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

decidedly possible we all owe him our lives. In honor of his heroic sacrifice, I’d be willing to provide you transport there and back again. I know some of you are probably thinking this might be a great chance to get your starfaring feet wet, but it could take a year to get all the permits you need to close escrow, and in his current state, no one knows how much time Nimbus has left.”

Torsha glared pointedly at Mike, sternly shaking her head. “No way. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t! Mike I need to go home!” Pressing a surge of tears from her eyes, she ran from the mess hall. Her strength suddenly flagged, and she sank down, curling into herself against the bulkhead.

“I appreciate the offer, but Torsha’s right,” said Mike, and he cast a sad look Shona’s way. “I’m sorry, but we don’t belong out here. Even if there’s no one on Rhyon that can fix him, there’s got to be someone somewhere who knows where we can send Nimbus for repairs.”

Cajun looked concerned. “Ya’d trust ya chère to a cargo crew?”

“I don’t know. Maybe not. I just know we don’t belong out here.” Mike slipped Nimbus back into his jacket pocket and hurried after Torsha.

“I’ll be right back,” said Orin, and he jogged after his friends.

“Well, shit,” said Casey. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“It was kind of you to offer,” said April, and she smiled roguishly. “You know, if I were you, I’d take some personal time on Rhyon after we get there. Mike’s upset right now, but I’m certain he’ll see wisdom and allow Orin to transport Nimbus on his behalf.”

“You’re not just getting my hopes up, right?” asked Casey.

“We don’t even have a top ten list of starships,” said Shona, and she playfully nudged her former captain. “Look, I don’t know if it’ll take a whole year to close escrow, but I doubt Mike’s gonna bet Nimbus’s life on it.”

April nodded. “My thoughts exactly.”

“Well, I do have to hand over Ky and Blacktusk,” said Casey. “That’ll take at least a day.”

“Wait for us, even if it takes longer than that,” said April. “I promise you we’ll be in touch.”

Casey hugged April close. “Thank you,” she whispered, and April hugged her back.

They soon said their goodbyes. Cajun and Casey visited briefly with Malmoradan before returning to Casey’s shuttle. They decoupled from the boarding tube and drifted away from the Falcon starship. Casey angled toward Watchtower and hummed to herself as they traveled.

Hours later, an Orbital Guard transport ship arrived and docked with Fox Mendes. Security transferred the prisoners, marching them along the same passageways some of the buccaneers had sacked just days before. Izel watched as the last of the prisoners disappeared beyond the boarding tube, and she smiled.

By the next morning, Fox Mendes arrived in orbit around Rhyon. April, Shona, and Malmoradan joined Mike, Orin, and Torsha aboard one of the Falcon Sunhawks. The docking bay opened wide, and the starship raced through the void, headed for storm clouds turning high above the planet’s surface. Orin kept his hand near Torsha’s back, giving her gravity all the way.

Chapter 17

Orthogonal Vectors

Rain drove down, a muted patter on weathered shade sails. It clattered along the gutters and crashed on the rusted awnings and footpaths of Aurora and Oliver’s residence tower. In the distance, a grimy neon sign read, “Valu-Plus Mart” and “Open 24 Hours.” Just below it, a shiny new sign announced, “Under New Management!”

Orin paused; the rain rushed over the bell of his umbrella. “That’s odd. I wonder what happened to Howell?”

“What’s up?” asked Mike.

Orin pointed at the sign and continued walking, leading his fiends toward a covered footpath. “The Valu-Mart says it’s under new management. That would mean Howell’s not running it anymore.”

“Who’s Howell?” asked Shona. She craned her head as they passed under a gap in the awning, grinning as the rain drenched her thoroughly.

“He used to own the place,” said Orin. “Because my dad was gone for three months at a time, he kind of took me and my sister under his wing. He always had a lot to say about anything, and unless you were quick to get what you came for, he’d talk your ear off.”

“Everyone was grateful when Tammy was working there, because he’d spend most of the day in the back,” said Mike.

Malmoradan chuckled and adjusted his grip on a beach umbrella. “Sounds like half the tavernkeepers on Ocely. He’s not ocelini, is he?”

“I don’t know what race he is,” said Orin. “It never felt right to ask.”

“Howell’s ilioran,” said Mike, and he met Malmoradan’s gaze sidelong. “One of the pygmy houndfolk. He was on the ground for D-Day at Pegasi, so you can imagine the extent of his injuries. You should ask him about it if you get the chance. Since you’re both ex-military, I’m sure he’d welcome the opportunity to exchange war stories.”

Malmoradan whistled quietly. “I might just do that.”

Shona rubbed her arms, spraying water into the air. “Did you want to head over and check if he’s there?”

“No, it’s okay,” said Orin. “We’re already late, and I don’t want to keep the denshies waiting too long.”

“Like that’s even possible,” said Torsha. “Can’t they see the future, or something?”

“That’s just a superstition,” said Mike. “No one can see the future.”

April shook her head. “That’s not entirely true. Powerful precognates can see several likely futures, as I understand it.”

“Likely futures,” said Mike. “Not the future.”

“Are you always so pedantic?” asked April.

Mike laughed. “Not always.”

Torsha shrugged. “I don’t know. I went to a denshi fortuneteller once, and she knew things about me that I’ve never told anyone. Like, ever. And every single one of her predictions came true.”

Mike took a deep breath. “None of that’s real, Torsha.”

“That’s okay if you think that,” said Torsha. “It doesn’t bother me.”

“That’s not the point!”

“All right Mike, tone it down,” said Orin, and he stopped before his parents’ front door. “We’re here.” He knocked,