Dark Horse (19 page)

Yurve
shit
, Dav thought. Sheʼd had a little tantrum because he couldnʼt take her around the Class 5, and sheʼd used Rose as a way to get back at him. He let his thoughts show in his expression, and she had the grace to blush.

“Rose, are you done here?”

She stood and gave him one of her sweet, sweet smiles. “Thank you, Captain, yes I am.” She turned to the councilors. “It was nice to meet you, and Liaison Officer Dimitara tells me there is a formal hearing I will have to attend, so I will see you later.” She gave a formal Grihan bow.

“Be very careful when you face the formal hearing.” Councilor Yir stood. “Everything said there must be the truth, and if you are caught in a lie, the consequences will be very serious.”

“I will make sure Rose knows exactly what is expected of her. And hopefully the councilors all know what is expected of them.” Dimitara rose as well, narrowed her eyes at the Tecran. “That no matter whether one of their own race is under review, they have to act with complete impartiality.”

Yirʼs eyes widened at that, and he opened his mouth. “That is outrageous——”

“Any more outrageous than the veiled threat you just delivered to our witness?” A councilor from Fitali asked.

Yir sat down, and Councilor Jamoria cleared his throat. “Perhaps it is best that from now on, Rose only meets with a member of the council under formal, recorded circumstances.”

Yir hissed, his honor clearly impinged.

Rose had reached his side, and Dav put a hand on her shoulder, and it was only when he noticed Councilor Fu-tama staring at them both with a strange look of horror on his face that he realized he was gripping the fabric of Roseʼs shirt, pulling down the neckline a little.

He gentled his hold, bowed to the councilors and propelled her out of the room with Appal going ahead. Xaltro and Halim took up the rear, and Dav noted with approval that Xaltro walked backward, keeping her eyes on the councilors until the door closed behind them.

As soon as they were in the mess hall, Rose lost her stiff posture.

“Thanks for riding to the rescue again.” She closed her eyes and shuddered.

He wanted to pull her closer, but this was neither the time or the place.

“You shouldnʼt have needed rescuing, not on the
Barrist
.” He couldnʼt help the harshness of his tone, and he saw her wince.

He knew she liked Filavantri Dimitara, but the liaison officer had placed her in an untenable situation, and he wasnʼt going to let Dimitara off easily.

His comm chimed, and he made a face.

“The admirals?” Appal asked.

He gave a nod. His hand was still on Roseʼs shoulder and he gave it a gentle squeeze. “I have to go. Will you be all right?”

She looked up at him and nodded.

“Iʼll walk you to your room, stay with you for a bit, Rose. If you wouldnʼt mind the company?” Appal stood with hands behind her back, looking genuinely friendly, but Dav knew her too well. She hadnʼt spent any time with Rose since they met down on Harmon, and she would want to see if she could coax anymore information out of Rose about who attacked her.

“I would like that.” Rose gave a small smile and then looked around the officersʼ mess. “Can we bring breakfast with us? I was too upset to eat in there.”

Dav felt a renewed surge of annoyance as his comm chimed again, and with a formal bow, he left Rose, Appal and the guards and headed back to the two admirals, who were no doubt just as annoyed as he was.

They hadnʼt liked being left in the dark and they hadnʼt liked him leaving before they were finished with him.

He must be contemplating career suicide, because he no longer gave a damn.

R
ose had liked
Jia Appal since sheʼd first realized she was a woman. It had calmed her, no matter how illogical it might have been.

Now she realized her first impression had been a good one, as Appal set the table for them, and made some fresh grinabo from the little station built into the wall of her room.

She knew the commander could only be here to ask her questions, there was no way she had time for a leisurely breakfast with the United Council here, the Tecran in the holding cells and the Class 5 locking weapons onto approaching ships. But she didnʼt mind. Appal was trying to set her at ease, and Rose would help her any way she could.

She sat, took a sip of the hot grinabo and leaned back in her chair. “What would you like to know?”

Appal paused on her way to the table with her own cup of grinabo in her hand and raised her eyebrows. “Was I that obvious?”

Rose shook her head. “Youʼre a busy woman, thereʼs no way youʼd be taking time off for breakfast unless it was to question me.”

Appal held her gaze as she sat. “This is going to sound condescending, but I keep forgetting youʼre as advanced a sentient as we are. You understand exactly whatʼs going on, donʼt you?”

Rose kept her face blank. Unfortunately, she knew way more than Appal, and the commander might not forgive her for it when it all came out. “Perhaps youʼd like to spread the word about that.”

Appal nodded. “The captain has already made it clear he wonʼt tolerate anyone calling you an orange, or talking down to you.”

Rose hid her reaction with another sip. Dav Jallan was protective and sweet. It made lying to him so much harder. “The captain hasnʼt treated me as anything other than his equal. Not once.”

Appal toyed with a strange mix of things in a bowl which Rose had decided not to try. That could be an adventure for another day. “He thinks highly of you.”

Rose brushed the tips of her fingers across her cheekbone. “I think highly of him. Iʼd be gryak lunch without him.”

