Page 76 of Lhora
Jorm snorted. “Maybe they are. Maybe they’re waiting for their Sarpi to tell them what to do.”
Duren jerked around. “Yanka—”
“TheCleedais descending…” The man checked his readouts again. “The Sarpi is heading for Beinight.”
“What?”
“His ship is descending into Beinight territory.”
“Why? How far away is he from landing?”
“Umm, a little over twenty huares.”
“Is there any readout from his engines? Does he have his sails deployed?” His telescope wouldn’t be able to help him see the battlecruiser. He had to rely on the holo sphere and radar.
“Yes to both, Sarpen.”
“Then why is he heading for Beinight, when he has the ability to coast to Coltross?” Duren shook his head. His father’s tactics didn’t make sense. Not unless…
“Oh, by the graces, no! Open communication with theVolo!”
“Comm open.”
“Gur Fallmin! This is Sarpen Duren! Respond!”
“This is theVolo.”
“Sarpen, this is Gur Fallmin,” the man broke in.
“The Tra’Mell have deployed their shields.”
“We’re aware. Keeping our eyes open, but we believe they may still be within range.”
“Same here. Have you located theBerna?”
The silence that followed his question sent waves of dread through him. Duren started to repeat his request when Fallmin came back online.
“TheBernahas been demolished. Currently retrieving jettisoned crew.”
Duren didn’t need to be a torgart to hear the tension in the man’s voice. He was almost too afraid to ask, but he had to. “Have you recovered the Esstiss?”
“Not yet.” Two words that were filled with hope from a father who refused to give up.
He straightened from where he’d been hunched over the balustrade. His father was heading toward Beinight.
Why?
The Tra’Mell had suddenly vanished from sight and radar, supposedly giving up for the moment.
Why?
If I were as devious as my father, what would—
“Oh, plugno!” Duren raised his telescope to get one more overall glimpse of their current situation. “Open communications to all Beinight ships!”
“Communications open!”
“This is Sarpen Duren! Arm and aim all cannons at previous Tra’Mellian ships’ locations! Repeat! Arm and aim all cannons and guns on the last known locations of the Tra’Mellian ships! On my mark!” Keeping his eye focused on the empty section of space, he softly counted to ten, then yelled, “Fire!”
