The Stars Asunder by Debra Doyle

Author:Debra Doyle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2011-10-23T16:00:00+00:00

23:

Year 1124 E. R.

ERAASIAN SPACE: SUS-PELEDAEN SHIP RAIN-ON-DARK-WATER

ERAASI: HANILAT

The guardship Rain-on-Dark-Water loomed up, mountain-high, in her construction cradle at the sus-Peledaen orbital yard. Elaeli stood on the cradle’s embarkation platform, taking in the pleasing sight. She’d been the Rain’s Pilot-Principal for almost a month now, since returning to Eraasi with syn-Evarat and Wind-on-the-Mountain, and she was eager to see the sleek and powerful vessel come out of the construction phase for good.

Pilot-Principal on a new-built ship was a prize in itself, an assignment that marked her out as one of the family’s up-and-comers. She contemplated the long upward slope of the Rain’s matte-black side, and allowed herself to imagine her future career.

From Pilot-Principal to Command-Tertiary was a gap that no more than a few in each generation would cross; she could serve the family in her present rank for three decades or more, and be counted among those who’d had a good career in the fleet. But if she ever did achieve that first level of command, then all the others became possible as well: Captain, Convoy-Captain—even, someday, Fleet-Captain, with authority subordinate only to Natelth sus-Peledaen himself.

Natelth’s younger brother, to whom she owed her present good fortune, was the reason she was waiting here on the embarkation platform. The lifter-shuttle that climbed like a cog railway up the mountain of the ship’s side had delivered two carloads of personnel to the Rain‘s main hatch already. ’Rekhe was, not surprisingly, late.

The door on the far side of the docking platform slid open. Elaeli turned her head quickly in the direction of the noise. Yes, it was Arekhon, dressed in the plain black and white that he had affected ever since leaving the fleet to join Garrod’s Circle.

She saw at once that he had changed since their farewell at the Court of Two Colors. His hair was the same sleek black as it had always been, with no trace yet of the early silver that sometimes came with Magework, but clearly something had happened during her absence. He looked older, and the hint of mischief that had always lurked in his grey eyes was muted.

He smiled when he saw her—the smile was the same, at least—and took both her hands in his.

“Ela,” he said. He glanced at her insignia and cocked an eyebrow. “Pilot-Principal … that’s new.”

“It came with my transfer to the Rain,” she said. “Syn-Evarat pushed for it, but I think it was your recommendation for adoption that finished the job.”

“Syn-Evarat’s a good man.” Arekhon paused. “What’s the Rain’s captain like?”

She thought for a moment. “I haven’t worked with her for more than a couple of weeks, and we’re still in the cradle. But I’d say—steady. I don’t know anything more than that.”

“Steadiness is what we need,” he said.

She glanced at him sharply. “Need for what?”

“That’s why I came here. Are your quarters safe to talk in?”

“As far as I can tell.”

“Then let’s go there,” he said.

“And talk?”

Arekhon smiled again, and this time the mischief came back to his eyes. He lifted both her hands to his mouth and kissed them.

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