Phantom of the Wind (17 page)

Kendall giggled. “I guess so.” She leaned over. “Munch spoke to Quinn so I guess he’s fairly intelligent after all.”

The Phantom heard his lady and his prince chuckling and glanced over at them. Another blast of cannon fire rocked the bridge and he had to reach out to grab a stanchion to keep from being bowled over by the percussive wave.

“Best to keep your mind on our business rather than gawking at the skirt,” Paton reminded his captain. “There’ll be plenty of time to ogle her when we’re away from that gods-be-damned StarDestroyer.” He frowned deeply. “And for the gods’ sake, will you buckle into your seat before you’re pitched across the room? You want another concussion?”

“Gilly?” Quinn called out to his com officer. “Can you patch us through to Aduaidh Prime?”

“Those Coalition bastards are blocking transmissions, Sir,” the com officer reported. “I’ve been trying to raise Rabushu or Utuk Xul, but I can’t get through to either.”

Taking the command chair, Quinn slung his safety harness over him. “Breen had been trying to reach the Burgon or Leveche but hadn’t been able to. I wonder what the hell is going on?”

“If they knew we needed them, they’d be here unless they’re up to their necks in trouble,” Paton stated.

“Aye, that’s what I’m thinking,” Quinn said, nibbling on a hangnail. “Could the Coalition have started the war up again?”

“I wouldn’t put it past them,” Paton said with a grunt. “They want to run the entire megaverse.”

Once more an explosion shook the
Lhong Shee
and the LRC did a ninety-degree roll before righting itself.

“That was a little too damned close for comfort,” Paton said.

“And they’re starting to piss me off,” Quinn growled. “We’re using too many of our system resources to remain cloaked. Decloak us, Xavier, and then get us the hell away from that lumbering menace sitting on our tail.”

That was all the incentive Ian Shannon needed as he sat down in the co-pilot seat. He was grinning maniacally as he did as his captain ordered, turning to grin at Douglas. Within the space of a heartbeat, the
Lhong Shee
was well beyond the range of the
Raptor’s
cannons.

“Keep trying to raise Aduaidh Prime,” Quinn ordered. He turned his head so he could look around at Kendall. “Will you sit beside me, wench?”

Kendall felt her heart do a funny little flip and she unbuckled her harness and got up, smiling apologetically at the prince. She sat down in the seat reserved for the Phantom’s 2-I-C and took the hand Quinn held out to her.

“You’re an outlaw now,
Lhiannan
,” he told her. “You’ll never be able to go back to your favorite mall in the Cairghrian Galaxy.”

“There are other malls, Quinn,” Kendall replied, rolling her eyes. “Not all the planets in the CG will be off limits to me.”

“Speaking of Cair Ghrian,” Paton said. “The man, not the galaxy. Did you hear his lady is expecting again? The Black Sun may have another son before the year is out.”

“Lucky man,” Quinn replied. “He and Davan deserve only the best.”

Kendall’s forehead creased for she realized that she and Quinn had not used any protection on the
Sláinte
. She tucked her lower lip between her teeth, concerned that she might have conceived.

“I would have known,” Quinn said, easily reading her mind.

She looked at him. “Really?” At his nod, she relaxed. “I’m not ready for motherhood, Phantom.”

“No more than I’m ready for fatherhood, wench,” he replied. “We’ll be a bit more cautious next time, eh?”

“I just thought of the reason the Burgon didn’t answer Breen’s hail,” Paton said. “He is on Gaoithe. The Toshiaght is this Jesarn.”

“Jesarn is our Saturday. What is the Toshiaght?” Kendall asked.

“The Initiation into the Order of Taibhse,” Quinn said. “The Burgon is being inducted?”

Paton nodded. “He and three others,” he said then smacked his forehead with the heel of his palm. “That’s where they all are! Leveche, Ghrian and another man I don’t ever remember meeting or even hearing about.”

“What’s his name?” the Phantom asked.

“I don’t recall it,” Paton said.

“The Burgon wielding a scytheblade,” Quinn said. “That is a scary thought and Leveche and Ghrian entering the Order? That is an even scarier thought.”

“The Order will be nearly invincible,” Paton declared. “We’ll have so many Grand Master Swordsmen, no one could defeat us.”

