John Ringo - Against the Tide

The small fleet of fast schooners had swung wide to the west of the New Destiny fleet and was now approaching the Balmoran peninsula well to the north of the town. So far, it appeared to have remained unobserved. Or, if it was observed, it had probably been dismissed as a reconnaissance mission.

“I understand, Mr. Conner,” the captain said, unhappily. “But you’ve got to understand. There are shoals up here. If we go tearing in at max speed, it’s not just going to ground my ship. It’s liable to sink us. And you and your… people.” The captain glanced at the hulking monster behind Conner and gulped. “Then your mission will have failed anyway .”

“Get us in as fast as possible,” Conner said, after a moment’s thought. “And as close to the south end of the base as possible. If you can’t make it through the shoals, we’ll go to the boats. Just do it.”

“Yes, sir,” the captain said, one ear on the leadsman. “I need to reduce speed, though. Slightly .”

“Whatever,” Conner said, watching the distant shore. “As long as you get us to the base before it evacuates.”

“Miss!” Keith yelled from the lobby. “Dr. Ghorbani!”

“Here, Keith,” Rachel said, emerging from the last occupied ward. “What?”

“There are ships coming, Miss!” Keith said, grabbing her arm. “We’ve got to go!”

“We’ve got wounded to move,” Rachel said, dragging her arm away.

“No time !” the orderly said, desperately. “They’re at the wharves! They didn’t fire them in time. They’re coming now .”

“Here?” Rachel said, angrily. “Why here ? They were supposed to attack the town .”

“They’re here, miss,” Keith said, pulling at her again. “Come on. We have to go .”

Faintly, but not far away, Rachel heard the banging of metal. It sounded like a small smithy but she recognized the sound having heard it before. Then there was a scream, not far away at all.

“Go hitch up the carts, Keith,” she said, her mouth dry. “We’ll…”

“I don’t think we have time, Miss,” Keith argued, shaking his head.

“Do what I say!” Rachel snapped as the door to the clinic opened.

The man who walked through the door was tall, with fair hair, wearing a gray robe that was embroidered with silver. On the hem of the robe were symbols Rachel didn’t recognize. The robe had a few spots on it, dark black in the light from the windows. But Rachel had no question what the spots were from. If she had any question, the monstrous, blood-covered thing that followed the man into the lobby answered them.

It was at least two meters tall and broad in proportion, with a face that was both bestial and, in a horrible way, beautiful. It had protruding canine fangs that interlocked from top and bottom, black lanky hair and mad, red eyes. But the face itself, the high cheekbones and forehead, the aquiline nose, struck a cord with her and she found herself searching it in horror.

“Elf?” she whispered.

“One of my mistress’s toys,” the man said, walking up to her with his hands folded behind his back. “Just one of her things. As, I suppose, am I,” he concluded, looming over her. Rachel found herself mesmerized by his gray eyes.

“Dr. Rachel Ghorbani, I presume?”

“What the hell are you doing here?” Rachel asked.

“Looking for you, of course,” the man said, smiling. “There are some people who think you might be useful. We’ll have to see, won’t we?”

Rachel looked around but there was clearly no escape.

“The hell…” she muttered just as there was a yowl from the landing. She turned around and raised a hand as Azure strutted forward, tail raised and bristling. She had seen the cat come home with full-grown bob-cats in its jaws, but the group of orcs and especially the elf would mean the death of a pet she had had since childhood. “No!”

The orcs had all drawn their swords and were looking at the puma-sized house cat nervously. The elf-thing slowly drew its own sword and pointed the tip at the hissing cat.

“Graaa,” the thing snarled, crouching and following the moves of the cat with focused intensity.

Azure was crouched, tail lashing, ready to spring, but the cat’s eyes were locked on the elf’s as if it knew that the thing was the only real threat. Azure’s rear paws scratched at the floor, searching for purchase, and his tail thrashed again. He shifted his hindquarters, then turned his head to the side with a yowl.

“Sraaa,” the elf replied, the tip of his sword swinging back and forth lightly.

Azure took another look, then sat up, licked his shoulder in disinterest, turned and trotted up the steps.

“Azure?” Rachel said, her eyes wide. She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved at the fact that her pet was going to survive or crushed at the desertion.

“Well, now that that’s out of the way,” the man said, taking her by the arm, “let’s go see what use we can put you to.”

“Sir,” the messenger said, sticking her head in the door. “Duke Edmund is arriving.” She’d knocked this time.

“Great,” Herzer growled, wincing as Bast rubbed more unguent into the wound. “Has Commander Gramlich been informed?”

“Yes, sir,” the messenger replied, glancing at the councilwoman. Megan was sitting at Herzer’s desk, frowning.

“Any word on the situation at Balmoran?” Herzer asked.

“No, sir,” the messenger replied. “But we got the word that we’re the last carrier. Duke Edmund is transferring his flag here.”

“He can have my cabin,” Megan said, one cheek twitching up in a grin. “Happily.” It still had bloodstains on the floor; they were soaked in deep enough that the wood would have to be replaced.

“The captain would like you there to greet him if… you’re recovered from your wounds, sir,” the messenger continued. “And she asked me to ask the councilwoman if she was willing as well.”

“Oh, definitely,” Megan said, smiling thinly. “I look forward to meeting the redoubtable Edmund Talbot.”

“Duke Edmund,” Captain Karcher said, dropping her salute as the pipes dwindled away.

“Captain, glad I was right in choosing you,” Edmund said, gripping her hand.

“We were lucky, milord,” Karcher replied, shrugging.

“Luck favors the prepared, Captain,” Talbot said.

“My XO, Commander Sassan,” the captain said, ignoring the implied compliment.

“Pleasure to meet you, Commander Sassan,” Edmund said, shaking the major’s hand.

“Major Herrick you, of course, know.”

“Herzer,” Edmund said, grinning then noting the way he was standing. “Catch one?”

“In the ass, milord,” Herzer replied.

“Happens,” Edmund said, chuckling. “Embarrassing, though. Hey, Joanna.”

“You owe me quite a combat bonus, Eddie,” Joanna replied. “My wing took out both remaining carriers. Based upon clause fourteen, sub-section b…”

“Submit a bill,” the duke said, shaking his head.

“And this is Councilwoman Megan Travante,” Karcher said, ignoring the interplay.

“Mistress Travante,” Edmund said, gently, noting how close she was standing to Herzer. “I know your father and I have the honor, I think, of calling him a friend. I am glad beyond measure that you are with us again.”

“Thank you, Duke Edmund,” Megan said, curtseying.

“Mistress,” Edmund said, grinning slightly, “while you’re not a member of the aristocracy, you are of much higher status than I. You don’t curtsey to me, I bow to you,” he added and did so.