Untitled (37 page)

Relieved, she waited for him to put the panel back in place. A moment later they were striding through the twisting passages of the ship, the man, chattering, pointing out this and that. She felt slightly intoxicated by all this. Not two days prior she was waist-high in dirt and landscaping materials, now she was walking with orders through a
Straylight
. The possibilities, the adventure—it was so exciting. Maybe she could do this. Maybe she could gather something stupid and harmless here and there, appease the Lord, get the Letter of Honor, get paid, and manage to stay aboard … to go where this great ship goes.

Maybe she'd actually like the captain. Maybe they'd get along. Maybe they would become friends.

They went up a few decks and then were there.

A small wooden door sat innocently at the end of the passageway with a brass plate reading: "Captain Davage."

The man knocked on the door and waited a moment.

"Come in," came a soft voice from inside.

"Thank you for showing me the way, sir, but I think I can …"

The man opened the door and held it for Kilos. She nodded and went in.

Inside was a fairly smallish office, a large desk, Com panels, two chairs, and several windows. Ki could see the carnival of lights from the village and the big Vith castle looming in the distance. The walls were lined with pictures of the
Seeker
and various elegantly dressed people—must be the captain's family.

A woman dressed in a Fleet officer's uniform stood by the desk. Her hair beneath her triangle hat was long and dark red. Her shirt was white and frilly. Her coat was tailed and deep blue and woven with gold ivy. Ki loved Fleet uniforms. The woman's jade-like eyes were set and stern. Her boots were placed on the rug as if bound in stone.

Was the Lord of Blanchefort a woman after all?

Ki squared herself and snapped to attention. "Captain, Sergeant Kilos, 12th Marines, reporting as ordered!"

The woman said nothing. Her eyes were a glowing green, and they were fixed on Ki, fierce and inscrutable. Even though Ki was a fair amount taller than this woman, she felt infinitely smaller. Those eyes, those green eyes, could melt lead.

After a moment, she spoke, her voice as cold and icy as the climate outside. "You are joking, no doubt. Know you not Fleet rank insignia, Sergeant Kilos?"

Ki was confused. She looked at her uniform: blue coat with ivy, black pants, tall black boots over-sized in the Fleet style, large triangle hat, black Command sash decorated with numerous ribbons—certainly looked like a Fleet captain's uniform, but she wasn't really up on it. She didn't know what to say.

"Well?" she demanded, those green eyes catching fire.

After a moment, the sooty man made his way past her and sat down behind the desk.

What was going on?

He smiled. "Lieutenant Hathaline, is that any way to welcome our new adjutant to the Marines?"

Kilos was mortified. This man with whom she had chatted so casually was Captain Davage?

"She cannot even identify Fleet rank, Captain."

"Well, Hath, I'd say you certainly look the part, all stern and frowning all the time."

He turned to Ki. "Sergeant, well met. I am Captain Davage," he said cheerfully. "I am sorry that I am out of dress a bit, but I love working on the ship with my own two hands when I can. She is my great pride."

She squared herself with him and again snapped to attention. "Sir, I am sorry for this confusion."

"It's nothing to be sorry over. Please be at ease and sit, be comfortable."

"Sir," she said holding out a folder. "Here are my credentials."

Davage thanked her and accepted the folder. Marshall Henbane had given her the folder. She didn't have any idea what was in it; the folder had been sealed. He sat back and opened it, thumbing through the pages.

"Hmm," he said, "very impressive. You served aboard the
Midnight
. Captain Graves gives his compliments. You also had a stint in Fleet Command, I see."

Hathaline rolled her eyes. "Captain, I have her real file here." She stood and held out a blue file. The Captain took it and opened it, leaning over his desk as he looked it over.

Hathaline was furious. "How stupid does Lord Sixtus of Grenville think we are?" she said in an ugly voice to Kilos.

Kilos closed her eyes and felt her heart sink. She had allowed herself to hope for a moment. She stared at the floor in shame.

Hathaline was all over Kilos. "I think I should Stare you off the ship, Brown-head!"

Davage's eyes flashed and snapped toward Hathaline. She looked at him and backed away, his silent warning to her understood loud and clear.

