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

Florin. “Nathaniel swears by this quaint little pub called Jump the Moon Tavern. They’re a bit pricy for what they serve, but the regulars love it. It would be my treat.”

“Are you sure about that?” asked Casey. “You saw that I have a colossus on my team, and she can eat a lot.”

Florin chuckled. “I’ll bill it to my expense account.”

“What day, and what time?” asked Casey.

“Unfortunately, my calendar fills up quickly,” said Florin, and he took a moment to scan his appointments. “Actually, does tonight work for you? Say… eight o’clock local time?”

Casey checked her device. A little more than two hours from now, she thought. “Eight o’clock will be fine. Thank you, Lord Blösch.”

“Wonderful! I’ll see you then.” Florin hung up the phone.

Casey saved the recording and played it back, listening for anything out of the ordinary. I’m going to need April’s help with this one, she thought, and she copied the recording to her datapad. Her commlink chimed, and Casey tapped it. “Hey Krané.”

“Greetings, Captain,” said Krané. “Two messages just came in. The first is from landing control. Your shuttle has been impounded.”

“Impounded?” Casey sighed. April was right. Florin doesn’t want us to leave.

“I’ll get it cleared up,” said Krané.

“Thanks,” said Casey. “And the second one?”

“It’s bound to your gene key,” said Krané. “The point of origin is a starship designated Imperium, and it’s signed by Captain Eridani Webb.”

Casey paused. “Orin’s sister?”

“It seems so,” said Krané.

“Send it to my datapad,” said Casey. “Advanced biometric encryption, please.”

“Give me a minute to package it up,” said Krané. “How did it go with Lord Blösch? I saw you spent some time at his estate.”

She laughed dryly. “We’re supposed to meet him tonight for dinner at eight, local time, but since he’s probably the one who just impounded my shuttle, I guess we’ll see. April says he and Admiral Schurke are mixed up in some shady business together. The admiral’s got exclusive access to a transmission tower, so if Orin’s right about this place being critical to the enemy’s movements, it’s possible…” She shook her head. “I don’t even want to think it, let alone say it.”

“Admiral Anton Schurke?”

“Yes, the war hero,” said Casey.

Faint static buzzed in her ears. “That would be terrible,” said Krané. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

“Get my shuttle out of impound,” said Casey.

“Of course,” said Krané. “Transmitting Eridani’s message now, Captain. If… If you’re able to confirm either way regarding the admiral, please let me know. My people owe him our freedom.”

“If I can, I will,” said Casey, and she ended the call.

She unlocked Eridani’s message with a retina scan and played it. When it had finished, she put her datapad to sleep and placed it on her nightstand. Taking a deep breath, she fell backward onto the bed.

◆◆◆

Across town at the starport, within Big Huey’s cargo hold, Reggie, Lomomu, and Zella sat around a circular card table. Each of them tended a pair of face-down playing cards, and colorful stacks of chips lay close at hand. Four other cards lay face-up as Reggie dealt a fifth card.

Lomomu checked his hand and smiled. He cleared his throat and quickly sobered. Regarding him suspiciously, Zella pushed a small pile of chips. “Ah raise ye fifty.”

“All-in!” said Lomomu. He shoved all his remaining chips forward.

“Again, on the river?” barked Zella. “Ye cannae be that lucky!”

Reggie lifted his cards just enough to catch a glimpse of what faced the table. “Ah, what the hell.” He pushed his chips forward. “All-in.”

“All-in,” grumbled Zella, and she revealed her cards. Lomomu and Reggie did the same.

“A straight beats three of a kind,” said Reggie, and he laughed. “It definitely beats my pair of Jacks. Lomomu, you win again.”

“A’m out,” said Zella. Glaring at Lomomu, she shoved him her cards.

“You’re bein’ a sore loser,” said Lomomu.

“Ye played a rubbish hand an won on the river!” said Zella. “At’s three times this game alone.” Her cheeks flushed. “Ye dinnae know whit ye’re doin, an still ye win. It’s frustratin.” Groaning quietly, she stood up and stretched. “Good game, lads. A’ll see about gettin us some proper dinner delivered.”

Ellylle stepped into view at the base of the ramp and gracefully ascended. “Orinoco is here!” Her flowers blooming wildly as her small branches whooshed. “I can feel him. He’s very close by.”

“Longer than last time, I hope,” said Lomomu. He glanced up as he separated and shuffled the cards.

She stomped over and plucked the cards from his grip. Gracefully, she slid them back into their case. “Focus!”

“I was focused… on shufflin’ those!” said Lomomu.

“Focus on me,” said Ellylle.

“And why should we do that?” asked Reggie. “We’ve been holed up in this shuttle for almost a month waiting for your Caretakers to arrive. All the while, Old Siberian’s gathering dust up there!”

“Patience, Captain,” said Ellylle. “Your part in my tale is nearly finished.”

Reggie stood up and held his hand over his plasma pistol. “That sounds like a threat.”

“Where did you get that?” asked Ellylle, and she twisted her wooden visage. “No, it’s not a threat! Stop being paranoid and believe me when I say if you ever draw down on me, it will be the last thing you ever do.” She set the cards next to the stacks of chips. “We are going. All of us. Lomomu, please lock up on the way out.”

“Whaur exactly are we goin?” asked Zella.

Ellylle descended the ramp and pointed toward her taxicab. “I can sense him. We’ll trace him to wherever he is.”

◆◆◆

Within his hotel room, Orin shed his orange jacket and took off his boots. He had just started unbuckling his belt when he heard a knock on his door. “One second,” he said, and he re-buckled his belt. Turning the knob, he pulled open the door and startled to see his visitors. “Oh, hello Ellylle.” He regarded Reggie, Zella, and Lomomu as they crowded the hallway. “I never caught the names of your friends.”

Ellylle’s blooms shifted from pastel orange to vibrant pink as she gazed upon him.