“I just don’t see how this is going to work,” Jasmine said.
“It’s going to work just fine,” Cheng Li said, turning to her side once more. “Ready with the awning, boys?”
“Yes, Captain!”
The pirates engaged a second pair of winches and a black awning began moving across the water, above the metal plank. The awning was curved and its sides brushed the edge of the plank as the pirates sent it over to join the other vessel.
“Final preparations!” Cheng Li commanded. At her words, two more pirates emerged from the corridor and stepped onto the plank. They moved swiftly along, fastening the awning to the base so that the tunnel formed by the awning and the plank was completely lightproof. Staring into it, Jasmine couldn’t see a thing. It was only the sound of the young pirates’ footsteps that signaled to her their return.
“Everything shipshape, Captain!” announced the first.
“Good work,” Cheng Li replied.
Now Jasmine’s heart began to beat faster as she glanced once more into the void.
“Is he here yet?” Bo Yin arrived, somewhat out of breath, at Jasmine’s side.
“No,” Jasmine said, refusing to take her eyes away from the tunnel. “Any minute now.”
“Phew!” said Bo. “Everything’s ready—but only by the skin of our teeth!”
Bo Yin continued to babble away, but Jasmine had tuned out her voice. Her entire focus was directed on the dark tunnel. At last she heard the sound of footsteps once more, and suddenly Jacoby was standing before her. He had gained a little weight during his time at Sanctuary and, all things considered, he looked remarkably strong and vital—the perfect embodiment of an Alliance officer in his tight-fitting blue-gray uniform, with its adornment of silver braid across his broad chest. He removed his cap, revealing his newly cropped hair, and gave Cheng Li the Federation salute.
“Welcome back!” Cheng Li said, returning the gesture.
Jacoby’s eyes turned to Jasmine. He lifted his hand to make the salute once more, but, shaking her head slowly, Jasmine opened her arms. “Come here!” she said, hugging him and feeling tears welling as her hands encircled his shoulders. “It’s so good to see you again!” she whispered as he leaned toward her.
“You, too!” Jacoby said, his eyes locking with hers, as they had done so many times before. Jasmine was expert at reading Jacoby’s expressions. Now she saw in his eyes deep affection and a certain relief but also something else—a new wariness.
There was a discreet cough at Jacoby’s side. He drew himself upright once more and moved aside as a young woman stepped out of the tunnel and onto The Tiger.
“Jasmine, this is Luna—my donor and private healer.”
Disarmed by Luna’s unusual beauty and the way she seemed to hang on Jacoby’s every word, Jasmine nonetheless shot out her hand. “Good to meet you, Luna. I’ve heard great things about you.”
“It’s mutual,” Luna said, smiling pleasantly. Jasmine could see the trepidation in Luna’s soft gray eyes.
The young women shook hands, and, as Luna smiled at her with genuine warmth and openness, Jasmine realized she had been foolish to dread this meeting. Luna was simply Jacoby’s donor and nurse, and, while both those roles involved a certain intimacy, they would not threaten the long-standing bond between herself and Jacoby—a bond forged in Pirate Academy many years earlier when the eyes of two seven-year-old kids had met in laughter during Captain Quivers’s knot class.
“Luna,” Jacoby continued, “I’d like to introduce you to our esteemed leader, Commodore Cheng Li.”
“Welcome to The Tiger,” Cheng Li said, nodding at the new arrival as two soldiers arrived out of the tunnel bearing Jacoby and Luna’s luggage. They passed it across to their opposite numbers on board The Tiger.
“Let’s get you both settled in your accommodation,” Cheng Li said, taking Jacoby’s arm and setting off along the corridor. Jasmine followed, with Luna on one side and Bo Yin on the other.
As they reached the end of the corridor, Cheng Li paused beside a closed door. “I just need to pop into the mess hall for a moment,” she said, holding Jacoby close as she pushed open the door.
Before he knew what was happening, Jacoby found himself propelled forward until he was face-to-face with a wall of cheering, clapping pirates. Behind them was a big painted sign bearing the legend WELCOME HOME, JACOBY!
