddy wandered off. “Don’t mind him. Always paranoid about something.” He scooted his chair closer. “I’m Dudlowe. What do I call you?”

“Jo,” said Eridani. “Call me Jo.”

Dudlowe chuckled. “Just like half the well-dressed folks that pass through here.” He pushed a button under the desk, and a holographic deck plan appeared before him. It flickered and blurred intermittently. “Okay Jo, you’re here,” he said, and he jabbed the image with his finger. “Looks like you’re dressed to do some hiring, and these are the places to do it. We got freebooters here in the Villa. Officer types can be found over here in the Veranda, and those people with a certain set of skills can be found here in the Arcade. If that’s what you’re after, I’d start with Rumsey Cove or Three-Moon Beach. Hope that helps.”

“It does. Thank you, Dudlowe,” said Eridani. She took a step past the desk, headed for the passageways beyond.

Dudlowe’s arm shot out, and she stumbled into it. “Not so fast,” he said, and he rubbed his fingers together. “No free parking!”

“You can’t blame a woman for trying,” said Eridani, and she retrieved her credit stick. He showed her the rates, and she paid the slip fee. “I’ll give you that much again if nothing happens to my Starwind while we’re gone. Do we have an understanding?”

“Sure thing, ma’am,” said Dudlowe, and he grinned. “I give you my personal guarantee!”

Eridani led her comrades through a large doorway, into a broad and crowded passageway that sloped gently upward in both directions. A din of talking, shouting, and singing filed the air. People of all species and sizes caroused, gambled, and arm-wrestled. Nearby, a small crowd placed bets as two burly lads engaged in competitive fisticuffs. A seaside mural spanned the overhead, crowning a shantytown overflowing with storefronts, cantinas, apartments, bodegas, and market carts.

As they passed by a saloon, something crashed loudly inside, and a heavy-set man stumbled backward through the door. Eridani jumped away to avoid colliding with him, but their feet entangled, and they both went down. “Ma’am,” he said, and he quickly stood up, charging back inside. “I never cheated! I never cheat!”

Under her shoe, Eridani spotted a well-worn ace of spades. With an amused smile, she discreetly slipped it into her sock and got back up. “I need to stay on my toes, it seems.”

“Are you keeping that for good luck?” asked Gretchen.

“I don’t know yet,” said Eridani. “Not much gets by you, does it?”

“I hope not,” said Gretchen.

Eridani brushed herself off and straightened her dress. “I believe the Arcade is just up ahead. Shall we?”

“I believe you’re right,” said Gretchen. “This way!”

They navigated the tumult, until they reached a building covered in wood paneling. Carved palm trees and bottles anchored the corners of its signboard. “Rumsey Cove,” it read, and Gretchen pushed on the door, but it held fast. “Okay,” she said, and she knocked.

After a moment, they heard a clunk from the opposite side of the door. A small rectangular panel folded open, and an embedded steel box slid out. “Coin check,” said a man on the other side.

“What kind of coin?” asked Gretchen.

“Coin check,” he said, and he tapped the box. “Coin check.”

“I heard you the first time,” said Gretchen. She retrieved her wallet and removed an old star navy challenge coin. With an uneasy sigh, she placed it in the box, closed the panel, and glanced at Eridani. “I don’t know long this is going to take.” She nodded toward a nearby clutter of cargo boxes. “You three can sit over there if you want.”

“We’ll wait with you,” said Eridani.

“You don’t need to,” said Gretchen. “Since I’m the face, I’ll need to be the one that goes inside and does the recruiting.”

Eridani raised her brow. “In other words, please wait out here.”

“Exactly,” said Gretchen.

Eridani approached the stacks of boxes and winced. “Some of those stains are still wet.”

“I’m sure it’s just blood,” said Gretchen. “And urine, probably. Eleski, catch!” She pilfered a grungy rag from a passerby and tossed it over.

“You have my undying gratitude,” rumbled Eleski, and she set to wiping down enough of the lids for the three of them to sit. She and Katsinki stabilized the clutter as best as they were able.

“Thank you,” said Eridani.

The door creaked open. A hooded figure returned Gretchen’s coin. “Come on,” he said. “Just you,” and Gretchen stepped inside. The entryway slammed shut.

Eridani, Eleski, and Katsinki gingerly settled upon the cargo boxes.

A rowdy group of freebooters passed by, but one of their number noticed Eridani. “I bet she’s got some work we can do!” He pointed at her, and the group changed direction.

Eleski and Katsinki stood up as the freebooters approached. All but the outspoken one stumbled and backed away. “Come on, guys. They’re obviously denshies,” he said. He was a handsome young man, and he strode right up to Eridani. “Hi, I’m Rigel.” He offered his hand.

Coolly, Eridani regarded him and slowly stood up. She placed her hands behind her back. “Hello, Rigel.”

“Cool,” he said.

“Do you have something I can use to contact you?”

He stood a little closer. “You mean, like my