Wind Demon Triology: Book II: Evil Wind (25 page)

"Is he okay?” Caitlin asked the ‘bot.

"'His eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming.’”

"That bad, huh? Is he watching Raphie's ship?"

"'And scowls on starry worlds that down beneath it lie,'” Raven said on a long sigh. The ‘bot rolled away, shaking its head.

"He needs a companion,” Khiershon said, not looking around but aware of his wife's presence.

"Perhaps you can build him one,” Caitlin suggested. She slipped her arm around her husband's waist.

"Aye,” he said, leaning into her.

"What worries you, Khier?” she asked.

"'But, now, the ruler of an anchor'd realm, She throws aside the sceptre—leaves the helm,'” he quoted the Terran poet.

"You're worried Raphie will interfere and cause problems,” Caitlin said.

"She's not the most levelheaded of women,” he said with a snort. “The gods only know what is in her addled brain."

"But what can you do?” his wife questioned.

"Wait for her to act, then do my best to keep her from getting captured or killed and her ship and crew from being blown to dust,” he replied.

She laid her head on his shoulder. “Are you worried about your father?"

Khiershon enveloped her in his arms. “My bloodsire? Perhaps a bit but I trust that he has the situation well in hand. His is a legend brighter than any star in the heavens."

"What was it like to talk to him?” she asked.

"It would have been better face to face, but I found myself shivering as I spoke to him. I was experiencing the greatest amount of pride, Caitlin,” he confessed. “I was almost drowning in it."

"I never met my real father,” she told him. “I can only imagine what you must have been feeling."

"I never thought to have the honor,” he said. “It is a moment I will treasure."

"Khier!"
the name coming over the vid-com in such a strident tone startled the Reaper.

"Aye,” he answered Iyan.

"We've got trouble!"

"On my way."

Khiershon and Caitlin turned as one and with Raven trundling along behind them headed for the bridge.

"What now?” Khiershon asked as they waited for the elevator to take them up the two decks to the bridge.

"I don't know but he sounded a bit stressed out,” Caitlin said. She walked ahead of her husband into the elevator cage and stepped aside, frowning, as Raven rolled in, as well.

"'Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing',” Raven quoted.

Caitlin ignored the AIU but Khiershon snapped at it to be quiet.

"'Nevermore'."

The elevator doors opened and Khiershon rushed around his ‘bot, his eyes on a grim faced Iyan McGregor. “What's wrong?” he asked.

"We're getting transmissions from ships out in the quadrant,” Iyan said. “A Diabolusian ship headed for the Feast encountered a Rysalian ship just to the north of Chale."

"So?"

"The ship's crew is all male,” Iyan said. “Eight men to be precise."

"A Rysalian ship?” the Reaper questioned. “How can that be?"

"The ship is
The Vortex
,” Iyan said, his gaze locked on Khiershon's.

"Merciful Alel,” Khiershon said.

"What does that mean?” Caitlin asked.

"That was the ship that took my bloodsire to Terra,” her husband replied. “These must be the men who accompanied him. They're no doubt here to try to rescue him."

"And get themselves blown to dust in the bargain,” Iyan grumbled. “There are two other Multitude ships headed right at them."

"I don't like those odds,” Khiershon said.

"One of those men might well be Prince Raine,” Iyan said. “I can't stand the thought of one of my kinsmen dying at the hands of the Multitude."

"Then we go to his aid,” Caitlin said.

"How do we do that?” Iyan snapped.

Caitlin grinned. “Just watch.” She looked at each of her women crewmembers. “Hail Raphaella's ship."

"Why?” Khiershon asked.

"Humor me, Reaper,” Caitlin said, motioning Bryan to do as she ordered.

Helen opened a channel to Raphie's ship and it was the princess herself who's annoyed face showed on the vid-com. “What the hell do you want?” Raphie snapped.

"Have you heard about the Rysalian ship on its way here?” Caitlin inquired, her eyes bright and opened wide. “There are eight men on it!"

Raphie frowned. She had obviously not been listening to the transmissions between ships. “So what?” she barked.

"We're going to go join the fun!” Caitlin said with a laugh.

The Amazeen princess looked as though she'd been punched in the stomach. “Does he know...?"

"You stay here and let us know how things turned out for the Feast,” Caitlin said, cutting her off. “We're going to go have some fun!"

