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

Eleski glanced briefly toward the entrance. “They are working for Admiral Schurke. That convergence burns brightly. I do not yet know what they seek to accomplish, but it is possible they may lead us to vital information. I believe it is worth the risk to continue working with them.”

“I agree,” said Eridani. “We’ll need to be very careful with who we trust.”

◆◆◆

Back aboard Imperium, Eleski and Katsinki remained in the hangar, maintaining their cullthoun disguises. Gretchen showed Roscoe, TJ, and Ramsey to their rooms, while Eridani met Grostonk in the galley. They shared a discreet conversation, and when they had finished, Grostonk hurried to the bridge. He relieved the navigation officer and sat down at her station.

Eridani ascended to Imperium’s ready room. Located just below the command deck, two doors stood across from her on the other side of a large table. The door on the left led to her personal quarters.

The right-side door swung open, and Torsha peered out. “There you are! How did it go?”

“Not bad,” said Eridani.

“Nice dress, by the way. Very slinky. Did you get it at the space station?”

“Gretchen gave it to me.” Eridani glanced around. “Why don’t you come inside for a few? We should catch up.”

“Maybe you should grab a shower first,” said Torsha. “You smell like you sat in something. No offense.”

“I’d rather catch up with you first,” said Eridani. “A lot’s happened in the last few hours.”

Torsha regarded her skeptically. “Okay, sure. After you, I guess.”

Eridani led Torsha inside. She closed and locked the door behind her. Overhead track lights bathed a recessed coffee table and leather couch. Across from the bed’s alcove, tall viewports offered glimpses of the stars through gaps in the starship’s reticulated bow plating. To the right stood a recessed counter and sink, framed by an embedded mini-refrigerator and mini-dishwasher.

“Nice place,” said Torsha.

“Thank you,” said Eridani. “Bloodtusk did all the decorating.” She hurried to the bathroom and turned on the shower. With a nod, she returned to Torsha and quietly explained everything that had happened aboard the Black Doubloon.

◆◆◆

The following morning found Eridani and Torsha dressed in sweats, sipping coffee together in the ready room. “Captain, incoming hail from Admiral Schurke,” said Brady over the comm. “For Bloodtusk’s eyes only. Does he know you’re the new captain?”

She stood up and pushed a button on the comm interface. “Hey Brady, I’m about to inform him. Please acknowledge receipt of his transmission, but do not reply.”

“Aye, Captain,” said Brady. “Acknowledging receipt of transmission.”

Eridani released the button and glanced at Torsha. “Bloodtusk is late for his delivery.”

Torsha looked uneasy. “I hope you have a plan.”

“I do,” said Eridani. “But I’ll need your help.”

“Cool,” said Torsha.

“Eleski and Katsinki should be in their quarters. Please ask them to meet me on the bridge, ready to talk to Schurke. They’ll know what to do.”

“I’m on it,” said Torsha, and she hurried for the lift.

Eridani watched the doors close, and she breathed into her hands. Quickly, she re-entered her room. As she changed into the clothes she had arrived in, she activated the comm. “Bridge crew, this is a classified communication. I need everyone to step out while I talk to the admiral.”

“Roger that,” said Brady. “We’ll wait for your word to return to stations.”

“Thanks, Brady. Talk to you soon.” She messed up her hair and smudged her cheeks with space station grime scraped from the bottom of her shoes. Pausing to look in the mirror, Eridani nodded and hurried up to the command deck.

Grostonk, Eleski, and Katsinki soon arrived. Grostonk readied his data tracker as the others reviewed their talking points. Eleski took the form of Bloodtusk, and she grabbed Eridani by the hair. Eridani gripped tightly, guiding Eleski’s hold on her, and Katsinki assumed Ostonk’s form. “We are ready,” he said, his voice deep and gravely.

“You need to speak like him, not just sound like him,” said Eridani.

Katsinki cleared his throat. “We’re ready.”

Eridani smiled approvingly. “Much better.”

Steeling herself, Eleski answered the hail. “Admiral Schurke,” she said in Bloodtusk’s voice. “It’s so good to see you!”

“Enough!” barked Schurke. Deep lines followed the contours of his forehead and sunken cheeks. Crow’s feet lingered near his hazel eyes. From the apex of his iron-gray widow’s peak, a jagged scar crossed one side of his brow. “You missed the handoff, and you kept me waiting. What are you playing at?”

“Nothing, sir, I swear! It’s the girl.” She hoisted Eridani into view, kicking and grunting as she pretended to strain against Eleski’s grip. “She… uh, I think she’s pregnant. She throws up everything we give her to eat. I’m trying to get a doctor up here to confirm.”

“I retain a highly skilled medical staff,” said Schurke. “You know this!”

“I do, but trying to move her through space is risky, if she’s pregnant.” Eleski set Eridani back down.

“You’re hiding something.” Schurke’s leather chair creaked as he leaned back. He formed a cage with his gloved fingertips. “What are you hiding?”

“Nothing, sir.”

“Something did happen to my Dark River assets,” said Schurke. “I knew it—I can see it in your eyes! They’ve been injured, or worse, haven’t they?”

“It’s not that, it’s… If her child dies in the womb, that’ll curse seven generations of my family line,” said Eleski.

“All of you melephundans are so superstitious. It’s amazing you get anything done.” Schurke narrowed his eyes. “Maintain your position. I’m sending over my team.”

The screen went black, and Grostonk raced to navigation. Rapidly, he tapped through layers of folders and files as Eleski and Katsinki returned to their human guises. Eridani wiped the grime from her face, sorted her hair, and turned her attention to Grostonk. “Did you get anything? Was he on long enough for your program to work?”

Grostonk’s tusks gleamed. “We got something, all right. Military encryption. It’s big, too!”

“Thank God,” said Eridani.

“I’ll get cracking right away,” said Grostonk, and he moved the captured files to a data cube.

Eridani faced Eleski and Katsinki. “Both of you