“Maybe she’s kindly offering me this final chance to be with you,” she said, sitting across from him, “before she expects you to take your new place.”
“She is crazy,” he breathed. “It breaks my heart to see her like this.”
Amelia wasn’t sure “crazy” was the right word to describe Dark Star.
“It’s a shame she couldn’t be redirected,” she offered. “I don’t like her current tactics, but even I can see her potential. She’s intelligent, even visionary, and obviously has the ability to draw people to her cause.”
“But her cause is madness,” Liam said sadly. “It’s delusional.”
“Destroying noble houses and overthrowing the Emperor isn’t really something I want to get behind,” she agreed.
“That, but even her dream of what would come afterward.”
“You mean her idea of independent systems and rule by the people?”
“Madness,” he repeated. “The people don’t know how to rule themselves. You said yourself it would never work.”
Amelia frowned, thinking back over the conversation. “I said that people don’t like change. But I’m not opposed to her idea in principle.”
“But how would society function,” he asked, “without a system of rules, and etiquette, and accepted behavior?”
“Just like it does in any town. We all more or less respect the law, and we sort out our differences.”
“Through brawling, bullying, and petty thuggery?” he said, disdain coloring his expression.
“And how is that any worse than how you deal with things?” she demanded. “With your doublespeak, your rituals, and your treatment of human beings like chattel?”
“You know I’m opposed to that,” he said, suddenly defensive. “I treat everyone with respect.”
“You do,” she conceded, “but you’re an exception. And you’re not that much of an exception.”
His eyes flicked up to her questioningly.
“I didn’t see you speak out when Lord Brightlake was murdered in cold blood.”
“What could I have done, with twenty armed guards behind Silverhawk?”
It was a fair point, but it was also a deflection. She leaned forward, her hands on her knees, and stared into his eyes.
“There, perhaps nothing. But what about in the café in Morassia? There were four of you and Silverhawk had only one bodyguard. Sky alone could have taken them both out. Yet none of you moved, not even after he’d declared his intention to destroy us all.”
“We couldn’t . . .”
“Why not?”
“Because he was a high lord! And if any of us were seen accosting or assaulting him, we would have hanged.”
She sat back, folding her arms. “And you think that’s okay? You think that’s normal?”
“Yes.”
“You think it’s okay that a person can act with impunity, killing and stealing at whim, with no consequences solely because of their family name?”
“Well . . .” He raised his palms in frustration.
“At least Sam and Bella were able to see a solution,” she said.
“Which the captain and I pounced on,” he added, “and for which we are eternally grateful to them. They did something that we could never have done.”
“Two intelligent, authoritative, and empowered Humans couldn’t act, just because of a name. And you wonder what’s wrong with the system.”
“The current system is flawed, for certain,” he conceded. “But it would need to be reformed from within. We can’t just overthrow our entire society and expect a paradise to emerge from the ashes.”
“True . . . but how will it ever be reformed if those in power see no need to reform it? Maybe the impetus needs to come from outside.”
“If you think the people will be resistant to change,” he warned, “just try and impose a new order on the nobility. They’d close ranks. And they have all the money and all the weapons. It would be ugly.”
There was a defensiveness in him she wasn’t used to seeing. Was he simply rattled because he’d rediscovered Zara Brightlake, or was there something else?
“Are you threatening me, my lord?”
“What? Of course not! Amelia, come on. I hope you know me well enough by now to understand that I don’t believe in our system of nobility and would love to see it changed.”
And yet, she realized as she watched him, you are so much a part of it that you can’t even imagine it being replaced. The thought didn’t fill her with much hope for her species.
“We can discuss philosophy when we’re safely back in Daring,” he said. “Right now, we need to think about escape.”
It was hard to gauge the passage of time in their cell, but as Amelia dozed next to him Liam focused his mind on an old song he remembered from childhood. It had a steady cadence, with a single long verse that simply repeated over and over, with the number of bricks in the wall going up by one each time. At his best guess it was probably by now the first hour of the morning watch.
It was with some surprise, then, that he heard the lock in the door snap open. He nudged Amelia, rising to his feet. The door opened a crack, and through the opening he heard the familiar clatter of people running and swords jingling. Piper’s face appeared in the opening, her expression grim.
“Come with me, please,” she ordered. “Both of you.”
Liam glanced down at Amelia, who was quickly shaking off the cobwebs of sleep.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“Do you really think I’m going to explain?” Piper snapped.
“Sounds like trouble,” he offered, peering past her at the corridor beyond. There were two guards with her, and the sounds of many more nearby.
“Are you going to give me trouble?”
He glanced at Amelia. She shrugged.
“Lead on, then,” he said to Piper.
She pushed the door open and motioned for them to follow. Liam tucked into her wake, feeling Amelia’s fingers brushing loosely next to his own. The pair of burly guards fell in behind them. A trio of Theropods hustled past, swords strapped to their tails, eyes fixed on their mission. Up ahead, the doors to Dark Star’s observation room were open. Piper led the way through, and immediately Liam was struck by a chill in the air.