Khiershon groaned and sent a sublim to Raphie.
"We've got to try to protect my bloodsire's friends. Watch his back while we're about it."

Caitlin saw surprise enter Raphaella's face. She opened her mouth as though about to protest but Caitlin motioned Helen to sever the connection between their ships.

"
The DarkWind
, this is Rysalian Fleet Command. Do not break orbit,” an imperious voice came over the vid-com. “The situation with the rogue ship is being taken care of."

"Don't answer,” Caitlin said and looked to Marti Holloway. “Get us out of orbit and put the pedal to the metal girl!"

"
The DarkWind
, do you copy?” came the angry voice again.

"What if they try to stop us?” Iyan asked.

"You'd best sit down and buckle in,” Caitlin warned the men. She had taken the command chair and was fastening her safety harness.

"
The DarkWind
, you are not to leave orbit!"

Iyan and Khiershon nearly toppled over backward as the ship arced out of orbit and began accelerating at a wicked pace.

"Damn it,
DarkWind
, you are not authorized to...."

Helen terminated the connection.

"How many ships are heading toward the Rysalian craft?” Caitlin asked.

"Three but only one close enough to intercept it."

Khiershon's lips were a thin line as he took a seat beside Caitlin. “Wench, you are going to get me killed yet."

"She's going to get all of us killed,” Iyan complained. He had staggered to one of the navigational stations and was glaring at Caitlin.

"Can you try hailing The Vortex?” Caitlin asked.

"Too far out of range,” Helen replied.

"What the hell will you say to them?” Iyan snarled. “Oh, by the way, we strolled over to give you guys a hand?"

"The chances are good Admiral Kahn is on that ship,” Khiershon said. “He possesses a strong psychic ability. When we get closer, I will attempt to contact him and let him know he's in danger."

"You don't think he knows he's got Multitude ships headed his way?” Wynth asked.

"He might know but he won't be able to fend off three ships,” Caitlin said. “We're just evening the score."

"And he might fire on us,” Iyan grumbled, “thinking we're part of the Multitude attack force."

"He'll read the heat signature on our ship and know we are a Terran vessel,” Caitlin stated. “He'll think twice before firing on us."

"You hope,” Khiershon said.

Caitlin flashed him a quick look then grinned. “Don't worry, Reaper. I'll keep your tight ass safe."

Tylan Kahn was furious. Three Multitude ships were storming toward him and Troi could not get any of The Vortex's weapons on line. “You piece of plastiform shit!” Kahn yelled. “Do something!"

The cybot was typing code into the ship's computers so fast his hands were a blur.

"'Could I come near your beauty with my nails',” he sniped, “'I'd set my ten commandments in your face!’”

Taborn actually laughed at the ‘bot's insult. The Necromanian prince was standing behind Alexi Noll's station, watching the three Multitude crafts drawing close on the screen.

"Fuck you, you gods-be-damned ‘bot!” Kahn roared.

"'Talkers are no good doers',” Troi shot back.

"Get the weapons on line and stop prattling off that garbage!” the former admiral of Rysalian Fleet Command ordered.

"'I'll put a girdle round about the earth in forty minutes',” Troi stated.

"Forty minutes?” Kahn screamed. “We don't have forty minutes you blithering idiot!"

The weapons’ system came online and began gearing up.

"'Now my soul hath elbow-room',” Troi said on a long sigh. His nimble fingers continued to fly across the keyboard.

"Apparently Troi's forty minutes is a lot faster than our forty minutes,” Taborn said with a chuckle.

The ‘bot glanced over at the dark man and grinned with a lopsided twist of its rubbery lips. “'Black men are pearls in beauteous ladies’ eyes',” he complimented Taborn.

"As I've always known,” Taborn agreed, nodding.

"Bastards,” Kahn said. He slammed himself into his command chair. “Any more ships headed our way, Noll?"

Noll groaned. “Aye, Admiral. We have four on our tail now.” He moved closer to the screen. “The new one is a Terran ship."

"'Though she be but little, she is fierce',” Troi told them.

"Terran?” Kahn asked. “Are you sure?"

"Positive,” Noll replied. “She's carrying a Terran heat sig."

"Friend or foe, Troi?” Taborn inquired.

The ‘bot smiled. “'It is a wise father that knows his own child'."

