Page 78 of Star Bringer
But my last comment must have worked, because there’s a scrambling from the bed. I slow down and glance over my shoulder, then immediately regret it.
She obviously slept in her new clothes, and she’s currently pulling on her boots. Her dark red hair is loose and tousled around her shoulders, and she looks rumpled and beautiful and far too good, considering she’s got a hangover.
“What?” she asks as she finally stands up. “You’re looking at me funny.”
No, I’m not. Am I? I don’t answer, just hold out the coffee, and she hurries over and grabs it, then takes a sip.
“It’s cold and bitter.”
I snort. “Would you like me to run and get you a fresh cup, Your Highness?”
A smile quirks the corner of her mouth, and then it’s gone. “That won’t be necessary. Lead the way.” She sounds just like a princess.
As we head back to the bridge, she pauses around the center of the ship and places her hand on the metal of the inner walls. Then she closes her eyes for a moment, a soft smile curling her lips.
“What are you doing?” I ask when she finally opens her eyes. Somehow, she looks significantly better than she did a few seconds ago.
But she just shrugs. “Saying hello. I get the feeling this is the heart of the ship. It almost feels alive to me.”
I don’t know what to say to that, especially after Beckett and I just had ouris it sentient or notconversation. So I shake my head and keep walking. I’ve got a meeting to run.
Back on the bridge, Kali helps herself to another cup of coffee before slumping down in one of the seats. I take what is objectively nowmycaptain’s chair, stretch out my legs, and survey my crew. They’re a sorry lot at the best of times. Right now, they look like every one of them has at least one foot in the grave.
Except for Rain, who is way too fucking cheery. She must have the constitution of a giant drokaray.
Kali smothers a yawn. “Are you going to tell us why we’re here so we can go back to bed?”
I give her a cool stare. She doesn’t look impressed, just yawns again. “I thought you’d be interested in discussing the fact that someone wants you dead and they’re willing to pay a lot of money to make that happen.”
She sits up straight. “Those damn flyers.”
“What flyers?” Merrick asks, sounding wary.
I pull some out from where they were folded in my pocket and hold them out to him. He gets up—slowly—and takes them, a frown forming between his eyes as he reads.
He turns to Rain. “It says we’re dangerous criminals masquerading as officials from the Sisterhood of the Light.”
Her eyes brighten. “Really? How exciting.”
I don’t even know what to say to that.
Thankfully, Merrick doesn’t have the same problem. “I wouldn’t exactly say it’s exciting that they’re offering a lot of money in exchange for what is essentially your corpse.”
Rain shrugs, but she doesn’t look fazed. “Maybe that’s not quite as exciting.”
“Apparently, I’m wanted for masquerading as the Princess Kalinda,” Kali says. She looks at me. “What are they saying about you?” She gets to her feet and shuffles to where Merrick stands still clutching the flyers and holds out her hand. He passes her a paper, and she glances down at what is presumably the flyer for me. If I remember right, it’s a pretty good picture.
“You’re a mercenary impersonating a Corporation security officer, and you’re wanted for the sabotage of the Imperial Space StationCaelestis,” she reads, then turns to look at me. “You didn’t—did you? Oh Light, please tell me that wasn’t all because of you.”
“Of course it wasn’t me.” At least I don’t think so. I never did ask Max about the diversion thing.
I do now, and he actually laughs. “No, man. I didn’t bring down an entire space station and our best shot at getting to Milla.”
Then he nods toward the pile of flyers and says aloud, “I think we can assume that everything in there is a pack of lies.”
“So, you’re not a mercenary?”
“I wouldn’t go as far as to say that,” I hedge. Max, Milla, and I have been mercenaries for nearly ten years. We’ll do most jobs if the money is right and it doesn’t involve killing prupples or baby varlens—Milla is very fond of both.
