The Master of Muscigny (The First Admiral Series Book 5) by William J. Benning Read Free Book Online Page B

easily over the high walls of Jerusalem and changed course for the highest point in the city; the Royal Palace.
    Seated next to the pilot in the lead Carrier, Billy Caudwell smiled and turned to give a hearty thumbs-up to Joescelin of Edessa in the well of the vehicle. The anxious and queasy-looking Seneschal smiled grimly and tried not to look over the edge of the Carrier at the drop of nearly three hundred metres to the ground. Joscelin much preferred to focus his attention on one of the chests of coins and jewels that would soon be resting in the Royal Treasury. The contribution from the strange Outlanders would keep the Kingdom running for nearly a decade, and would pay off some of the debt owed to the Knights Templar who ran a thriving money lending business throughout Europe.
    A hearty slap on his chain-mailed leg dragged Joscelin’s attention away from the bounty that lay close to him, and onto the pale face of the Chief Medical Officer aboard the Aquarius. Chief Medical Officer Ullit Radkor was a Cerador. With jet black hair swept back from his pale grey face and the sharp hawk-like nose, Radkor looked every inch a dangerous predator. The instincts of his species were those of natural hunters and killers, which made the Ceradors excellent candidates for the Landing Trooper Brigades. Ullit Radkor, however, had possessed less of the killer instinct of his fellow Ceradors, and had become a healer.
    Smiling weakly to the grinning Medical Officer, Joscelin wondered for the dozenth time if he was doing the right thing bringing the Outlanders to the Royal Palace. Contemplating the chests that would save the Kingdom’s finances, while sitting next to the Physician from a vessel that they claimed flew amongst the stars, Joscelin knew that he really had no choice. The Kingdom was nearly broke and the young King was dying. Joscelin knew that he had nothing to lose, but still it troubled him that he was placing so much faith in these Outlanders.
    Joscelin was broken from his contemplation by the sensation that the Personnel Carrier was dropping. Risking a glance over the edge, he could see that the invisible vehicle was indeed reducing altitude prior to landing in one of the secluded courtyards.
    “Hold on!” Chief Medical Officer Radkor shouted in Joscelin’s ear and looped his arms through the two straps built into the seat behind him.
    Following the example, Joscelin slipped his arms into the two loops before crossing his hands across his chest. Secured by the elbows, Joscelin felt the slight bump as the Carrier landed and the rear ramp dropped down. Around him, his own people were struggling to free themselves from the safety straps. The black-overalled Landing Troopers, experts at the rapid dismount, simply relaxed their arms and stood straight up whilst Joscelin wrestled and fumbled to free his limbs.
    “I’ll help you, My Lord,” Chief Medical Officer Radkor said, his voice carrying over the quiet, but persistent, hum of the anti-gravity generator that held the stealthed Carrier half a metre from the ground.
    Turning to his left, Joscelin saw First Admiral Caudwell vault from the Commander’s Seat next to the pilot, and out onto the stone floored courtyard with a loud crash of his booted feet. The silver–visored Landing Troopers were already moving the treasure chests out of the vehicle, whilst his own men still struggled with the safety straps.
    “There we go, My Lord,” Radkor announced, having freed Joscelin’s arms.
    “Thank you,” Joscelin mumbled politely, his attention still fixed on the chests as he rose from the bench seat. “Come on, you fools!” he chided his own struggling men as he barged past them and out into the courtyard.
    Stepping down from the stealthed Carrier, Joscelin felt the weird sensation of being able to see into the vehicle without seeing the vehicle itself. As he experienced the sensation, the first of his own men stumbled out of the rear ramp, tripping on his sword. With a