Qory smiled at the thought and gestured to Morra.
"He says your terms are acceptable."
Talyn shook his head. "I'm not leaving you without protection."
Felicia arched a brow at him. "I'm in the middle of the armada's command center, with my older brother sitting on top of me like a rabid lorina with its sole-surviving kitten. I assure you, I will be fine."
Even so, Talyn wasn't convinced. He had a bad feeling in his gut. And it wasn't over his mission. "I don't like this."
"Guess no one's happy, then. You think it thrills me to have you go into the heart of beings I know have already shot you down and wouldn't hesitate to do so again?"
Talyn offered her the charming grin that had gotten him out of much trouble with his mother while growing up. "If I guess correctly, do I get a bonus?"
Growling, she shook her head. "You're so impossible. I have no idea why I love you."
"'Cause I'm cute and fluffy, and I don't bitch when you rip the covers off me at night."
She laughed at that. "Go on, get out before I make good my threat to shoot you in the leg."
Talyn paused at the door to glance back at Felicia. The sad light in her eyes made his stomach lurch. "I'll be back, couriana. Promise."
"You better be."
His heart heavy that he'd made her sad, Talyn led Morra and Qory toward his office while Lorens stayed behind to console Felicia.
Morra used his link to place a call to her ally. When the man answered, he wasn't what Talyn had pictured as a Tavali. At all. With dark auburn hair, he looked more like an aristocratic politician than a ruthless pirate. In fact, the man bled refinement. But that being said, his manner of dress was a careless casual, something reflected by the fact he hadn't shaved in a couple of days.
The only clue to his real nature was the cold-blooded ruthlessness in his sharp blue eyes. "Lady Deathblade," he said in greeting to Morra. "It's been quite some time since I've had the privilege of seeing your beautiful face."
She snorted. "Ryn, Ryn, Ryn ... you're such an outrageous flirt."
"Can't help it. I've always been attracted to the ladies, especially when they're lethal." He winked at her. "And since I know you so well, I know you're not calling to pass the time. What can I do for you, my lovely?"
"I need a huge favor. Where are you?"
Ryn tsked. "Not at liberty to disclose. I'm on official business for my mother. Why?"
Morra deflected his question with one of her own. "Any chance you're going to be near the Porturnum's Port StarStation base anytime soon?"
The amused grin on Ryn's face said that he knew she was being evasive on purpose. "And again, I ask why."
She introduced Ryn to Talyn. "I'll let Talyn take over."
Talyn inclined his head to Ryn. "We have it on good authority that Venik is harboring our deposed tadara, and Parisa Anatole, a wanted fugitive. I want to go in undercover as a Tavali to verify it, and extract them if they really are there."
Ryn arched a brow at that. "Have you any idea what happens to someone wearing Tavali gear when they're not entitled? We have grave issues with posers."
"And I have grave issues with the Andarion tadara trying to kill her own grandson and then using the Tavali, who are supposed to be our enemies, to hide her from our justice."
Morra cleared her throat. "By the way, that grandson he's talking about ... it's Nykyrian Quiakides. Someone near and dear all our hearts, who has a grudge against both the queen and Parisa."
Ryn's other eyebrow shot up. "Really?"
Morra nodded. "So long as they're free, Nyk's wife is in danger."
"You just trotted out the magic name to the game, little sister. I owe Nyk for protecting my brother. There's nothing I wouldn't do for him. Even bring my mother's clan into war." Ryn turned away for a second as if considering his next course of action. "Fine. I'm already here at their Andarion base. And this explains a lot of what I've been overhearing since my arrival. Y'all come as my guests and I'll sponsor you. Let me know if you have any trouble getting in."
"Thank you," Talyn said.
"Peace be the journey." Ryn cut the transmission.
As Talyn straightened, the knot in his gut drew tighter. Something bad was about to happen. "Can we trust him?"
Morra nodded. "That brother he mentioned? It's Darling Cruel."
"The Caronese prince?"
She nodded. "They have the same father."
And Darling was the Sentella friend Jayne was always trying to protect. She thought the world of the man, and Jayne trusted almost no one.
