Voidhawk - Lost Soul (5 page)

“I didn’t know. I mean, I talked to her a few times, but she never really opened up to me like that.”

Dexter smiled. “She helped me with you.” Jenna’s raised eyebrow brought a fresh smile to Dexter’s tired face. “Think she told me if I didn’t hurry up and do something about you, she was going to.”

“She was what?” Jenna asked after snapping her mouth shut.

Dexter nodded. “
Aye, she had a thing for you. When you wasn’t available she set her sights on Willa.”

“I knew that
. About Willa, I mean,” Jenna remembered back to a talk she’d had with the sorceress what seemed like ages ago. She shook her head. “It was like a keg of fire powder with all of them on here. Lucky no one put flint to steel.”

Dexter chuckled and pulled Jenna in close. He reveled in the feel of her body against his. “Been too long since we’ve had some time for ourselves.”

“Mmm,” Jenna agreed, savoring the moment as much as he did. Both of them pointedly ignored the fact that it had taken a tragedy to make them realize it. “When we’re done with this, then what?”

“What do you mean?” Dexter was quick to ask. He feared he understood Jenna’s question all too well. The odds were worse than long that they’d never find Jianna
’s soul, but he refused to consider them.

“I mean after we get her back,” Jenna whispered into his chest. She hugged him tightly, as though
his presence alone could bring Jianna back and make everything all right.

“I don’t know,” Dexter returned the whisper. He stared into the void, noting how cold and distant everything seemed.

“You’ll find her.”

Dexter nodded, not trusting himself to speak. He’d search for her until his last breath, but there was a lot of searching that needed to be done. He closed his eyes and pushed the dismal thoughts away, when he opened them he looked down and found Jenna’s eyes rising to meet his. “You haven’t yelled at anyone in at least ten minutes, let alone sent orders that would have a small world fit to be tied. Where’d that woman go?”

Jenna snuggled against his body. “I’m only tough when the job calls for it,” she answered. “And because I’ve got you to keep me strong.”

“So who keeps me strong?”

She tilted her head up to press her lips to his. “You’re the legendary Captain Silvercloud. You’ve broken enemy ships with your bare hands and fended off armies of women throwing themselves at your feet. You’ve got strength enough for us all.”

Dexter smirked at Jenna’s playful words. He shook his head, knowing the rumors she’d recounted were only a sample of the many that had grown over the years. They were more than exaggerations, they were blatant lies in most cases. He still enjoyed coming across new ones
, though. “Speaking of women, there was a time when I’d never step foot on a ship with a crew full of women, let alone be the Captain!”

“Don’t forget Xander.”

Dexter snorted. “He’s a man wearing a dress.”

“Wizard’s robes.”

Dexter rolled his eyes.

A gentle cough reminded them they weren’t alone. Sayara looked at them from her position on the comfortable chair that served as the ship
’s helm. “Captain, I don’t mean to interrupt, but there’s another ship keeping up with us off our starboard.”

Dexter turned and hurried over to the other window, disengaging himself from Jenna. She followed and, a mome
nt later, they saw an elven racing ship in the distance. A light flashed from its deck, signaling a desire to close with them.

“So much for leaving the throne behind,” Dexter said.

Jenna frowned. “Ignore them,” she suggested.

Dexter looked again, then shook his head. “See the symbols on the flag? One of the elven royals. I forget who, but he has a collection of yachts and other ships. This one’s been used to win the Soldarin Race several years in a row.”

Jenna stared at it and grunted in recognition. “I didn’t think you could see that far.”

“Ever since the Elders granted your wish I’ve noticed little things like that. I think they slipped a little elf into me.”

Dexter had long since gotten used to his improved vision and sense of smell. He never seemed to catch a cold anymore either. All in all, he had nothing to complain about because of it.

Jenna’s eyes widened. “
I wonder if that means you’ll live longer?”