Jacoby turned to Bo Yin. “I suppose I have you to thank for this, do I, you little scamp?”
Bo Yin shrugged, but she was smiling broadly. The cheers and claps kept coming. Jacoby stood, then reached for Jasmine’s hand and held it tightly. He hadn’t anticipated such a rapturous welcome and he found himself genuinely overwhelmed.
“Thank you!” he said to his comrades, but his words made little impact against the sea of noise. “Thank you!” he repeated a second, third, and fourth time as the cheers and claps kept coming.
“Come in!” Cheng Li called, setting her reading glasses down on her desk.
“It’s me—Jacoby,” came the voice from outside.
“Ah, good,” she cried. “Just a minute!” She pressed a recently installed button under her desk and blackout blinds smoothly descended across all the portholes in her cabin. At the same time, the lights within the room accordingly grew brighter.
“Okay,” she called out. “You’re fine to come in now.”
Jacoby stepped inside and closed the double doors behind him.
Cheng Li rose to her feet, smiling. “So, how does it feel to be back?” she asked, meeting him in the center of the cabin.
“Mostly good,” he said, glancing at the blinds. “But weird in some ways.”
Cheng Li shrugged. “Bound to,” she said. “It’s early days.”
Jacoby’s smile gave way to a frown. “I don’t want to be a burden—not to you or any of the crew.”
“A burden?” Cheng Li asked. “Why would you think that?”
Jacoby stared directly at her. “Arriving under cover of darkness, waiting for the blinds to fall before I enter your cabin—I can’t even go up on deck anymore until nightfall.”
“A few minor adjustments,” Cheng Li said calmly.
“Not exactly minor,” Jacoby murmured.
Cheng Li folded her arms. “It’s Alliance policy for every Federation vessel to have a Nocturnal on board,” she said. “Thus far, The Tiger has been the exception due to our close relationship with Commander Furey.” She smiled as she spoke Lorcan’s name. “But now the time has come to have a full-time Nocturnal on our crew.” She unfolded her arms and stepped closer to Jacoby. “And I cannot think of anyone better qualified for that position than you.”
Jacoby managed to force a smile but it was clear he didn’t quite believe her.
Cheng Li continued more forcefully. “Jacoby Blunt, you are an integral part of my crew and you have a key role to play in winning this war. Whether you fight by day or by night, you remain one of my best warriors. You’re still deputy captain of this ship.”
Jacoby’s surprise was evident. “I thought you’d given that job to Connor.”
“Connor took over your responsibilities while you were away recuperating, but, now that you’re back, the position is yours again—assuming you still want it.”
Jacoby’s eyes were wide. “Of course I want it,” he said. “I just figured you’d tell me I had to take it easy and give myself time.”
Cheng Li shook her head decisively. “I’m not running a greeting card company. I’m a senior commander engaged in the biggest war ever to hit the oceans.” Her almond eyes had never gleamed with such conviction. “There’s no time for anyone to take it easy. You had the chance to convalesce at Sanctuary. Now that you’re back, I expect you to give one hundred percent, just like before. Take the blood you need from Luna, stay out of the sunlight, and work your butt off to justify my absolute confidence in you.”
“Yes, Captain!” Jacoby exclaimed, grinning broadly as he saluted her once more.
“At ease, Deputy Blunt,” Cheng Li said, shaking her head. “Oh, and if you’re looking for a new role model, you could do far worse than to emulate Commander Furey.”
Jacoby gazed in wonder at his captain and commander. She was certainly one of a kind.
“If you have any more questions, just come and find me,” Jasmine told Luna as they left the mess hall after a tasty dinner of halibut, wasabi mash, and sea vegetables.
“Thank you,” Luna said. “You’ve been so kind.”
Jasmine shrugged off the compliment. “And if I’m not available, Bo Yin will be pleased to help you, won’t you, Bo?”
Bo Yin smiled brightly. “Absolutely.”
“Thank you,” Luna said. “Yin,” she added contemplatively. “Of course! Your father is Master Yin, the legendary swordsmith. I’ve heard all about him.”
