“Where’s Van Krief?” Herzer asked, draining the cup and taking the pill.
“The pretty blonde?” the elf asked. “I managed to get her conscious enough for directions to her room and carried her there. She didn’t seem to be in any condition to help. Not that you were, either.” She laid her hand on his head and murmured for a moment and Herzer felt the effects of the hangover miraculously disappear.
“God, Bast, you’re a drunkard’s dream,” Herzer said, taking her in his arms.
“Good thing for you.” She smiled. “Now, go take shower, you smell like goat. Then come back here and I make you smell like one again. And if the pretty little blonde turns up, tell her you’re busy. It’s been a long time and I’m not sharing.”
“My my, look what the cat drug in,” Daneh said as Herzer and Bast entered the room.
It was past noon but it was clear that everyone in the room was on their first meal of the day. And all of them were nursing hangovers.
“Daneh, my friend, your daughter very well brought up is. Is even polite when being sick.”
“Oh, gods, was that you?” Rachel groaned. “I thought it was Van Krief.”
“Wasn’t me,” the ensign muttered, looking from the elf to Herzer and back. “You must be Bast.”
“Indeedy.” Bast grinned, pulling out a chair and flopping down. She snagged a plate and pulled over a tureen filled with scrambled eggs. “We’ve met.”
“I don’t recall when,” Van Krief said, thinly.
“Last night, carried back to your room did I,” Bast said, grinning again.
“I don’t remember most of last night,” the ensign said after a moment.
“I do,” Bast replied. “Humans shouldn’t drink, can’t handle their liquor.”
Herzer was mentally cringing. Bast was usually blunt about sex to the point of pornography. But he noticed that she was carefully avoiding the subject of where Van Krief had been when the elf carried her back to her room. That was, for Bast, unbelievably circumspect and tactful.
“Of course, if another try at Herzer want, wait until this afternoon; sure he’ll be up to it by then.”
So much for circumspect.
“Bast,” Edmund said, carefully. “We were all pretty drunk last night. I think that it’s best if we just avoid the whole subject. Okay?”
“Okay,” Bast said, taking a bite of egg. “How about the subject of Chansa putting out contract?”
“Even that is preferable,” Daneh replied.
“Is all around the town,” Bast continued. “Open contract is. Was to stop I was coming. Late. Sorry.”
“Funny that I didn’t get any word,” Edmund replied. “T’s usually better about that. Where did you hear about it?”
“Was approached,” Bast shrugged. “Killed the man who asked, did I. Very stupid man. Thought jealous would I be of young ensign.”
“What?” Van Krief said.
“What?” Herzer shouted.
“Keep it down, Herzer,” Edmund sighed. “I was afraid this was going to happen. The fact that you two… like each other is pretty obvious. It has been brought up to me. Not officially, but it has been brought up.”
“But we have never…” Herzer said then paused. “Well… except for… Oh, damn!”
“Damn indeed,” Edmund nodded. “How’s the school -running?”
“Well enough,” Herzer said. “If you’re asking if Captain Silver can handle it, yes he can.”
“The fleet sails for work-ups in two days,” Edmund said with another nod. “I’d already made it plain that you were going to be going out with it. I was going to send you as a supernumerary, one of my eyes and ears. But they’re so short of dragon-riders I’m going to appoint you as the CO of the Hazhir dragon wing.”
“There are far more experienced riders in the fleet than me,” Herzer pointed out.
“None on the Hazhir,” Edmund replied. “New captain, new crew, dragons gathered from all over and half of them have only done one or two landings. Very few of them are trained in bombing.”
“And me,” Bast said. “Joanna will go, I will ride.”
“Joanna is slated for the Bonhomme Richard,” Edmund said.
“Was,” Bast replied. “Joanna will go on Hazhir. As will I. Trust me on this, Edmund Talbot. Joanna, myself and Herzer to the Hazhir.”
“What do you know?” Edmund asked.
“Know that is who will go,” Bast said with a shrug. “Something is coming. More than battle. Timelines twist.” She stopped and grinned. “Gaslan. Elf thing is. Warriors are. Future of war can feel, see. Schwerpunkt is Hazhir. Joanna, Herzer, I go. Battle you will fight. Battle you may win. Win or lose, Hazhir is the key. To more. Much more.”
They all looked at her for a moment and then Edmund shook his head.
“I hate it when you get all elf on me. Destrang, make a note. Commander Joanna Gramlich transferred to Hazhir, commander dragon contingent. Same for Major Herzer Herrick, XO dragon contingent. Bast L’sol Tamel d’San, allied wood elf, assigned Hazhir as supernumerary dragon-rider.”
“And me, sir?” Van Krief asked.
“You’re coming back as one of my aides,” Edmund replied. “We’ll be on the Bonhomme Richard. I’ve got a lot of writing for someone to do. And it has to be someone I trust. Same with Destrang. Tao.”
“Sir?” the ensign said.
“You’re staying here. The original purpose of aides de camp were to be eyes and ears. You’re my eyes and ears, not my mouth. But if something I order here isn’t being done, get word to me.”
“Yes, sir,” the ensign replied.
“Why are you going to sea?” Daneh asked. “I thought that was why you brought up Shar Chang.”
“Because I’m not going to sit in headquarters when a fleet that just had its ass kicked sails back into harm’s way.” Edmund sighed. “I probably should be at headquarters for any number of reasons. Planning the next battle for one thing. But right now, the fleet is reeling. I’m going to be there, right or wrong.”
“Well, at least at sea the assassins are going to have a hard time reaching you,” Daneh said with a frown. “Of course, you might get sunk or burned. But you don’t have to worry about assassins.”
“What about the assassins that might come after us?” Rachel asked.
“At a certain point,” Edmund said sadly, “you have to delegate responsibility. Even if it’s for the care of your family. And you’re going to be going to Balmoran anyway. Remember?”
Herzer mounted the side of the Hazhir and saluted the officer of the deck, then the UFS Navy flag, a rattlesnake on a field of orange with the words “Don’t Tread On Me” emblazoned on it.
“Permission to come aboard?” he asked.
“Granted,” the female lieutenant said. “Lieutenant Lannette Rattanachane, navigation officer.”
“Major Herzer Herrick,” Herzer replied. Then he gestured at Bast who had just reached the deck and was looking around her with interest. “Bast L’sol Tamel d’San, Elven ally.”
“Call me Bast,” Bast said, sticking out her hand and pumping the lieutenant’s. “Pleased to meetcha.” She was in her normal traveling costume of a green leather bikini, baldric supported saber on her left hip, bow and quiver over her back, metal pauldron on her left shoulder, greaves on her right leg and a fur leg-warmer on her left. She was also wearing sandals with a very low heel. Her hair was unbound and the northeast wind blew it around her face as she grinned. “Fine day for sailin’, eh?”