"I am sorry for that remark, Sergeant, it was uncalled for," she said quietly.

The captain continued reading the file. After a moment he closed the folder and set it down on the desk.

"Shall I escort her from the ship, sir?" Hathaline said in a quieter tone.

Davage sat silent. "Sergeant, will you please look at me for a moment?" he said finally.

Kilos looked up, and their eyes met. He had kind blue eyes. Dark blue, Vith blue.

He smiled.

"Sergeant, tell me, you have never been aboard a starship, yes?"

"No, sir, I haven't."

Hathaline seethed, regaining some of her former anger. "She is a spy and an incompetent to boot!"

The words stung her.

"Sergeant," Davage said in a calm, soothing voice, "have you been trained in espionage?"

"No, sir."

"There, Hath—she's not a spy."

Hathaline stood up. "Dav, she was sent here on orders from Lord Grenville, no doubt to dredge up information that he can use against you for any number of sinister purposes, including the subverting of your upcoming reappointment with the Admiralty! You might not choose to be thoroughly enraged over this matter, but I am! Someone has to concern themselves with your social status. If it's not you, then it will be me! You ought to marry me for this endless work I do for you! I don't see why you don't."

Davage ignored her. "It says in your file—the real one—that you have been working in Armenelos for the last six months. May I ask what you were doing there?"

"I …" she could feel Hathaline's eyes boring into her. "I was digging trenches for the Great Lord, sir."

Hathaline just about pulled her hat off and took a bite out of it she was so mad. "That Blue, Remnath scoundrel! He sends an incompetent, unqualified ditch-digger to infiltrate the
Seeker
? That is a slap, Captain—a slap on your face, and I'll not have it! I believe he almost wanted this … person … to get caught just to see how you would respond! This is a test, and it's a test you had better pass, Dav! I've a mind to go to Armenelos myself and Stare him down, the fancy git!"

"Hath, must you react so? Yes, I'd heard Lord Grenville was wanting to add a country cottage to his manor grounds and was digging up the landscape. A pity really. Armenelos is a beautiful area."

"What do you have to say for yourself, rat, I mean … Sergeant?" Hathaline yelled, standing up again.

Kilos didn't know what to say. She just sat there in misery.

She had so wanted this.

"Cat got your tongue? Captain Davage is a great man and in my mind, the Fleet's finest captain, and here you are—a rat, with orders to pull him down, humble him, and lose him his command. Were he not such a kind man, were it not for his sake, I would be turning you inside-out right now, Sergeant!" Her eyes shimmered with an enraged light.

"Hath," he said. "That's enough, and I mean it."

Hathaline, giving Kilos one last hateful look, went to the door. "I am going to get security and have her removed, Dav, and she'll be fortunate if I don't Stare her out of the ship after all. Not only is this ridiculous, it's embarrassing as well!"

Before Davage could say anything, she left.

"I am sorry for that, Sergeant," he said. "Lieutenant Hathaline is one of my oldest friends and tends to be rather protective of me, though I know not why."

Patting the soot out of his hair, which Ki noted was dark blue, he grabbed his coat and a long, odd-looking weapon that was made out of gun-metal. He opened the door and peered out into the hallway.

"We'd best be out of here, Sergeant, I think she's serious."

He stepped into the hallway. "Walk with me, please." Kilos stood up and grabbed her duffel. Together they left the office and headed off in some random direction.

After a while they ended up in a large gymnasium.

"Everything she said is true, sir. I was sent here to spy on you," Ki said.

"I think I can imagine what happened, Sergeant," Davage said, his voice echoing around the lofty gym. "Lord Sixtus of Grenville was wanting to renew his attack on me and my family, and in order to do that, he needed a shill, someone whom he could get to do his dirty work for him."

He paused. "You are a Brown, yes."

Kilos looked down at the gym mat.

"You needn't feel ashamed; some of my best friends are Browns. But still, in Lord Grenville's case, your status as a Brown is perfect. He could use you all he wants, and should anything happen, you will take all the blame. I'm certain you were pulled into his office. He found you of suitable stock and asked you to collect as much embarrassing information on me as possible. In such a case, you really don't have much of a choice, do you? You really can't say no to a Great House Lord, can you?" Davage smiled. "Did he mention anything about being executed?"