Ryn wasn't what Talyn felt, then. But something was off. He could sense it with the part of him that had never failed to be right.
If only he knew what his gut was trying to tell him.
Qory gestured to Morra as they left to head to the landing bay.
"What?" Talyn asked.
"He's reminding me that we need to dress you like Tavali. You walk in there in that uniform ... well, I'm always up for a good fight, but if you get hurt, Felicia will kick my ass and Jayne will help her." She chucked Talyn on his arm as they boarded their Sentella ship, and Qory left to head for the flight deck to do preflight checks. She pulled Talyn to a private room on board. "So follow me and drop those pants, cutie. This is going to be fun."
For her, maybe.
As minutes went by and Morra used Talyn as a living doll, he knew what caused the lump of dread in his stomach. She put him in things that crawled into areas of his body that the gods had never meant fabric to touch, while Qory took over flying them out of the station and heading them into space.
Talyn had no idea what he was in for until he looked into a mirror. He cringed at what he saw. "Sentient creatures really dress this way?"
Morra laughed. "They do, indeed. And I have to say, you wear Tavali well. There's just one thing we need, that you should love."
"A bag over my head so that no one knows it's me?"
"Close ... and stop bitching. Being Andarion, you should be used to having your face painted."
Talyn bit back the pain she unknowingly caused him. As a bastard, he wasn't allowed to paint his mother's lineage on his face. It was something that had been a bitter pill for him every time he'd had to go to temple for high holidays. And why he'd never gone to any kind of Andarion festival. It was just too embarrassing to be the only one in the crowd bare-faced.
He sat down for Morra to reach his head, and paint his features in true Tavali style ... a skeletal design that highlighted his white eyes. She pulled a scarf over his mouth that matched the hood he wore over his head. It completed the skeleton design.
"Just stay covered and they'll never know it's you." She took the mirror from his hand and returned it to its drawer before she headed to the flight deck.
Talyn stood and adjusted his blasters and Warsword before he went to join them.
Qory did a double take, then smiled approvingly.
Talyn's link buzzed. Clicking it on, he didn't bother checking ID. "Commander Batur."
Felicia's sweet voice sent a chill over him. "Hey, baby. I know I only have a few minutes before you'll be in Tavali territory and they might pick this up. I just wanted to wish you luck and tell you again that I love you. That I'm proud to be your female, and that you better stay safe."
He savored every syllable. "I will, mia. Everything's in place. Don't worry ... I love you, too."
She made a kissing noise in his ear before she ended the transmission.
Morra smiled at him.
He started to respond, but his attention went to the screens, where a massive Tavali strike force was falling into place.
Morra sobered instantly before she took over communications. "Crimson Tavali, this is Green Fire from the Black Flag Nation, copy?"
"Copy. We need confirmation. Who's your father?"
"No father. We're Rogues who fly under the mercy of Hermione Dane. Code name Kirren ... hail the Wasturnum, forever. We've come on a peaceful mission to rende
zvous with the favored son. He can verify my identity and cause."
Talyn stepped forward as the Tavali armed their weapons.
Morra held her hand up to signal him to hold position. "Problem?"
"No problem. Identify all heat signatures on board."
"Morrtalah Cheho'vitastamiutstoh speaking. I fly with Qorach Rohrtag and Andor Enre."
Talyn arched a brow at her alias for him. They'd not discussed it, but he made sure to commit it to memory.
The ships powered down their weapons systems. "Hail Tavali and welcome, sister. You're cleared to land in the station, under escort."
Talyn ground his teeth as he realized just how tight security was for the Tavali station. Since they were close enough for echoing scanners, he didn't speak. Anything they said from this point on was subject to being picked up by Tavali devices. This was where he envied Morra and Qory's ability to communicate solely by hand gestures. He had no idea what they were saying to each other right now.
But by the frenetic way they moved their hands, he figured they had the same concerns he did.
As soon as they landed, Morra extended the ramp, then opened the door.
There was a "welcoming" party waiting as they disembarked. Talyn crooked a smile at the fear that immediately darkened their gazes as they took in the size of him and Qory.
A small blue-skinned human approached them. "Who's the captain?"
