Battle Across Worlds
Page 36
“They have opened up nest of worms,” Jack said. “I don’t think that the Lord Protector has any idea of what he’s gotten himself into.”
“What do you mean?” Sarde asked.
A woman’s voice cooed out loudly. It was the Dameryan finger-cymbal player; a young Garataynian lord was down on his knee, kissing her jeweled hand.
Jack turned to look and he saw a sudden flash from outside the window, where a somewhat inebriated Xa Ashaon guard was firing an ambia rifle into the air while onlookers clapped and cheered.
Jack turned back to his subordinates and shook his head, smiling. “I mean that this is only the beginning, gentleman. I suspect that things are about to get very interesting around here.”
“Excuse me, Sir …” came a girlish voice. It was Bocke’s young wife, holding out two foaming mugs of ale. She was flushed and panting, but still smiled at Jack, her childish face an angelic picture of innocence.
Jack took the mugs and thanked her profusely. He set the drinks down on the table, then gave her a gold coin. “Give this to your husband,” he said. “May it ease his worries for a moment, at least.”
She curtsied and skipped away, hurrying back towards the bar. Jack picked up his mug and inhaled the sour-sweet aroma of the brew.
“Shall we have a toast, Cap’n?” Sarde asked, raising his own mug as Mullet did likewise. “You do the honors?”
“Yes, I think so.” Jack thought for just a moment, and then the words came to him.
He raised his drink and said: “To the Age of White Fire.”
“To the Age of White Fire!” the others repeated.
“And …” he added, looking down into Tesha’s lovely golden eyes, “to the future.”
THE END
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