"He did, sir."

"Yes … certainly brave of him using a ditch-digging Marine to fight his battles and threatening to have her killed to boot. His family and mine have never gotten along. Vith and Remnath—there's a history there. Foolishness really."

Ki felt sick to her stomach. She wanted to be elsewhere; she'd had enough. She turned to the door of the gym. "Sir, I would best be going. It's a long trip back to Armenelos."

She looked around the gym, noting the fanciful painting of the
Seeker
on the far wall. She looked at Captain Davage standing there in his coat and hat. Here was a man she could have worked with, done great things with. She was certain of that.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I'm truly sorry I wasted your time today."

Davage ignored her. "And how should I react to this, Sergeant— this latest attack authored by dear Lord Grenville?"

Kilos stopped and looked at him.

"Perhaps I should be full of indignant rage, rather like Lieutenant Hathaline, and thoroughly punish you for this. That's what Lord Grenville expects that I will do; that's what he would do, certainly."

Ki began walking toward the door again. Davage watched her walk for a moment. "You know what I think, Sergeant?"

"Sir?"

"I don't think you've ever given yourself a chance. I think you've allowed yourself to get the better of you. That's why you're digging ditches. That's why you've been in Hack pretty much your entire time in the service, yes?"

"Sir … I …"

Davage took off his coat. "Until you exit the ship, you are under my command, Sergeant, let's not forget that."

She looked at him.

"I am going to give you an order right now, one that I think, given your record, is right up your alley."

"Sir?"

"I want you to knock me down, if you can. You're well practiced with those fists, use them. Knock me down."

She regarded him for a moment. He was tall, fit-looking, and appeared like he could take a punch. "I do not wish to hurt you, sir."

"Look to yourself, Sergeant, and fear not for me. Now, I've given you an order, and I wish it carried out, right now," he said rolling up his sleeves.

Resigned, Ki dropped her bag, took off her coat, and rolled up her sleeves as well.

Ten minutes later, Ki sat on the gym mat against the wall. Her jaw was killing her, she felt a tooth loose, and her right eye was watering, starting to close.

She hadn't been able to knock him down, though she nailed him a few times. And he nailed her too. He could hit—hard.

"You know, Sergeant," Davage said, putting his coat back on, "I think you lead a bit too much with your left. In any event, you hit like my sister—and that's actually a great compliment."

Ki sat there looking at him with her good eye. She honestly had no idea what was going to happen next.

"So, Sergeant, I think I've seen enough. I think you'll do fine."

"You still want me even though I was selected to spy on you."

"Are you still planning on doing that?"

"No, sir."

"Then yes, I want you. I'm sorry you were subjected to the silly entanglements that Great Houses appear to enjoy, but here you are. Lord Grenville certainly expects that, should you be discovered, I will take out my wrath entirely on you—similar to how Lieutenant Hathaline reacted. I cannot imagine a better way to annoy Lord Grenville than to accept you as is and provide you with every opportunity to excel—to finally show your quality. And as I stated earlier, I think you've allowed yourself to remain in the dregs for far too long—and I think, given the right circumstances, you might be amazed at what you can do, at how far you can go. I am willing to give you that chance. I hope as a result of this session here just now that I have earned a measure of your respect."

"You … were hoping to earn … my respect, sir?"

"Indeed. How can you follow an order if you've no respect for its source?"

Kilos looked at the mat again. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Lt. Hathaline was correct, this is indeed a test, Sergeant, and why don't we pass it together, what do you say? I'm willing to give it a top-rate effort if you are. Wouldn't it be nice this evening to settle into your new quarters, grab a little something to eat, drop a Com to your husband, and tell him that your first day on the
Seeker
wasn't too terribly bad? Wouldn't that be nice?"

"Yes, sir."

Davage offered her his hand, and he pulled her up off the mat. "I don't think your first officer likes me much, though," she said.

"Hath? Don't mind her; she doesn't like me either. Besides, you won't be reporting to her, you'll deal directly with me. I enjoy an open relationship with the Marines here on my vessel, and you will be a crucial component in that continued relationship."