"I am." Morra gestured at them in turn. "Both of my muscle are mute. Their voice boxes were damaged in fights."
"You're the one with the name no one can pronounce?"
She grinned at him. "Morra Deathblade is what it translates to in Universal."
He made a note of that in a small e-ledger. "Captain Dane is busy right now, in a meeting. We're to show you to his quarters to wait for him."
As their Tavali escort led them through the bay, Talyn kept his senses alert. The station was a lot bigger than he'd thought from the reports he'd read about it. And there were a lot more Tavali here than he'd ever guessed. No wonder they'd been able to attack Andarion freighters and fleets so viciously, so often.
Just where would they have put the Andarion tadara?
For the first time, he was beginning to doubt their intel. Maybe Parisa hadn't come here, after all. Not to mention, he was now doubting his own sanity. Perhaps they should have come up with a Plan B, C, D, or even E and F.
Yeah, definitely F, because they were starting to look fucked.
They turned down a corridor and were met by a group of pilots scrambling. Talyn and Qory stepped aside as they ran past, headed toward the bay.
"What's that?" Morra asked as she stared after them.
Their escort checked with his e-ledger before he spoke. "Sensors picked up a group of Andarions hiding in the shadow of a moon. We're assuming they're there to attack us."
Talyn cursed the luck and wished he had some way to warn his troops.
"Come to think of it..." The Tavali jerked the lower mask off Talyn's face.
When he started to draw on him, Talyn kneed the man, grabbed his blaster, and knocked him into the wall.
Morra quickly came between them. "What the hell?"
The Tavali curled his lip. "He's Andarion!"
She snorted. "Yeah, he is. So's your boss, Venik. What's your point?"
"How do I know he's not a spy for the others?"
Morra gently tilted Talyn's head back to expose the prison mark Chrisen had placed on his neck. "They let branded traitors in their armada?"
When the Tavali moved to touch the mark, Talyn let out a guttural sound that made him jump back.
Morra crossed her arms over her chest. "Wise move. He's not quite tame."
A bead of sweat rolled down the Tavali's face. "Yeah, okay. Just keep him leashed."
"Then don't attack him. You move on him, and I'm not liable for his actions against you."
"Hey, Tres?"
The Tavali froze at the call, then let out a relieved breath at the sight of their contact. "Dane. Thank God! I surrender this group to you, brother." He beat a hasty retreat as Ryn Dane closed the distance between them.
Just over six feet in height, and muscled, Ryn had dark red hair that was brushed back from a handsome human face.
He narrowed his gaze at Talyn before he glanced to Morra and Qory. "Anyone speak the Trassel dialect of Caronese?"
They all three held up their hands.
Ryn smiled. "Excellent. No one else here does." He inclined his head to Talyn. "You must be Jayne's sexy baby."
Talyn let out an irritated breath before he nodded.
Ryn laughed and clapped him on the arm. "Don't worry. My mother still cuts my meat for me, too."
Morra jerked her chin toward Ryn before she explained his job to Talyn. "He's the Tavali Ambassador."
"Yeah," Ryn sighed. "I'm the only one of the few who can legally parlay between the Tavali groups and sovereign empires."
Talyn frowned. "Why is that?"
"While my mother is Hermione Dane, notorious Tavali leader, my father was the Caronese governor, Drux Cruel."
Talyn remembered Morra telling him as much. "I'm surprised Jayne didn't send your brother over for this, too."
"She probably would have, but he's lending aid to Jayne and crew, while they go after Jullien eton Anatole."
Which brought Talyn back to his earlier concern. "Is our intel correct? I thought Jullien was in custody?"
Ryn gave a subtle nod. "Only very recently.... Now follow me."
They'd just started down a hallway when another group of Tavali came marching toward them.
Ryn motioned for Talyn, Morra, and Qory to stop. "There a problem?"
"Venik wants a word with your friends." The Tavali's gaze narrowed on Talyn. "In particular, the Andarion."
"That'll be hard to do since he's mute."
"Look, Dane. We're just following orders. Whatever High Admiral Venik wants, High Admiral Venik gets. Right now, he wants your friends. Hand them over."
