Born of Legend (54 page)

“Tevi Era Essa Seakea' alah. Fashe Tah.”
Jullien started the explanation with the official Tavalian motto and oath—
Tavali is an honor that comes with obligation. Hem me never. “
My tithe is to the northern True Black Flag Nation. My father's Trajen Thaumarturgus.”

He laughed. Then, as Jullien had predicted, the humor died and his blaster came up like lightning and with unerring aim. The targeting dot hovered without wavering between his eyes. “Ach, you lie, man. Now tell me the truth or I'll be scraping your brains off me ship.”

“No lie. Hard as it is to believe, as I admit I am a totally unlovable bastard, Trajen sponsored me himself. You blow out my brains, he's going to be seriously pissed, and I would not want to be you.” Jullien held his hand up, palm out with his fingers spread. “Check it before you pull.”

Narrowing his blue eyes, he approached Jullien slowly. He hesitated before he holstered his blaster and pulled out his link to scan Jullien's thumb. After a few seconds, it accessed his Tavali records.

One blond brow shot north. “Be damned and blessed. Dagger, eh? You don't look like a typical northern son. But I won't be judging you for that.” He cracked a charming grin. “Jupiter Hinto, at your service,
cade
.”

“Hinto?”

“Yeah … and yeah, I be the son of the man you be thinking of. I'm also captain of that fair lady behind you,
Ship of Fools
. It'd be me honor to see you home to your family, in particular your cranky da.”

Jullien let out a relieved breath. When he'd first stumbled upon the small remote outpost after hours of hiking through godforsaken barren landscape, he'd been hoping there was Tavali docked here in the small town.

Given how remote the port and how well-maintained the ships, it'd been a good gamble that this was a trading port of some kind they used. He'd learned about these over the last few years while running for his life, and had become dependent on them for short-term work, and quick, no-questions-asked transport between other remote locations.

“I can't thank you enough.”

“Ah, no problem. Always glad to do a favor for me family, even me distant northern cousins.”

Suddenly, a huge body dropped down on top of Jupiter from above and grabbed him into a fierce hold while the newcomer growled and moaned.

Jullien started forward to help until he realized they weren't actually fighting. Rather Jupiter was playfully slapping at the dark-haired male who was laughing and dodging like an irritating kid brother.

“Hey, Ju-Ju Bear, you getting slack, old man. I could have had you.” He wrapped his muscular arms around Jupiter's shoulders and kissed his cheek.

Jupiter ruffled the newcomer's wavy dark hair until it stood straight up on top of his head as if he'd had a bad electrical shock. “Suck it, Psycho Bunny. You're lucky I didn't slit you to appetite just then. What you thinking, slipping up on me like that?”

“I was thinking you were all cute and cuddly, and I had to get me some of this adorable ass of yours.” He tossed his head, then frowned as he saw Jullien. “Who's your new boy-toy?”

“Dagger. And he don't know you're joking about that, and that you're me brother, you dolt, so stop it, will you now, before he takes you seriously?”

Psycho Bunny sobered to study Jullien with a jaundiced eye that said he was every bit the warrior Jupiter was. “Crew member?”

“No … he swings from the True Black Flag Nation.”

He gaped. “No, minsid way. He don't look like a Fyreblood.”

“Yeah, I checked it meself. He definitely tithes to the north.” Jupiter gestured toward Jullien. “Chayden Aniwaya, meet Dagger Samari. Dagger, this is Chayden, who used to be Septurnum with me, till he turned into a little mercenary Rogue bastard.”

“Still am Sep, really. I only wear Rogue 'cause I don't like tithing to one Nation, but my daddy continues to spank my ass regularly when I misbehave.” He released Jupiter to hold his hand out to Jullien. “Pleasure to meet you, brother.”

“You, too, Captain.”

Jupiter crossed his arms over his chest. “So what brings your lady dancing into me space these days, Chay?”

A devilish dimple flashed in Chayden's cheek. “Was passing through, heard you were here and … I've got a take to share with you, my precious brother.” He winked at Jupiter. “Yeah, I'm so screwed on this one. Tattoo my ass and slap it hard.… Yet it was so worth it. Will split the cargo later. But…” He pulled a bottle from underneath his long brown coat and handed it to Jupiter. “Who's your best friend
ever
?” He said the last word in a tone that sounded like a possessed being that made Jullien wonder if perhaps that was why they called him Psycho Bunny.