“Itʼs not just that, though, is it?” Appalʼs tone came out a little rougher than usual.

“No.” Rose fiddled with the bread on her plate. “Heʼs supported me and helped me since we met, and Iʼd be lying if I said I didnʼt appreciate it.” She bit into the bread, took a moment to enjoy the nutty taste of it, and then, edgy at having to explain her feelings for Appalʼs boss, she set it down. “So, again, what do you want to know?”

Appal blew out a breath. “I want to know who tried to kill you and what that Class 5 is doing in the middle of our territory with a mostly dead crew.”

Rose huffed out a laugh. “So, not much?”

Appal stared at her and then laughed as well. “I take it you donʼt think you can help me?”

Rose shook her head. “I wish I could.”

“Impressions are better than nothing. What were your first thoughts in the pool room? Anything you can think of.”

“He was big, but then, youʼre all big. I think I was overcome with the shock of how he squeezed my head when he pushed me down, like adding insult to injury, you know? Like he wanted to hurt me, as well as kill me. It wasnʼt just a job to him.” She rubbed the side of her temple. “After that, I just thought about staying alive.”

“So, it could be personal? But who have you had dealings with?”

Rose lifted her hands and shoulders. “Who have I pissed off, you mean?” She shook her head. “Not many people. But they donʼt have to know me personally to not like what I stand for.”

“What you stand for?”

Rose bet Appal knew exactly what she meant, but she obliged her.

She lifted a finger. “An orange, unlike any seen for hundreds of years.” She lifted a second finger. “The unlikely survivor of a strange mass death.” She lifted a third finger. “Someone who just by existing is going to bring some nasty trouble on the heads of the Tecran and set the United Council at odds with each other.” She blew out a breath and lifted her pinky. “And a music-maker who doesnʼt want to be a music-maker.”

Appalʼs eyebrows rose at the last point. She cocked her head in that strange, alien way she had down on Harmon. “You donʼt want to be a music-maker?”

Appal said music-maker in the same reverent tones as everyone else, and the hot, tight feeling of impending failure gripped her again. Rose shuddered. “I understand itʼs a great honor, and Iʼve tried to be respectful of that, but I gather my reluctance is seen by some as an insult.”

“Iʼll keep an eye on that. Rose, youʼve nothing to apologize for. Youʼve been taken against your will, and you donʼt owe us anything. We owe you, because a United Council member nation was responsible for your abduction.” Appal stood, adjusting the bulky shockgun strapped to her leg. Rose realized she hadnʼt even taken it off to eat her breakfast.

Her sharp, fine-chiseled features, spiky chestnut hair and long, lean frame came together to make a picture of strength and competence Rose felt she couldnʼt match. “Am I confined to my room?”

Appal shook her head. “Get the guards to take you to the gym if youʼd like some exercise, but the officersʼ one, not the main one. And try not to take chances.”

Rose relaxed a little. “You may feel I donʼt owe anyone anything, but tell me how to get out of singing or declaring myself a music-maker without stirring the pot even more?”

Appalʼs look was gentle. “You
are
a music-maker, Rose. Your not wanting to take the role is the issue, not your fundamental nature.”

“If you knew anything about the place Iʼm from, you would laugh at the idea of me as a revered singer.” She couldnʼt hide her own panic at the thought.

“Use that fact.” Appal gave a slow nod. “Youʼre from a different culture, a different world entirely, and so I think you could simply ask for time to adjust. That will give you the space you need.”

She could do that. She could do that for a long, long time.

“What do you specifically dislike about it?” Appal must have seen the calculation on her face.

“The attention.” Rose flushed. “The sense that Iʼm letting everyone down. Their expectations are so high. Also, I donʼt understand what is socially acceptable with regard to touching or personal space among the Grih, but I was too crowded yesterday, which is why I ran.”

“We are affectionate, and like to touch, but only with permission.”

Rose thought back to the pool. To the way Dav had brushed his fingers over her cheeks, and her breasts. “Are any areas of the body considered more off-limits than others?”

Appal nodded. “Lightly touching an arm, or a shoulder or back in passing, or to illustrate a point, that is all right.”

“And other areas?”

“Anywhere else, and thatʼs considered a sexual advance,” Appal said, her eyebrows high on her forehead.

“Even when offering comfort?” Roseʼs mouth felt a little dry, but then sheʼd always known what she and Dav were dancing around.

“Even then.” Appal watched her with bright interest. “Youʼre speaking from personal experience, arenʼt you? Already? Youʼve only been on board three days.”

Rose could feel her face heat. She said nothing.

“When we pulled you out of that collapsed cave, and the captain handed you up to me, I couldnʼt believe how small and heavy you were. You looked like a cuter, curvier version of us, and as harmless as a kapoot, but thatʼs not the truth at all, is it?”

Rose made a face. “I donʼt feel particularly dangerous, not when Iʼm standing next to you. You look like you could kick ass and take names with one hand tied behind your back.”

Appal snorted out a laugh. “We must have frightened you when we landed on Harmon.”