“When can I join the Order, Quinn?” the young prince called out. “I’m old enough now, aren’t I?”

Quinn nodded. “Aye, Aleyn. You are, but it’ll have to wait until you are no longer a hunted man.”

“He could be trained on Theristes,” Paton said.

The Phantom cocked an eyebrow. “Now there’s a thought.” He twisted around in his seat to look at the prince. “Did Ambelson train you in fighting, Aleyn?”

“Aye and I’ve the scars to prove it,” the young man said. “Was he your trainer?”

“He trained all of us then,” Quinn said. “I’ve also got scars from Derek Ambelson’s blades.”

“The man must be at least in his seventies by now,” Paton said. “He taught me as well.”

“He trained our father too,” Quinn declared. “If you passed Ambelson’s course that should hold you in good stead for training with the scytheblade.”

“May I ask for you as my sponsorship?” Aleyn asked shyly.

Quinn smiled. “I would have been hurt if you hadn’t.”

Kendall squeezed her lover’s hand for she saw the pride shifting across his handsome features.

“Ah, we’ve got a slight problem here,” Ian Shannon reported. “That damned Coalition ship is back on my screen and gaining.”

“What kind of turbo booster do those bastards have?” Paton grumbled. He went to stand beside Shannon’s chair and stood there frowning at the screen. “By the gods, but they are closing, Quinn.”

“Where’s that asteroid field, Dougie?” Quinn questioned.

“Hold your horses,” Douglas mumbled. “We’re looking for it.”

“We may have to turn and fight,” Paton suggested.

“I don’t like the odds in that,” Shannon said. He looked at Douglas, his co-navigator, who shook his head.

“Neither do I,” Quinn said. “They’ve got a hell of lot more firepower than we do, and I don’t want to risk them making space dust of my ship.”

Kendall saw her lover glance down at the sword handle that lay strapped to his thigh then she watched him smile nastily. “Well,” he said. “That’s an interesting development.”

“What is?” Kendall asked, watching Quinn caressing the sword handle.

“They want me, Lord Phantom,” Aleyn said. “Why don’t you just let them have me?”

“Aye, well, they don’t want just you, my prince,” Paton said. “They want the infamous Phantom as well.” He stared into the prince’s eyes. “You, they will let live if they get you back. For him, they’ve reserved a very exacting death.”

“Oh,” Aleyn said, his face burning red.

“They’re not going to get either one of us,” Quinn told them. “Gilly, open a channel to Morrison.”

The com officer did as he was ordered and Morrison’s beefy face appeared on the Vid-Screen.

“Stand down, Quinn, or we will be forced to fire. There are too many innocent people on your ship who don’t need to die because you are a coward running away from his just punishment,” Morrison growled, his jowls wobbling, his beady eyes narrowed.

“I wasn’t running anywhere, General,” Quinn said. “I was merely taking you on a tour of our fine galaxy. How do you like the Idimmu Galaxy?”

“I won’t issue another order for you to stand down, you bastard,” Morrison said. “We’ll run right up your tailpipe and blast you to ion particles!”

“The
Raptor
is closing fast, Captain,” Shannon reported. “We’re…” He stopped then began smiling broadly, glancing up once to intercept an amused look sent his way by the Phantom.

“Take us right through the opening, Mr. Shannon,” Quinn said.

“With the greatest of pleasures, Sir!” Shannon replied.

Paton bent over Shannon’s screen for a moment then straightened up. “I’ll be a Diabolusian warthog’s prick,” he said. “Tell me we don’t have the Luck of the Cengus with us!”

“He hasn’t seen them yet,” Shannon said. “He’s got his cannons locked on our keel, thinking to disable us.”

“General?” Quinn questioned in a polite voice. “I believe you should have your gunners gear down, Sir.”

“The hell I will!” Morrison said. “I’ve—”

“I don’t think you really want to mess with the Hounds of Hell, now, do you, Sir?” Quinn asked.

“We’re passing through,” Paton said, his voice a soft purr, “and they’re closing ranks behind us.”

Morrison’s face was on the Vid-Screen and everyone on the bridge of the
Lhong Shee
saw his eyes widen and his mouth drop open. His words made the crew of Quinn’s ship howl. “
Pull up! Pull up! Goddamnit, pull up!”