Jupiter kissed his cheek. “Ahhh.… You keep this up,
cade
. You might be changing me religion yet.”

“Yes, but can I change your sister's?”

“Hey, for a crate of this,” Jupiter held up the bottle and kissed it–“I might be persuaded to give her to you with me blessings.”

“Don't tease me about Mack. You know she's the one woman I'd sell my soul for.”

Jullien stepped back at that and hoped Chayden wasn't a full-blooded brother to Mack as this line of conversation was a bit strange if he was.…

Jupiter screwed his face up into a painful expression as he pulled at the cork. “Funny, I've been hearing that a lot lately, from way too many men.” He opened the bottle and took a swig. Then, he made a sound of deep appreciation. “Ach now, that's some sweetness, there. What Leaguer did you make cry for this?”

Chayden let out a deep, sinister laugh. “Didn't. Was a Sentella supply ship. That special brew was actually earmarked for Darling Cruel from Caillen Dagan, which is why I had to pilfer it. Moral imperative for what that dodgy bastard owes me. So enjoy it in good health. May Dagan's head explode when he finds out it's gone.”

Jupiter gaped at him. “Are you out of your ever-loving mind,
cade
? What are you thinking? And you admit it in front of a
crawler
, no less.”

Jullien held his hands up. “I heard nothing about it. Besides, I've got no love for The Sentella and they have a lot less for me. Especially Dagan. That is one hot-headed little troll who jumps to bizarre conclusions only the gods understand.”

Chayden snorted. “What? He accuse you of raping one of his sisters, too?”

“Yes,” Jullien said between clenched fangs. “Kasen. You?”

“Kasen,” Jupiter and Chayden said in unison.

“He got me last year,” Jupiter said as he passed the bottle to Jullien. “I swear. Me hands were nowhere near the
shenandoah
. Word to the gods on that. But he thought he saw what he didn't and that was all she wrote.”

“What is his problem?” Chayden shook his head. “If I was going to snake one, it wouldn't be Kase. While she's attractive physically, her personality shrivels all interest—
if
you know what I mean, and I know you do.”

“Truth.” Jullien handed him the bottle. “My cuff got caught on her jacket, and I was trying to run for my life as fast as I could. I was ready to cut off my own arm to get away from her. Next thing I know, Caillen's all over me, screaming rape, trying to have me arrested. He was so insane, I filed charges on
him
for it.”

Jupiter laughed. “You know he did that to his brother-in-law, too, right?”

“What?” Chay asked in gaping disbelief.

“Aye, he did. Cried rape with Syn on Shahara.”

Chayden snorted, then laughed. “Bullshit! He's not that stupid.… Oh wait, it's Caillen. Of course he is. Did Syn shoot him?”

Jupiter took the bottle. “Sadly, no.”

“Well, that's disappointing. I shall have to lecture Syn on his behavior next time I see him.”

Jullien laughed. He really liked these Tavali.

Chayden took another drink of the Tondarion Fire and passed it to Jupiter. “All right, new friend, so you have issues with The Sentella. Anything else we need to know?”

“Let's just say that if we can avoid meeting up with any of them or The League, I will be grateful. Because whatever they do to you for lifting that,” he indicated the bottle, “pales in comparison to what they'd do to me. We have assured mutual destruction there.”

After his own swig, Jupiter passed the bottle to Jullien. “Here's to brotherhood, then. Mores to the merry, and to drowning on dry land. Hem me never, me
cades
.”

Jullien took it and drank to the toast. “Can I ask a favor?”

“Bathroom's on board.”

He snorted at Chayden's assumption. “Actually, I need a secure transmitter.”

“Blood?”

“Yeah. Someone I need to let know I'm still breathing.”

“We've all been there.” Chayden jerked his head toward Jupiter's ship. “I'll take you up and hook you in.” He glanced to Jupiter. “Am I still in the system?”

“Depending on how mad you've made me Mack lately.”

Chayden clapped Jullien on the back before he hit the release to the ramp. He led him up and into the immaculate ship. It was high tech and well-maintained. And unlike anything Jullien had seen before.