Bo Yin beamed. She never tired of hearing people praise her father. It helped her to feel closer to him while they were apart.
“Well, this is me,” Luna said, tapping the door of her cabin. “Good night to you both, and thanks again for making me so welcome.”
As she disappeared inside the cabin, Jasmine and Bo Yin proceeded along the corridor. At last, Bo could ask Jasmine some of the questions that had been building up over the past few hours, starting with…
“So, basically, that girl is here to give Jacoby regular drinks of blood?”
“Yes.” Jasmine nodded. “That’s about the sum of it. Though I believe she’s trained in several kinds of healing, too.”
“So she’s a donor—with benefits,” Bo Yin said, cracking a grin. Jasmine bit her lip as Bo Yin continued merrily on. “I’ve heard about the donors, of course, but I never thought they’d be so, well, so like us.”
Jasmine paused and turned to her friend and comrade. “She’s just like us, Bo, when all is said and done. Luna’s just another soldier doing her bit for the war effort.” As she finished speaking, she saw a figure ambling along the corridor toward them.
“Hello, Connor Tempest!” Bo Yin exclaimed. “Where have you been hiding all day?”
Connor smiled amiably at Bo Yin but did not answer her question. Instead, he glanced cagily toward Jasmine. “Did he make it back okay?”
“Yes, Connor.” There was an arctic chill to Jasmine’s voice. “Jacoby came home at first light. Most of the crew were gathered in the mess hall to give him a rousing welcome,” she said. “It was wonderful to witness such a show of support and solidarity.”
“I’m glad,” Connor said, with genuine feeling. “I’ve been holed up downstairs all day, updating the logs.” He yawned. “I’ve been concentrating so hard and long, I can barely see straight.” Faced with Jasmine’s glacial glare, Connor turned his attention back to Bo Yin. “Who knew there was so much bureaucracy at the heart of war? And paperwork was never my strong suit.”
“Poor excuse, Connor—even from you,” Jasmine said, careful to avoid the slightest contact with him as she moved onward.
Connor watched her go, the pain evident in his eyes. Bo Yin grabbed his arm. “Don’t take it to heart,” she whispered. “Much going on in Jasmine Peacock’s head right now.” So saying, she smiled once more at Connor, then hurried off to her cabin.
Finding himself alone again, Connor headed toward the upper deck. After a long day shut inside, the prospect of fresh air was not just appealing but necessary to him.
The deck was almost deserted, save for those members of Cheng Li’s crew on the first phase of the night watch. They greeted Connor as he passed but, to his relief, did not attempt to draw him into conversation. After his latest difficult encounter with Jasmine, he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts, tormented as they were.
He wandered to the prow of the ship, feeling a certain sense of peace restored by the sight of the star-filled sky. In times past, he had searched the heavens for familiar constellations. Perhaps that would soothe him once more now.
But, as he reached the front of the ship, he saw that he was not alone. The starlight illuminated a familiar frame, standing with his back toward Connor. Connor hesitated, wondering if he could conceivably turn around and edge back inside or to the other end of the ship without being rumbled. But it was too late. The figure turned around and Connor Tempest found himself face-to-face with his erstwhile comrade, sometime friend, and occasional rival, Jacoby Blunt.
“You made it back then.” Connor’s words were awkward. “That’s good.”
“Is it?” Jacoby said, looking hurt. “I guess I interpreted your absence from the welcome-home committee to mean you had mixed feelings about my return.”
“What? No!” Connor shook his head. “Cheng Li had me holed up downstairs with a mountain of paperwork.”
Jacoby smiled ruefully. “Almost as though she was trying to keep us apart.”
Connor shrugged. “Why would she want to do that?”
“You tell me.”
Jacoby’s eyes bored into Connor’s and sent a chill through his bones. How much did Jacoby know?
Connor hesitated, his eyes still locked with Jacoby’s. “There’s no reason. You know how important procedures are to Captain Li.” He smiled. “But, I guess, now that you’re back, you’ll be taking some of those boring responsibilities back from me.”