“What’s going on?” Kendall asked.

“On screen, Dougie,” Quinn said quietly.

They were spread out across the vista of the sky. Gabriel Leveche’s the
Sangunar
, Cair Ghrian’s the
Saoirse
, Ruan Cosaint’s the
Turas
and a ship Quinn didn’t recognize fanned back from the lead ship in a perfect V formation—the Burgon’s flagship the
Sekkeen.
Every plasma and pulsar cannon was aimed directly at the
Raptor
.

“Do we know whose ship that is behind Cosaint’s?” Quinn asked.

“I’m scanning her now, Captain. She’s the
Tiogar
, Sir,” Shannon reported. “She’s captained by Lord Taegin Drae.”

“That’s who the other man was who was being inducted into the Order!” Paton said. “Admiral Ben-Alkazar is his sponsor.”

“And most likely gave him that ship since the admiral owns a goodly portion of Tappas Industries,” Quinn observed. “Open a channel to the Burgon, Dougie.”

Ryden Bakari, the Emperor of Aduaidh Prime, was beaming ear to ear when he appeared on the Vid-Com. “Did you like that little maneuver, Phantom?”

“Very slick, Sir.”

“It was Gabe’s idea,” the Burgon said. “He likes those big grandstand plays, eh, Lord Savidos?”

The laughing face of Prince Gabriel Leveche showed briefly on the Vid-Com. “Was that little jiggle as good for you as it was for us, Phantom?” the man known as Lord Savidos chuckled.

“Sure as hell turned me on just at the right time, Gabe. Burgon, you have my eternal gratitude, Your Excellence,” Quinn said. “As do each of my brethren of the Order. My sincerest congratulations to you, my Emperor, and to you, Lord Taegin, on winning your blades.”

The Burgon beamed. “I am most pleased and the Tiogar will be howling when he gets back home, I’m sure! You do know where you’re going, don’t you, Quinn?” the Burgon inquired.

“I do, Sir, and we’ll head that way as soon as I know the Coalition won’t be following.”

“Oh Morrison ain’t going nowhere,” the Burgon said, his eyes hard. “He’s sitting there facing a wall of firepower that would reduce him to his lowest common denominator. I do believe he’ll turn tail and run like the coward he truly is.”

“This isn’t over! You men will pay for your gods-be-damned interference! I shall report you to the Conclave for this treasonous act!” Morrison shouted.

It was Cair Ghrian’s stony face that showed up on the Vid-Com. “Turn your fat ass around and hie back to Riezell, General, or by the gods I promise you I’ll make you regret the day you ever sent my lady into harm’s way!”

Morrison’s rubbery lips sputtered but it seemed he couldn’t find anything to say. He cast a look to his right and the face of Major Shanee Iphito suddenly appeared.

“I am the new Primary Riezell Guardian, Lord Phantom, and I won’t rest until I have you in my hands again!” she said.

“That’ll be a cold day in the Abyss,” Kendall mumbled.

“Congratulations on your promotion, Amazeen,” Quinn said. His eyes were locked on Shanee’s. “Maybe you won’t have so much trouble with your next target.”

“A Riezell Guardian who didn’t get her man?” Cair scoffed. “What a shame.”

“I will see to it that your lady is cashiered out of the Guardians for your part in this day’s infamy, Lord Cair!” Shanee said, her chin lifted. “As will your lady-wife, King Ruan.”

“I’m sure Chastain will be as brokenhearted as Davan will be to hear that,” King Ruan drawled in a bored tone. “But thank you for your concern, Amazeen.”

Shanee’s eyes twinkled. “Until next time, Phantom!” she snapped, and the Vid-Com went black.

“Please tell me she was joking,” Kendall said. “Surely she doesn’t mean to come after you, Quinn.”

“She won’t,” the Phantom said. “That was for show. If she’s to keep doing her job for the Burgon at Fleet Command, she has to maintain her hard-ass persona.”

The Vid-Screen came back up. “And what a hard ass she has!” the Burgon said, fanning his hand in front of his chest. “If I weren’t a married man—”

“Say goodbye, Ryden,” King Ruan suggested.

“You’re no fun, Cosaint,” the Burgon complained.

“Take care, Quinn,” Cair Ghrian called out.