Moonstruck by Susan Grant Read Free Book Online Page B

lure them into the Triad with the promise of food and fuel and a blanket pardon.”
    Bandar gave a soft cough, bringing her glass of wine to her lush lips. “Pirates serving on Coalition ships, and pardons for Hordish criminals,” she muttered. “What is next?”
    Stone-Heart laughing at one of my jokes, naked and in bed? Finn willed his tongue to stay put.
    Bandar took a double-take at him. It was almost as if she read the mischief lurking behind his eyes. A flicker of pain showed in her face, and for a breath he thought her composure might falter again, but she replaced her glass carefully and returned her attention to her meal. To avoid looking at him, he suspected, but to his relief, at least they were back to eating. He hurried through what was left on his plate, in case they stopped again for conversation.
    “I say a timely move would be to have the Unity ’s first deployment be to the Borderlands, Prime-Admiral,” Bandar said, continuing to dine, thank the gods. “I’m familiar with the territory, and we know Warleader Rorkken is. The warleader and I can discuss ways to lure rogue Hordish vessels out of the shadows.” Her eyes met his. “A blanket pardon is out of the question. That will have to be decided on a case-by-case basis.”
    “If you’re looking for a clean record, Admiral, you won’t find it.”
    “The fact that you are my first officer proves your point, yes?”
    “Aye, I’m the best of the worst, they tell me.” He let out a self-deprecating chuckle. His chair rocked precariously. He grabbed the edge of the table to steady himself. Damn chair. “But before this voyage is over, you’ll consider me the best of the best, Admiral,” he vowed.
    “I expect no less from any member of my crew, Warleader.”
    “Speaking of a good crew…” Finn took a breath and said what he’d come here to say. “There’s space for seventy-seven Drakken on the Unity . I understand from Star-Major Joss that you’re in need of seventy-six more. With the situation in the Borderlands unpredictable, do we want to delay here, waiting to round up stray Drakken?” He didn’t wait for them to answer. “I have fifty-two on my ship. I would like to bring them aboard with me.”
    Zaafran sat back in his smart chair. “I don’t know. I have some concerns about taking on a whole crew. Fragmented, their loyalty would be to the Triad and Admiral Bandar. Intact, their loyalty is to you.”
    “I’ll talk to them, sir,” Finn offered. “I’ll explain what we require. They’ll listen to me. They’re hard workers.” Without this chance they’ll go hungry, he wanted to put in, but he’d better play the sympathy card as a last resort only.
    Zaafran rubbed the side of his index finger across his chin. Food was once again forgotten. By now Finn was too concerned over the fate of the men and women who waited for him back on board the Pride to eat. “I assume you agree, Admiral,” Zaafran said to Bandar.
    “Actually, I do not.”
    They both glanced at her, surprised.
    “Their loyalty to Rorkken may prove to be an advantage.” Her plump lips closed around another berry. She chewed carefully, swallowed, the slender column of her throat moving. “They answer to Rorkken, who answers to me. If there is a problem, Rorkken remedies it. But there won’t be any problems, will there, Warleader?”
    She wanted this to fail. He saw it then. She wanted someone on his crew to start trouble, and they’d be off her ship, all of them.
    “There won’t be trouble, Admiral. I give you my word as warleader.”
    Which meant little to her, he sensed.
    “I’ll hold you to it, Rorkken.”
    “I won’t fail you.”
    Something flickered in her eyes with his quiet tone. She dropped her gaze to her plate. Again, the wall had almost parted. Every time, it did something to his gut.
    She turned to Zaafran. “I’ll take Rorkken’s crew, if that’s acceptable, Prime-Admiral.”
    Zaafran waved a hand at the admiral in relief. The man