Page 16 of Lhora
There was a loud hiss as the atmosphere inside the pod was released. The transparent cover lifted, revealing her in full. After a quick look around at the men surrounding the lifeboat, Lhora unbuckled herself and carefully stepped out onto the deck.
“I’m Vadris Lon, commander of the Coltrosstian warshipTubrad.Who are you, Beinight?”
“I am Lhora, captain of the guard who serves the Esstika as her personal security.” She didn’t give him her full designated name. To do so would have revealed her true identity.
“What are you doing inside one of our lifeboats? For that matter, why were you on theCleedain the first place?”
“TheCleeda?”
“The Sarpi’s private battlecruiser.”
She lifted her chin. “Why don’t you tellme, Vadris? Why was I kidnapped and taken hostage from the manse, and thrown into theCleeda’sbrig?”
The man looked surprised by her retort. “What do you mean you were kidnapped?”
“I’d just finished my shift protecting the Esstika while she entertained your Sarpi and his men. I was on my way to my bed when they took me and escaped with me to their ship. At some point they were attacked. I heard someone say it had to be the Tra’Mell, but something was mentioned about an agreement the Sarpi had made with the Tra’Mell, but I have no idea what they were talking about. They threw me into the brig, but I managed to escape during the bombardment.” She’d given them just enough elaboration to sound credible without revealing the truth that their own Sarpen had helped to free her.
The man scoffed. “We’ll discuss this later. Right now I don’t have time for this.” Glancing at his crewmembers, he started to motion to them to take her into custody, when a communication piped into the bay.
“Vadris! There’s been no confirmation from any other ship!”
“From no one?” he called out.
“No, Vadris! Either they’re out of range, or the enemy could be blocking our signal.”
“That means we’re on our own,” the man standing beside him announced.
A third man chimed in. “What are your orders?”
“Reverse sails. We’re no good going in alone against three Tra’Mellian ships.”
Lhora raised an eyebrow. “Wait. You’re not going in there to save your Sarpi?”
Lon scowled at her. “We are outnumbered and outgunned. If we go in—”
“You go in!” she barked. “If you haven’t noticed, two of those Tra’Mellian ships are no more than ketches! The best they can handle is maybe a dozen deck harpoons!”
“And the third ship is a destroyer!”
“And this is a warship!” she threw back at him. She suddenly realized the man had no clue about what had taken place on board the Sarpi’s ship prior to her being jettisoned. “Listen to me! The Sarpi has all his cannons at-ready, but he hasn’t fired them!”
“He deployed his guns but hasn’t fired them?” the Vadris repeated.
“No! And I’m guessing it has something to do with that so-called, whatever arrangement or agreement he has with the Tra’Mell.”
This time, the Vadris was truly clueless. “This is twice now you’ve mentioned an agreement. What agreement?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But I’m betting he wasn’t expecting the Tra’Mell to overtake and board him. He readied his armament, but he only used it as…as what? A bluff? A deterrent? Who knows?” She threw an arm out in the direction of the bay doors. “You’re still under your shields, right? That’s why the Tra’Mell haven’t noticed you yet. You know they’re listening in on your communications. They know no help is coming. They’re counting on you backing off. But if you go in and blast those two ketches, that’ll give the Sarpi the chance to ignite those cannons! He can blast that destroyer into space fragments! Then all that’s left is for you and your men to board theCleedaand take down the remaining Tra’Mell.” She gasped for breath and waited for the Vadris to make his decision. He continued to waver, leading her to press one more time. “Your element of surprise is shrinking with every heartbeat.”
“Why should we listen to you, Beinight tokko?” the man standing next to the Vadris snarled. “You’re our enemy.”
“And the Tra’Mell are the enemy to us both!” Lhora shot back. “If we bicker and argue amongst ourselves, all they have to do is sit back and watch us do their work for them! Now’s when we have to combine our efforts in order to defeatthem!”
Vadris Lon jerked erect. “All hands! Battle stations! Ready the cannons and torpedoes! Helmsman!”
“Yes, Vadris!” a second voice responded overhead.
“Set course for theCleeda! Ramming speed! We’re overtaking the Tra’Mell!Let’s go!”
