Page 80 of Lhora
“Contact in twelve seconds!” Omin yelled.
“Steady!”
TheBeccanappeared outside the bubble, becoming larger as theVolodrew closer to it. Already Lhora could see how badly the ship had been damaged. Its entire stern and rudder were gone, as was one of its masts. Its remaining sails were shredded, but she could tell it was somehow managing to keep itself upright.
“She’s flying but she has no wings!” she informed them.
“If we can knock her over the water, she’ll survive.”
“Do you think they know we’re coming at them?” Lort queried.
Lhora caught her father turning to her. She knew what he wanted her to do. Staring at the ship that appeared to be floating in midair, she reached out to Duren.
“He knows now,” she softly answered, and smiled when she felt the warm rush of her lover’s thanks.
36
Landing
In ship-to-ship terms, when theVoloconnected with theBeccan,the sideswipe was as gentle as brushing one’s hands together. TheVoloscreamed as it slid its starboard gunports across the frigate’s hull. Like the grinding of gears, plating shrieked over plating, until both ships parted ways.
Lhora stared in fear and fascination as Duren’s ship went flying away from them at an angle that would steer them straight into the water. She grinned at her father. “It worked!”
“Thank the goddesses. Now let’s go see how the rest of our fleet is do—”
A loud bang reverberated through the ship. At the same time, theBeccanbegan tumbling and whirling. Lhora managed to catch sight of Torfen fighting the wheel. Fallmin kept his attention focused on what was happening outside the bubble. She followed his lead, moving closer to him as she attempted to see what he was looking at. It was difficult. The world outside seemed to be gyrating almost out of control. It made her dizzy to the point where her stomach protested.
Tearing her eyes away, she placed a hand on his arm. In answer to her silent request, he pointed over to their right. At the same time, a hard blue light flared as the barrage struck and dissipated harmlessly.
“They got one off just before we managed to raise our shields,” Fallmin admitted.
“They who?”
He nodded toward the ship that appeared, disappeared, and reappeared as they continued to tumble. “That galleon. TheCleeda.”
“The Sarpi’s ship?”
Fallmin whirled around. “Take us down. Get us on Beinight soil.” He turned back to the bubble. “If that son of a tokko wants possession of our land, then let him fight us on it.”
“Hand to hand combat?” Lhora clarified.
“Him bringing the Tra’Mell into this is not just wrong. It should be illegal. That crob-headed merf has no plugging idea that he’s doing, getting the Tra’Mellians to work for him. Whoever comes out the winner won’t be taking a second breath before those aliens pound them into sorpa sauce.” He glanced down at his daughter. “What’s so funny?”
Lhora giggled. “I’ve never heard you swear that much at one time.” Sniffing, she held onto his arm as the deck jiggled beneath their feet. “You’re right about all of it. Duren and I told the Sarpi the same thing, and he brushed us off.”
“Makes me wonder all the more what he promised the Tra’Mell for their help,” Fallmin muttered between clenched teeth.
“Landing in twenty seconds!” Omin called from the bridge.
Fallmin’s face turned to stone once more. “Brace for impact!” He drew an arm around her, and she grasped the edge of the bubble, steadying herself with her legs spread, feet planted firmly on the deck.
The navigator started counting down from ten, when Lort turned from his station at the radar. “A Tra’Mellian galleon just dropped its shields off our port stern!”
“Blow the rear cannons!”
“The what?” Lhora peered up at her father, when she heard the familiar rumble vibrate through the ship.
Torsa slammed a palm on his console. “Direct hit!”