The cavernous space looked much the same as before, except that now it was bursting with armed Humans and Theropods. One of the towering glass panels was open, and a steady stream of supplies was being loaded onto the sailing ship that was tied to the jetty. Armed pirates manned the edges of the deck, the sound of their musket fire punctuating the scene.
Zara strode up to intercept them before they’d traversed a quarter of the way across the room. She was dressed in a dark shirt and trousers with no weapons, her hair loose and cascading around her shoulders as she fastened a lightweight cloak with a broach. Her star broach, Liam noticed immediately.
“Thank you, Piper,” she said, her tone clipped as she fell in alongside Liam and took his arm. Their pace toward the open glass didn’t slow.
“What’s going on, Zara?” he asked.
“It seems your friends have found you, darling.” She sighed. “They’re storming the gates at ground level.”
They passed through the open glass wall, the chill damp of the atmosphere sending a shiver through him. The distant sounds of combat were a dull roar beneath the musket fire on both sides of the deck. He scanned the dark sky but saw only the lightning-streaked clouds of the nebula against a vivid backdrop of stars. Was Riverton launching a ground assault?
“Perhaps we can call a cease-fire,” he said suddenly, drawing to a halt. “Let me talk to my people and prevent bloodshed.”
“A noble idea,” Zara clipped, “but no. I’m not so foolish as to let you link up with your people—you’ve proven yourself far too cunning.”
He looked again at the stream of pirates loading supplies onto the ship.
“And so,” he asked, “what are we doing?”
“To where?” Amelia asked from behind them.
“It will all become clear in time.”
The cargo line paused as people scrambled to clear a way for Zara. She led the way across the gangplank, and Piper gestured for Liam and Amelia to follow. As he stepped out onto the narrow platform he slowed, feigning uncertainty so that he could take a longer look down at the ground far below.
There were three covered carts in the courtyard, with flashes of gunfire erupting from each. A fourth machine was up against the shard’s main doors, battering repeatedly as the pirates’ withering fire chipped away at it. All the wagons displayed the stylized symbol of the house Grandview—a circular sun rising over two triangular mountains—and Liam guessed that the admiral’s squadron had arrived. But there were no cannons on either side that Liam could see, and thus little hope of either breaking down the doors or smashing the wagons. It was a stalemate from the start.
He reached the ship’s brow and stepped aboard, breathing in the warmer, drier air. The passageway was wide, and as the sounds of battle outside faded they were replaced by the familiar hubbub of a ship preparing to sail. Piper pushed from behind, moving him clear of the brow area as he followed Zara aft. Sailors pressed themselves against the bulkheads to make room as they all passed, and after climbing up a single ladder they emerged onto the bridge.
The canopy was long and raked, giving an excellent view of the stellar maelstrom above. A woman with an air of authority greeted Zara and gave an efficient report on the status of the vessel. Liam understood the terminology well and figured that the ship was only minutes from sailing. All around them the small bridge crew worked efficiently.
“Welcome aboard my personal ship, Freedom,” Zara said, turning. “She’s built for speed, but I assure you we’ve been able to work in some comforts as well.”
Although it was his first time aboard a cutter like this, he’d already recognized the familiar form.
“Does Freedom also sail under the name Arrow?” he asked.
“Sister ships. Arrow’s on her way home now, having been a tremendous asset in helping to find you.”
“Are we going far?” Liam asked, glancing around casually as he searched for a chart.
“Allow me just a few more surprises, darling,” she said with a wink, before turning back to discuss ship status with the woman Liam assumed was the master of the vessel.
He felt Amelia brush up beside him.
“This is not good,” she muttered.
“Agreed,” he said, continuing his casual scan of the bridge. The crew was all occupied, but Piper and two guards stood squarely between Liam and Amelia and the ladder down. If they didn’t move now, however, the ship would depart the jetty and there would be no escape.
“You knock down Piper,” he whispered, “and I’ll get past the two guards.”
“Ready . . . ,” Amelia said, crouching in preparation. “Now!”
They burst into movement. Liam threw his shoulder into the first guard, knocking the big man back. Pushing off he swung his fist at the second guard, feeling the power of the impact as his entire body followed through on the blow. The thug toppled backward. Piper was staggering as Amelia straight-armed her in a full charge. The ladder was only steps away and Liam lunged for it.
Just as he reached the opening, a sailor’s head appeared, followed by shoulders as the man hauled himself up the ladder. Liam barely saw the sailor’s eyes widen in shock before he impacted the rising form. The sailor slammed backward as Amelia’s momentum carried her into Liam a heartbeat later. The sailor collapsed against the hatch, his body sprawled painfully through the opening.
Completely blocking it.
Liam saw the first of the guards rising to his feet but he turned as he heard the awful sound of a sword being drawn. Rolling to his feet, he squared off bare-handed against Piper as she flicked her rapier through a series of short swings.