Dexter chuckled. “What are the odds any of us will find out?”

“So far we’ve done pretty good,” she persisted. “Some close calls but I’m hopeful.”

“I’m hoping the same thing.” Dexter gave her a quick kiss then looked out the window again. “I got a hunch and it’s times like this I hate when that happens. Head on up and signal them back. We’ll talk.”

“Aye aye, Captain,” Jenna winked at him.

She turned and hurried away, giving Dexter another moment to be effectively alone on the bridge with his thoughts. His eyes fell on Sayara. It wasn’t the same, seeing her instead of Bekka sitting there. He knew Sayara was a great pilot – better than Bekka even, but he didn’t know if he could trust her. After the talk he and Jenna had, he supposed now was as good a time as any to find out.

“Sayara?”

“Aye, Captain?” Her voice was strained. He underst
ood, splitting her concentration between the ship and him was difficult.

“I trust it need not be said, but I’m saying it. Nothing you hear on this bridge goes anywhere, or your next boat will be a wooden board without a helm.”

“Yes, sir,” she said. “I understand…and sir?”

“What?”

“I know only time will prove myself to you and the Emp—First Mate, but I want to say that there are many of us who are dedicated to you both. Devoted, even.”

“Devoted?”

“Aye, sir. The changes you’ve brought scared us all, but they’ve been wonderful as well. We may be a small number, but we understand and we’re eternally grateful!”

Dexter nodded. He had the support of a small subset of elven women. It wasn’t his idea of an optimal army, but even with Jenna six years out of practice he doubted he could beat her in a fair fight. “Thank you, Sayara. Now pay attention, the ‘Hawk ain’t a tiny little elven flitter or scout ship that’ll let the gravity from another boat overpower it.”

“Aye aye, Captain!” She snapped, a smile on her face.

Dexter shook his head and headed for the deck, stopping by his cabin to grab his sword. He had a hunch a fight
was brewing.

* * * *

“You don’t have a skiff?” The Captain of the Kimrowia called across the distance between his ship and the Voidhawk. Each ship carried an air bubble proportional to the mass of the vessel. The magic worked into each ship made it possible, although even a body floating in the void had a few minutes of breathable air around them.

Merging atmospheres also merged gravity wells of a void
ship. Generally the larger ship’s gravity plane overrode the smaller one, although ships similar in tonnage could have some effect on one another.

“Never had much need,” Dexter replied. “This is
a transport.”

“What of the tales telling of the Voidhawk leading an army of warships into battle?”

Dexter shrugged. “Didn’t have need of a skiff then, either.”

Jenna coughed behind him, hiding her laugh. Dexter glanced around at the crew, noting each was in posit
ion should trouble erupt. Celia was furthest away, looking as though she wanted to be anywhere but the deck. Dexter felt his eyes narrow and the hunch he’d been toying with twisted his stomach.

“Duke
Elnossgorian seeks a parley with you, have you any means of transport?”

“Xander!” Dexter snapped.

The wizard stepped forward and pulled the sleeves of his robes up his arms. He raised his hands and incanted a spell quickly, his hands scribing the arcane formula in the air. A translucent silver disc took shape before him, easily six feet in diameter. Xander gestured his hand forward, sending the disc across the space between ships.

“Neat trick,” Dexter admitted. Louder he called out, “Send the Duke over, my wizard says the disc will hold at least three or four people.”

Xander snorted beside him, his only outward show if irritation at how Dexter could conjure up conversations from thin air.

Two of the men on the deck moved to the disc and stood on it, their backs turned to the Voidhawk. A third emerged from the cabin and joined them. Dexter gave Xander a nod, prompting the wizard to call the disc back across the void.

As they approached Dexter studied the men. The first two were thugs, although well dressed and equipped ones. Duke Elnossgorian would call them his personal guards, and Dexter had no doubt they were, but from where he came from they were little more than ruffians. The Duke had the obvious attitude of traditional elven royalty. Dexter hadn’t met him before, but the expression on Jenna’s told him the man behaved exactly as he looked.