Rose tipped her head to one side. “Yes. When you pointed those guns as me, I was frightened, but when you retracted your helmet and I saw your face, I relaxed.”

“I noticed that. How were you reassured?”

Rose smiled. “I liked the look of you.”

“You liked the look of me? Iʼm half a foot taller and I had a gun pointed at your head.”

Roseʼs smile widened. “I know.”

Appalʼs comm chimed, and she shook her head, perplexed, as she answered it. “I have to go,” she said when she tapped off.

“Trouble?” Rose had to force herself not to look toward her Tecran handheld.

Appal shook her head. “The United Council is being taken around the Class 5, and I need to arrange security.”

“Okay.” Rose walked her to the door and when it shut behind her, she closed her fist around the crystal at her neck, and did look over at her handheld.

She couldnʼt dance on this fence much longer. She either had to get Sazo into the system, or sell him out.

Neither option appealed.

“
W
hat did
you do to them?” Appalʼs eyes were on the councilors as they walked down the runnerʼs ramp into the launch bay, her words soft.

Dav took up position beside her, standing smartly to attention with shoulders square, hands behind his back. He gave each group a courteous nod as they passed by.

“I think the reality of those cells was more than they were prepared for.” He realized his hands were back in fists, just as they had been on the Class 5. He needed to stay away from the stark evidence of Roseʼs abuse if he wanted to keep an even temper. Although just the thought of it seemed to be enough to put him on the edge of rage.

Each councilor had had a similar reaction, except the Tecran, who, if anything, had seemed even more shocked than their colleagues. Councilor Fu-tamaʼs expression had given away nothing except anger, he was all but vibrating with it by the end of the tour, and some deep-seated instinct told Dav there was something more to it than outrage over sentient being abuse.

Admiral Hoke was the last one off the runner and she joined them, her eyes following the councilors as Dimitara shepherded them out. “Whatever stunt that liaison officer pulled this morning to light a fire under you, sheʼs certainly redeemed herself now. Her forcing the councilors to watch some of the lens feed while they were in the cells was a stroke of genius.” She tipped her head in Fir and Nuuʼs direction. “The Tecran donʼt know what to do now.”

Dav had already noticed that the Tecran were keeping themselves slightly apart, their heads together, shoulders hunched.

No one tried to bridge the gap and join them.

“Theyʼre already feeling the chill.”

Dav turned at the rich vein of satisfaction he could hear in Hokeʼs voice. “Is that a good thing? Do we want a rift in the United Council?”

Hoke held his gaze. “We do when weʼre trying to hold on to a very advanced piece of their technology.”

“Is the Class 5 worth a split? Worth a war?”

Hoke raised her brows. “Hopefully it wonʼt come to that. I know itʼs harsh, but the fact that they so flagrantly contravened the SBA makes them pushing the issue as far as war unlikely. Theyʼll have no allies, not after what the councilors saw today. The chances of them risking fighting us when we have the moral high ground is very small.”

Appal made a sound and Hoke turned her attention to his commander, which was a good thing, because it meant she didnʼt see the disgust on his face. He took a deep breath.

“So, Roseʼs loss is our gain?”

“I canʼt go back in time and change what happened to Rose. But if I can use what happened to her to secure a Class 5, then I will do so without a qualm.”

Dav knew he would have been in agreement if he didnʼt know Rose. And he couldnʼt fault Hokeʼs logic but . . . “If youʼre going to use what happened to Rose as leverage, sheʼd better be guaranteed a place in Grih society.”

“You making demands, Captain?” Hokeʼs tone was suddenly cool.

“You want to use Rose and then abandon her?” Dav countered, equally cool.

Hoke blew out a breath. “I havenʼt thought that far ahead. But your point is made. If sheʼs no danger to us, of course weʼll look after her. I gather sheʼs small and unaggressive.”

Appal snorted out a laugh.

“Something amusing, Commander?” Hoke turned her annoyed expression to Appal again.

“You obviously havenʼt met Rose,” Appal said. “Or you wouldnʼt be talking about her as if describing a new species of animal.”

“I need to remedy that as soon as possible.” Hoke said. She flicked at her sleeve for the time. “I have to brief Battle Center, and then Iʼll go find her.”

Dav narrowed his eyes. “Let me know when youʼre ready, and Iʼll take you to her.”

“I donʼt need a minder, Captain. And I want to see this Rose without outside interference.” Hoke narrowed her eyes right back at him. Then she turned on her heel and walked away.

Dav looked down, saw his fists were just as tight as they had been on the Class 5, back in Roseʼs old cell.

“Letʼs go somewhere private,” he said to Appal, and she didnʼt say anything, she just nodded and led the way to her room.

Two guns lay on the large, low table between the two couches in her suite, and she picked up the cloth sheʼd been cleaning them with and got back to work.

Dav flopped down opposite her, closed his eyes and tipped back his head.

“Let me guess,” Appal said, her voice without inflection. “Youʼre trying to work out whether warning Rose that Admiral Hoke is about to descend on her would be a technical breach of orders or not.”