Ryn let out a disgusted sigh. "Venik can kiss my hairy ass." Faster than anyone could follow, he pulled his blaster from its holster and opened fire. "Fall back!" he ordered Talyn and Qory.
Where? Talyn stared at two corridors, unsure of which one to take.
Just as he started to ask, Ryn grabbed Talyn's sleeve and hauled him toward the one on their left. "The queen and her niece are in the last room on the right."
Morra and Qory ran for that room.
Talyn laid down cover fire for them. "Great," he said to Ryn, who was helping them escape, "but I feel compelled to point out that we're a little outnumbered right now."
Ryn didn't respond. Rather, he tapped the link in his ear. "This is Ambassador Dane summoning all of the Wasternum in range. Venik's men have attacked me and busted truce. Notify the clan! I'm in the northern corridor and require immediate assist. Again, all Wassies, full on, brothers and sisters. The Favored Son is under attack!"
Three doors opened behind them.
Talyn swung around and took aim. Until Tavali poured out to fire at the ones after them and cover their retreat. "How do I tell the enemy from your guys?"
Ryn snorted. "If they shoot at you, shoot back. If it's one of my people, don't worry about blasting one by accident. Jayne would kill them anyway for endangering you."
With the others engaging Venik's people, Talyn and Ryn rushed to where the queen was staying.
He and Ryn covered Morra and Qory while they rewired the locked door. Their enemies were quickly cutting through Ryn's men.
Worse, Talyn was almost out of charges.
Just as he squeezed off the last round, the door opened. They headed into the room a heartbeat before he heard the dreaded sound of a trip wire.
Shit.
Qory slammed into him an instant before the bomb detonated.
CHAPTER 27
Talyn groaned at the pain in his body as debris settled around them. There was a crushing weight on top of him. Smoke dimmed his vision, ma
king him choke and cough.
Had half the station fallen in on him?
That was what it felt like.
Ryn let out a feral curse. Covered with ash and pieces of the ceiling, the Tavali wheezed and choked.
Talyn shifted as he heard Morra coughing next to him. "Morra?"
She ignored him as she gasped. "Qory?" Her voice was thick from her tears. "Oh gods, no! Qory, answer me!"
It was only then that Talyn realized the weight on him was from Qory. The giant had grabbed him and Morra and used his own body to shield them from the blast.
As gently as he could, he rolled Qory onto his back. Burns and cuts covered the man. "Qor? You're still with us, right?"
Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he blinked.
"Don't move!" Morra snapped as he tried to sign to her. "You just lie still and I'll get help for you."
Talyn sat back on his haunches as his sight cleared enough to see a shadow rushing past him. It took a second to realize that had been the tadara, saving her own ass.
Typical.
Rage dimmed his vision. His only thought on killing her, he pushed himself to his feet, in spite of his pain, and ran after her.
But no sooner had she entered the hallway than several recoils from Tavali soldiers bounced around her. Shrieking, she fell to the floor and placed her hands on her head in surrender.
Talyn reached her first. Luckily, she hadn't been injured during it all. She was whole to stand trial for her crimes.
Even though his blaster was empty, he angled it at her. "Eriadne eton Anatole, in the name of the Andarion Empire and by orders of Acting Tadara Tylie, I remand you into custody to face your charges. May the gods render mercy to you."
She spat in his face. "I will not be taken in by some lack-Vest bastard!" She tried to rise, but Talyn held her in place.
Talyn wiped the spittle from his cheek. "Bitch, please. You're not only being taken in by a lack-Vest bastard, you were brought down by one. Chew on that." He pulled the binders from his pocket and used them to restrain her.
Until a blaster appeared at his temple.
Talyn froze as Eriadne laughed.
"Kill the bastard upstart!" she demanded. "I want to feel his blood on my skin."
He heard the sharp click as the setting was switched from stun to kill.
"Don't do it, Venik," Ryn growled from the other side of the corridor as he slowly closed the distance between them. "That Andarion is not only under my protection, but that of the Caronese and Sentella. You kill him and it won't be my blast you have to fear. Nemesis himself will be gunning for you, with Jayne leading him in."