Moments later the disc hovered inches above the Voidhawk’s deck, allowing the three elves to step off of it and face Dexter directly. “Captain Silvercloud,” the Duke greeted him with a slight nod.

Dexter noted that the Duke made no mention of his title as Admiral of the Elven Navy. “The ‘Hawk’s a fine ship, Duke, but she’s no match in a race against that sloop of yours.”

The Duke glanced back at his ship. “Quite,” he said. “I’ve no interest in a race, Captain. I fear I’ve come for other matters. Matters I have little time to trifle with. It’s come to my attention that you have something of mine. I want it back.”

Dexter stiffened. “Been a while since I’ve heard words like that. Out here in open space that’s a bold claim, especially seeing that you’re on my ship and amongst my crew.”

Jenna stepped forward. “Duke Elnossgorian, we have nothing of yours nor any need of it. You’re holding up our voyage and—”

“Do you let all of your crew treat you so disrespectfully?” the Duke asked, interrupting Jenna. “I wonder, she sat the throne for a short time, is she the power behind the helm as well?”

Dexter smiled at the elf while he fought to keep his hand from sliding towards his pistol. “Funny how ships and women work, don’t you think? They both have minds of their own at times.
If you treat them right and take care of them, they’ll be faithful to you in ways you can’t imagine, even if there’s a squeak here and there along the way.”

“As for your claims, I’ll caution you to mind your tongue. In the void there’s one law that no one dares to question, and that’s who runs a ship. Even as Admiral of the Elven Navy I got no right overriding the orders of a Captain on his vessel. Unless, of course, I happen to be the Captain.”

The Duke’s eyes narrowed, then strayed briefly to where Celia was hiding behind some barrels. “Was not the throne abdicated?”

Dexter glanced at Jenna only long enough to see the redness of her face. “Aye, the Empress had better things to do than babysit a bunch of fool no
bles. In all the rush, I never turned over my commission as Admiral. And since no member of the new council has been sent to inform me otherwise, you’d best be on your way before I have my wizard send a message to the Navy informing them to be on the watch for a pretty little racing yacht.”

The Duke’s nostrils flared. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“All this empty void around me and you want to dare me?” Dexter chuckled. “Duke, it’s time for you to go back to your boat.”

“Not without what’s mine!” He hissed. He pointed at Celia. “My daughter.”

Dexter turned to stare at the girl. She stepped out from the barrels but made no move to come forward. Dexter motioned for her, studying her more closely as she approached. Most elves looked young to him, but now he wondered if he’d made the mistake of hiring someone too young.

“Is this true?” Dexter asked once she stood near them.

Her eyes studied the deck. “Aye Captain, my name is Celia Elnossgorian.”

“How
many cycles you seen, Celia?” Dexter asked, referring to the standard period of 365 days most worlds counted as a year.

“Twenty
one.”

Dexter’s eyes widened.
At that age he’d been on his own for half his life and doing fine, even if some of his friends thought otherwise. He frowned and turned to Jenna. “Elves got an age limit on when they can run off and try something stupid?”

She shook her head. Dexter noted the only spot on her face that wasn’t red was her
jaws, where she had them tightly clenched. Jenna stepped behind Celia and put a protective hand on each shoulder. She forced her jaw to relax and said, “Remember, Jianna is half elf, she’s maturing at the rate of a human, not an elf. At her age most are learning a trade, either at school or under a master. Or, in the old days, a noble or merchant girl might serve as a lady in waiting trying to catch the eye of a wealthy noble.”

“There you have it,”
the duke said. “She’s not ready to be on her own yet.”

“Reckon that all depends,” Dexter said. “She seemed awful keen on helping out on the ‘Hawk. Said she could do anything, and had experience to boot. Might be this is the right place for her to learn.”