"I am sick of your shit!” Kahn shouted. “Talk like a normal man or I'll have you shut down once and for all and your twisted body turned into pulp!"

"The saying is true, ‘The empty vessel makes the greatest sound,'” Troi said with a sniff. He turned to Taborn. “'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers'."

"They are friends,” Taborn said. “Try hailing them Thorne."

"Terran ship,” Thorne said. “Do you copy?"

"Admiral Kahn, are you aboard The Vortex?"

Kahn jumped, the strong voice winding its way through his mind. He got to his feet. “Who the hell are you?” he asked aloud.

"Khiershon Cree, son of the Prime,"
was the reply.

Kahn staggered beneath that introduction. He fumbled for the arm of his command chair and sat down. “Cree?” he repeated.

"'Is that the elder, and art thou the heir?'” Troi asked.

"Shut up, ‘bot!” Tylan bellowed.

Troi giggled. “'Faith, thou hast some crotchets in thy head now',” the ‘bot said.

Taborn rushed to Kahn's side. “Are you speaking to him? To Cree?"

"'I can not tell what the dickens his name is',” Troi said.

"Shut up, ‘bot!” Taborn ordered. “Tylan, who is it?"

"His son,” Kahn said. “Khiershon."

Tealson Hesar looked up from his engineering station. “The one presumed dead on Amazeen? The oldest son?"

"That would be me. We are here to help you, Admiral,"
Khiershon said.
"Pray don't fire on us."

Before Kahn could respond a volley of laser pulses flashed past the
Vortex
, rocking the ship in their wake.

"Is he safe?"
Kahn whispered, knowing the Reaper on the Terran ship would hear.

"
He was well when we left Rysalia Prime. Look to this battle and leave that one where it is until we are finished!
"

Kahn's lips twitched. The audacity was in the young pup's tone, his father's ego just as blazing in the son as in the sire.

"I'm reading a ship of nothing but females,” Noll reported.

"Obviously they are running some kind of block on the readings,” Taborn snapped.

"Two ships fast closing, Admiral,” Belvoir called out.

"Engage the closer of the two and let the Reaper take the other,” Kahn ordered.

Cree awoke with a start, realized he'd been dreaming, and sat up, snaking his hand through his hair. He couldn't recall the dream but his heart was thundering, his flesh clammy with sweat, and there was a sour taste in his mouth. Drawing his legs up, he encircled them in the perimeter of his arms and laid his head down on knees. He was breathing hard as though he'd been running but the brutal headache that had plagued him in Kym's office thankfully was gone. Only a stray, vanishing thought of berating Kym for knocking him out wandered through his brain, but he pushed it aside.

"Milord Cree?"

He lifted his head at the soft voice and turned his face toward the speaker, frowning as he spied the tall woman standing with her fingers wrapped around the bars of his cage.

"Has no one told you that is a dangerous thing you are doing, wench?” the Reaper asked.

"Of what do you refer, milord?"

"Standing that close to my cage."

The woman smiled. “I have no fear of you, milord Reaper.” She pressed her forehead against the bars. “You would not hurt me for I am one of yours."

Cree's frown deepened. “One of my what?” he asked.

"Will you take me with you when you leave?” she asked, seeming not to have heard his question. “Please?"

"I wasn't aware I was going anywhere,” he retorted. “Doesn't look like I'm in any position to be leaving."

Her smile deepened. “I am a part of you, milord. I have one of your parasites within me,” she stated. “I know your plans as well as I know my own."

Shock tore through Cree as he stared at her. He swung his head from side to side to see if anyone had heard her, but they were alone, the sky threatening to dump rain upon them at any moment.

"I would not be so reckless to come to you when others might hear,” she said.

"Wench, I..."

"Before she left with the Amazeens, Dr. Sejm implanted three of us. I am the only one left.” She extended her hand through the bar in pleading. “Please take me with you. I want to be with my own kind. I want to be with you."

Cree got to his feet and walked over to the woman, keeping well back from her beseeching hand. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.

She drew her hand back and gripped the bar once more. “Aye, but you do, milord. I can read it in your mind. You are upset about what Sejm did, you saw the room filled with parasites. Your dreaming was filled with your disquiet, and I can understand that you are wary of me.” She shook her head. “You do not have to worry. I will keep your secret even if you will not take me with you."