Jacoby’s expression changed. “Are you really okay with that? Me resuming my role as deputy captain…?”
“Sure.” Connor nodded.
Jacoby continued. “Things getting back to how they used to be… well, as close as they can be.” Once more his eyes bored into Connor’s. “Buddy, I have to ask you a question, and it’s really important to me that you give me an honest answer. Will you do that for me, as a mark of our friendship?”
“Yes,” Connor said, feeling a sense of impending doom. Had Jasmine confessed to their relationship, or had Jacoby been tipped off by another member of the crew? They had been as discreet as they could, but secrets weren’t easily kept aboard The Tiger; there were eyes and ears all over the ship. Connor’s heart was hammering as Jacoby opened his mouth once more.
“Are you really okay with me being a vampire, buddy? Because I know how much you hate vampires, so I could completely understand if…”
Connor let out his breath, the tension receding. “No!” he said. “I mean, yes! I’m completely cool with you being a vampire.”
“You’re sure?” The relief in Jacoby’s eyes was evident.
“I’m one hundred percent sure,” Connor said, nodding.
Jacoby leaped forward and gave Connor a bear hug. “Thanks, man! You have no idea how much that means to me. You and Jasmine and Cheng Li are the most important people in my world. You guys, well, you’re what got me through all those times I came close to giving up.”
As Connor listened to Jacoby, his relief soured into the familiar stench of self-loathing. Jacoby clearly thought he was another kind of person altogether. Someone you could depend on; someone who wouldn’t betray you. He wanted to do something, to salve his conscience, but he wasn’t sure what.
“It’s good to have you back,” he found himself saying. “A lot’s happened while you were away. There are a few things we need to catch up on.”
“Sure, sure,” Jacoby said. “But not tonight, eh, Connor? I’ve been waiting all day to get out here, back onto this deck that feels like home.” He climbed up onto the deck rail and sat there, perched right at the front of the ship like an eagle. “I’m just going to sit here and look out at the sea and the stars. There were so many times when I was locked up in that prison when I never thought I’d get to see the stars again.”
Connor nodded, feeling genuine sorrow for his friend’s ordeal. “Do you want to be alone?” he asked. “Or, if you like, I can point out some of the constellations to you?”
Jacoby grinned and patted the spot beside him on the deck rail. “Grab a pew! It’s high time I learned my Aquila from my Ophiuchus!”
32
LOVE AND DEATH
Grace sat on her bed, back in the c
abin Lorcan had brought her to when she’d first arrived on The Nocturne. She remembered waking up, back then, and finding herself dressed in a pretty nightdress that, it transpired later, Darcy had lent her. Grace smiled to herself. That had been the first of many such loans from Darcy. Now she was still dressed in the utilitarian clothes she had fled Sanctuary wearing. Except for her shoes, which lay discarded on the floor, and her coat, which she had thrown over the chair tucked under the little writing desk. The same desk she had leaned against when Sidorio had entered the cabin and threatened her all those months ago. Had he known then he was her father? No, of course not. He had just seen her as a potential blood source.
This room was crowded with memories at every turn. But they were only distractions. She had to think through everything Obsidian had shared with her. Things were coming to a head and she had tough decisions to make.
The knock on the door was, at first, an annoyance. But as she heard a soft, familiar voice ask, “Grace, may I come in?” her heart leaped and she jumped down from the bed.
“Lorcan!” she cried as he pushed open the door and stepped inside. She ran into his arms and he held her there, pressing her against the folds of his greatcoat. Her face nuzzled the nape of his neck. She realized to her surprise that his hair had been cut short. It was a shock at first, but she rather liked it. “Oh, Lorcan,” she whispered. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“And I you,” he said. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here to greet you yesterday.” He smiled and took her hands in his. They sat down, side by side, on the four-poster bed. “As it happens, I was in the company of your brother at Ma Kettle’s Tavern.”
“You were with Connor?” Grace said, surprised. “Of course! Obsidian said you were with the pirates. I just didn’t make the connection. How did he seem to you?”
Immortal War v-6 Page 23