This was …

He paused at one of the panels to look over the impressive schematics. “Who designed this?”

Chayden put his hand over it to block Jullien's view. “You don't want to get too nosy about that. Jupiter is really protective when it comes to his lady. Let's leave it at that, okay?”

“Sure.”

He led him to a small XO office. Jullien tried to put the call through, but there was too much interference.

Damn it. He couldn't even transmit his vitals right now.

“Is everything all right?” Chayden asked as he left the room.

“Couldn't get through.”

“Nervous mother?”

“Pregnant wife.”

Chayden sucked his breath in sharply. “Oooh. Sorry.”

As Jullien started to close the door, a distress transmission came through. Chayden brushed past him to answer it.

“Yo, POW, this is Psycho Bunny. I have your coords. Hang dry. Passing to big bad will round a posse and head out ASAP. Repeat, we are on our way. ETA one hour or less. Hang dry. Help is on its way.” Chayden switched it over and signaled a recall for Hinto's crew.

“POW?” Jullien asked.

“Piece of Work. He's Jupiter's cousin. Dumbass can't fly for shit. They're always going down from League run-ins, hence the call sign. Never knows when to shut his mouth.”

Jullien followed him back toward the ramp.

Jupiter met them at the top of it. “Teex again?”

“Oh, how did you know?” Sarcasm dripped from Chayden's tone. “I'll run point. I locked his location in already. He's on Oksana.”

“Great. Me favorite place to land. Never.” Jupiter growled irritably. He passed a sympathetic grimace to Jullien. “Sorry to be making you wait for seeing home again. Let me save me cousin's sorry hide, so as not to listen to me aunt and moora crying at me, then I'll see you back to yours.”

“No problem. Anything I can do to help?”

Chayden took off as more of Jupiter's crew ran in to take their stations. And as the crew came on board, Jullien noticed something unusual about Jupiter's staff.

With the exception of Jupiter, there wasn't a male among them.

Jupiter caught Jullien's quirked brow, but didn't comment on it. “We got this. You be wanting a ringside view for the fun, or to rest a bit?”

“I'd like to keep trying to get word home to my wife. Wherever that makes you most comfortable.”

Jupiter shivered as he led the way through the ship's corridor. “Marriage. Half your rights and double your duties. I do not understand this madness that has sunk her claws into so many lately. Saints preserve me.” He made a holy gesture as they entered his command bridge.

Half his crew passed him an angry glare at his comments on marriage.

He passed the look right back at them. “Ach, don't be giving me your stink eyes, me
shenandoahs
. Not like that whole lot of you don't know how I feel about it. You've heard me rant enough on the topic when I'm flagged.” Jupiter paused to smirk at Jullien. “And I know what you're thinking.… A thread will tie an honest man better than a chain a rogue.”

“Got to say that was not in my thoughts. At all. Especially since I have
no
idea what that even means. Or even how that's applicable.”

Jupiter laughed. “I'm not the lecherous piece of dog you be thinking.” He pulled out his link and turned it on to show Jullien a picture of an extremely attractive red-headed female in a t-i-g-h-t Tavali battlesuit that hugged an impressive body. “Meet me own special piece of hell that comes wrapped as me sister Mack.” He nodded at Jullien. “Yeah, exactly. Learned early in me life to keep me crew away from her or to take on crew she didn't want to torture me with. Me life's much happier this way as I don't have to gut a crew member I rely on nowadays.”

Laughing at Jupiter's solution, Jullien headed for an observation seat while Jupiter took the captain's chair and locked in.

Jullien kept trying to get through to either Davel or Ushara with his link while they launched. But for some reason, he was still dark.

“Why's there so much League traffic here, all of a sudden?”

Jullien looked up at the question from Jupiter's stryper.

Jupiter was studying the maps around them. “Yeah. It's a lot more intense than normal. Something stirred them up.” He opened a channel. “Psycho Bunny? What'd you do?”

“I swear this isn't me … this time.”

Jupiter turned to look at Jullien. “Do I want to know?”

“While I have an outstanding warrant, I should be a low priority to The League. Seriously. Way down on their hit list. Not like I'm Idirian Wade or Justicale Cruel. Nowhere near the level of Emperor Abenbi or even Counselor Cruel. I'm only a personal hemorrhoid, not an intergalactic threat.”