Chapter 14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

G rabon's wings snapped shut as he landed on the deck of the Farlain ship with a resounding thud. The wooden surface gleamed beneath his feet, scrubbed and polished to a high sheen. His sudden appearance sent a ripple of surprise through the crew, their hands instinctively reaching for weapons.

He stood calmly, not reaching for his own weapon. The officers on the ship should be aware of his mission, but the crew might not have been informed.

"Tell the captain that I am here," he ordered, automatically assuming a tone of command.

The crew exchanged uncertain glances, their weapons still raised cautiously. He stood his ground, his face impassive even as his mind raced, calculating his next move should this encounter turn hostile.

"Well?" he snapped, raising an eyebrow.

One of the younger members of the crew hesitated, then snapped a salute and raced off. The other crew members continued to watch him but their posture was cautious rather than hostile. Nonetheless time passed with excruciating slowness before the young male reappeared, accompanied by Captain Argon.

He breathed a silent sigh of relief at the sight of the other male. A large male with shimmering bronze skin, Argon had a kind heart hidden beneath a gruff exterior. They had fought together to defeat Ulmat and he knew him well.

"Ah, Grabon, We were wondering what had become of you. King Cronan said the only message he'd received from you was that there was no reason for concern."

"That may have been somewhat premature," he admitted. "But I was unable to get a message through once the situation changed."

"Come and tell me-" Argon looked around at the crew, many of them still standing there watching the two of them. "Back to work you unworthy sons of bitches before I keelhaul the lot of you."

The crew immediately dispersed, but he caught a glimpse of more than one amused look. He suspected the crew knew as well as he did that Argon's threats were not serious.

The captain led the way to the large cabin he used as his office, a faint smile on his face.

"You look like you could use a decent meal and a drink." Ignoring his impatient refusal, Argon ordered refreshments, then regarded him from across the desk. "Tell me what's going on."

"Lord Dekell is dead."

"Did you kill him?" Argon asked calmly.

"No, although I wish I had. Even if he had been willing to offer Cronan his allegiance, he would have been an untrustworthy ally." He hesitated, reluctant to bring Vera into the conversation, but the other male needed to know the full story. "He had arranged for the purchase of a human slave."

The captain's lip curled.

"As you say, an untrustworthy ally."

"That's not the only issue."

They were interrupted by the same young male who had fetched Argon before, this time carrying a tray that seemed almost as large as he was. He hesitated in the doorway, giving Grabon a wide-eyed look.

"Put it down before you drop it," Argon demanded. "Then get the hell out of here."

"Yes, sir."

Despite his initial hesitation, the captain's impatient demand didn't seem to bother the youth. He placed the tray on the desk, then saluted then left.

"I didn't want to bring him, but his mother convinced me," Argon said thoughtfully. "He's handling the trip better than I expected."

"His mother?"

"My mate. Nethan is my son."

The other male spoke with studied casualness but Grabon could hear the pride in his voice. What would it be like to have a son he suddenly wondered, an image of Vera ripe with child flashing through his mind. He clenched his teeth, achingly aware that he might never have the chance to find out.

"Congratulations," he managed to say. "He seems like a fine male."

Perhaps something in his voice gave him away because Argon gave him an odd look before gesturing at the tray.

"Help yourself."

He couldn't bring himself to eat, but he accepted a mug of ale, drinking it as he explained Dekell's mistreatment of the Elvar.

"It seems like I heard something about that," Argon said thoughtfully. "Not that they were being mistreated but that they were a child-like race who needed protection."

"Only from us," he said dryly. "And they may be small, but they are not children. They have a great deal of courage - which I am afraid they are going to need."

He rapidly explained the current threat and the Elvar's bid for freedom.

"They need our help," he concluded.

Argon looked down at his desk, tapping his fingers thoughtfully on the polished wood.

"I'm sure that the official protocol would be to contact King Cronan and ask for permission."

His heart sank. There was no telling how long it would take for a message to get through and the Elvar - and Vera - didn't have that much time. But then Argon shrugged and grinned at him.

"But we both know Cronan would approve, so what the hell. Nothing like a good fight to get the blood pumping, eh?" He pressed the control panel on the desk. "Fire up the engines, Scotma. We need to get to the stronghold."

"Aye, Captain," the engineer replied promptly, then chuckled. "I've been wondering when you were going to get bored with being a transport vessel."

"We'll see what your smart mouth has to say when you're scrubbing the decks," Argon grumbled. "Move it."

"Yes, sir."

Argon frowned at him as he disconnected.

"You could have passed along the information about the Elvar with your first message."

"I was not fully aware of the situation. I had simply decided to gather information."

His skin did not change color the way his mate's did when she was embarrassed, but he could feel the tips of his ears heating as Argon stared at him.

"What happened to the human slave?" the captain finally asked, surprising him.

"She is safe," he said stiffly, hoping with all his heart that it was true.

Argon regarded him a moment longer, then started to laugh.

"I never thought I'd see the day. After going on about how dangerous human females can be, you've gone and fallen for one."

He didn't know how he'd given himself away, but neither could he bring himself to deny Argon's statement.

"They are dangerous," he said defensively. Dangerous and fierce and beautiful.

"The best females always are." Argon grinned at him. "Now tell me what we'll be facing once we arrive."