Amelia paused at the hatch for barely a second, assessing, then scrambled headfirst downward. Liam reared back and delivered a crushing back kick to the guard looming behind him, determined to buy Amelia the seconds she needed to escape. He staggered as the second guard landed across his shoulders, and he slipped out of the attempted headlock before snapping an elbow back into his attacker’s face. There was no time for these goons: Piper was advancing and Amelia’s legs were still in reach. Why wasn’t she disappearing down the hatch? Liam stepped forward to cover her and just saw her reaching around the fallen sailor’s body. Reaching for his belt.
The rapier slashed down but clanged against a heavy blade that swung up through the hatch. Amelia rolled, swinging her stolen cutlass again. Piper danced back, her eyes wide. One of the guards lurched for Amelia and she hacked through his knee as she rolled again. Blood sprayed across the deck as the man collapsed. Amelia leaped to her feet and advanced, her cutlass swings forcing Piper to give ground.
Liam looked back at the remaining guard. He was just pulling himself off the bulkhead in a daze. Liam unleashed another kick to his bowed head, then with a smooth motion pulled the guard’s own sword free and ran him through. The cutlass was heavier than his own saber, and poorly balanced, but Liam had swung enough blades in his time to adjust quickly.
The drums of a general alarm suddenly boomed throughout the ship, and Liam saw the bridge crew drawing swords. He and Amelia moved to flank each other, staring back at half a dozen armed pirates. Piper’s cool gaze moved between them, a growing anticipation in her eyes.
“Hold fast,” Zara suddenly commanded. She stood alone at the center of the bridge, unarmed, her gaze sweeping across the scene. “Liam, this is absurd.”
“Kidnapping calls for desperate measures,” he replied, ready to counter the first movement from any pirate. “I think you’re being quite ungracious, Zara.”
“It isn’t kidnapping,” she said, “when it’s for your own protection.”
“My protection, or yours?”
“What’s the difference?” She shrugged. “We are one, now.”
Liam risked a long glance at her and saw the fire of affection in her eyes.
The entire bridge remained frozen in tableau, until the ladder thumped with the first pirate climbing up. Liam kicked the hatch door shut, clanging it down on the pirate’s head. He crouched and quickly snapped on the dogs with his free hand, securing the hatch.
“We’re free of the jetty,” the ship’s master reported.
“Make sail,” Zara ordered calmly.
Several sailors moved to obey, but Piper and two sailors maintained their vigil. Liam lifted his own blade, watching as Zara stepped forward, her hands open.
“Liam,” she said with a smile, “this is all quite unnecessary. We’ve departed this world and your crew is bashing themselves against my boathouse doors below. By the time they realize you’re not there we will have disappeared into the maze.”
Liam’s eyes were instinctively drawn up to the canopy and the charged dust clouds beyond. It was a maelstrom of movement and light. Even if Lord Grandview saw this ship launch, he’d never be able to keep sight of it against that chaotic background.
“They’re just trying to rescue Amelia and me,” he said. “If you set us free then there need be no further trouble.”
“I wish I could believe you. But I know that you and your forces have been hunting me for the better part of a year. While you may be glad to see me, darling, I doubt I’ll receive such a warm welcome from your lieutenants.”
She was ready for battle, he could see, but her eyes still shined with a strange kindness as she regarded him. As she shifted her gaze to Amelia, though, a new expression took hold.
“Please, Zara,” he said quickly, stepping forward and
lowering his sword. “This day isn’t going the way I’d hoped.”
“I don’t blame you, Liam,” she said, looking past him to the two dead guards slumped at the back of the bridge. “I know that you were just trying to protect Amelia. I’m sure your past failure to save me has haunted you.”
Amelia tensed as Zara’s gaze rested upon her. Liam doubted either woman would survive the other’s presence for long.
“We were frightened,” he said. “If you let Amelia go, I’ll stay here with you.”
Zara turned back to Liam, her perfect lips parting in a smile. “Such a gentleman, as always.”
“There’s no need for her to suffer. Just let her go and I’ll gladly stay here with you.”
Triumph flashed through Zara’s eyes and she lifted her chin toward Amelia. Amelia dropped her gaze. Liam lowered his cutlass to the deck and took another step closer to Dark Star.
“Please, Zara. Let her go, for my sake.”
She motioned for the two sailors behind her to sheathe their swords, then stepped forward to nestle against Liam. Her hand ran up his back and then down again to settle around his waist. He forced himself to relax, putting an arm around her shoulders.
“Heavy traffic, madame,” the ship’s master reported as the ship heeled to starboard, “we’re trying to keep clear.”
Liam looked past Zara, noticing another sailing ship looming large ahead. Freedom was altering to starboard to keep clear, but the other ship didn’t seem to be reacting.
Zara paid no attention to the sailing situation, her eyes still resting on the hostile presence on her bridge. Liam followed her gaze. Amelia didn’t move, her sword up and her eyes wary.
“Oh come, Amelia,” Zara said, “there’s no need for this. I hold no ill will against you. You’re a fine adversary, and I would still welcome you as an ally.”
Liam watched the flurry of emotions dancing across Amelia’s face. She was many things, but she would never win at poker. He saw no jealously in her, but rather fear mixed with respect. And a healthy dose of uncertainty. But, finally, she lowered her cutlass.
Dark Star Rising Page 26
