David Drake: When the Tide Rises

"Mundy, youcan't take him off planet with you," Sand said, "not given the nature of Commander Leary's mission. The risk to the Republic is unacceptable, completely unacceptable."

"I certainly can't leave him alone on Xenos while I'm gone for an indefinite period," Adele said quietly. "I'll keep an eye on him, mistress; and Tovera will, if you don't trust me. But he's going along."

"Are you saying that you won't accompany Commander Leary if this Cazelet doesn't go with you?" Sand said, raising her voice. She was a stocky woman given to tweed suits in earth tones. There was nothing distinctive about her appearance, but her personality dominated whatever room she was in.

Adele smiled faintly. Mistress Sand dominated the interior of this tramcar as surely as the sea covers a rock on the bottom; but in this case, as with the sea, the rock wasn't changed by the circumstances.

"The question doesn't arise, mistress," Adele said. "Ican take Cazelet with me."

The emphasis was very mild, a barely noticeable stress on the syllable.

"Commander Leary would find room for him if the two of them had to share a bunk," she continued. "And he'll certainly find room for me, even if he had to smuggle me aboard in a section of spar."

Adele felt mild distress at the fact of this interview; Mistress Sand should know her better by now. Though the circumstances were unusual, of course.

The tram jolted across a set of points, rocking both of them. Mistress Sand grabbed a railing, then barked a laugh. "What I find interesting in talking to you, Mundy," she said, abruptly more relaxed, "is that you're not afraid of me. Most peoplewould be under these circumstances."

Adele sniffed. "We're professional colleagues," she said. "We have a difference of opinion, but you've accepted my judgment in other difficult circumstances when I'm sure you had doubts. I'mquite sure that you don't wish me to come to harm."

Sand looked at her squarely. "No, I don't want you to come to harm, Mundy," she said softly. "I'd rather lose my right hand than lose you, for the Republic's sake."

With a flash of renewed anger she went on, "I read the after-action report on the assault on Mandelfarne Island. What in the name of thegods were you thinking? Do you know how important you are to Cinnabar?"

"I know I'm a Mundy of Chatsworth, mistress," Adele said. She smiled; her lips felt as it they'd been carved from ice. "And I know that if I ever put personal safety ahead of my duty, it won't be long before I lose the debate with the person in my head. The person who doesn't think there's any reason for my continued existence."

Sand sighed and inserted a key card into the tram's control panel. "It'll take you to the Bergen yard," she said. She hadn't bothered to punch a new destination. "That's what you want, isn't it?"

"That's correct," Adele said primly.

She hadn't been wholly truthful in implying that she wasn't afraid. There was a possibility that someone would decide to remove Rene Cazelet without-or even against-Sand's orders. Tovera was the best assurance of Cazelet's survival. The fact that Tovera herself wanted the boy dead wouldn't prevent her from killing anyone who tried to accomplish that result.

Sand looked at her again and shook her head. "Mundy," she said, "if you don't start showing a little common sense, you're going to be killed sooner rather than later. And I will regret that very much."

Iwon't regret it, Adele thought; but her lips merely gave a thin smile.

CHAPTER 4: Bergen and Associates Yard, Cinnabar

"Fellow officers," Adele said, awkwardly formal because of the awkward situation, "this is my assistant Master Cazelet. He'll lodge in the midshipmen's quarters."

She'd called Vesey and the two midshipmen, Cory and Blantyre, to the Battle Direction Center in the corvette's stern. The senior warrant officers-Pasternak and Woetjans, Chief of Ship and Chief of Rig respectively-wouldn't have much direct contact with Cazelet, so she hadn't summoned them.

The BDC wasn't laid out for meetings: there was a star of three consoles in the center of the chamber which could control theSissie if the bridge in the far bow were destroyed. The aisle between the consoles and the jumpseats against the bulkheads was narrow, but there was enough room for five people to meet face to face.

Also the BDC was out of the way of the jumble of testing and stowage before liftoff. Adele hadn't locked the armored hatch, but Tovera stood in the corridor outside; they wouldn't be disturbed.

The watch-standing officers eyed Cazelet. Vesey, a slim woman with plain features and mouse-brown hair, showed obvious distaste. Cory, a largish, soft-looking youth of modest intellect, appeared to be disinterested. Blantyre was a stocky, forceful girl; her guarded expression reminded Adele that Mistress Boileau's grandson was rather a good looking young man.

Cazelet for his part stood straight with his legs spread slightly and his hands clasped over his belt buckle. He looked from one officer to another, smiling with the mild hopefulness of a puppy.

Vesey looked from Cazelet to Adele. "Is he to take instruction with the midshipmen also, then, mistress?" she said harshly. Vesey had been a skilled officer, particularly in astrogation, but she'd lacked confidence. When her fiance died in battle, Vesey'd lost all zest for life.

Adele smiled faintly. On the credit side, Vesey no longer dithered because she was second-guessing herself. She had instead a fatalistic willingness to accept whatever happened. Because shewas so highly skilled, the results of her crisply executed plans were consistently good.

For Vesey's sake, it was a pity that she wasn't happier. Happiness wasn't something that Adele herself had much experience of, however, and she certainly wasn't going to counsel someone else about how to achieve it.

"That won't be necessary-" Adele began.

"Instruction in astrogation, do you mean, Lieutenant?" Cazelet said unexpectedly.

Vesey's eyes narrowed slightly. "Primarily astrogation, yes," she said. "Shiphandling as well, but there's not very much chance to practice that while we're under way."

"I have some training in astrogation," Cazelet said. "And in shiphandling and Power Room operations; some, that is. I'd like to join Midshipmen Blantyre and Cory, if it's agreeable to you."

He looked at Adele. "And with you of course, mistress," he added.

"How did you happen to study those things?" Vesey said with a chilly lack of inflexion.

"My family is in the shipping business," Cazelet said. "Was in business. My father wanted me to learn it from the ground up."

He cleared his throat. "I don't compare the smatterings I've picked up to be comparable to your RCN training, of course," he added.

Cory looked at Cazelet, then nodded to Adele. "Lady Mundy doesn't have RCN training," in a tone of challenge that surprised Adele to hear from him. "There's never been a signals officer like her beforeever."

"That's what my grandmother says too, Cory," Cazelet said. He offered a friendly smile.

"Master Cazelet's grandmother trained me, you see, Cory," Adele said. "I'd be pleased if the three of you would make him feel at home aboard theSissie, as Mistress Boileau did for me in the Academic Collections."

"She did?" Cory said in amazement. "Oh. Oh."

"Fine, I'll include him in the classes," Vesey said; still emotionless, but perhaps a degree less hostile. "Mistress, if I may-I have duties which I'd like to attend to?"

"Yes, of course," said Adele. "Thank you all for your time. I simply thought that since we'd be in close quarters for an indefinite period, it'd be best to have a formal introduction."

"Come along, Cazelet," Blantyre said brightly. "I'll show you to our berth."

Cazelet looked back at Adele; when she nodded, he followed Blantyre through the hatch that Vesey had just pushed open. Cory trailed out in the wake of the others.