Dragon and Liberator

There is no shame in being afraid, Draycos's thoughts came through the pounding of Jack's heart.

I know, Jack said. But he couldn't help but feel some shame anyway. Some shame, some fear, and a lot of regret.

He didn't want to die. But then, he didn't suppose anyone ever really wanted to die.

Careful, Jack, Draycos warned. The Gatekeeper has positioned itself directly in front of us. Its drive glow may mask the refugees' view of the Advocatus Diaboli as it fires.

Already spotted that, Jack assured him. In his own ham-handed way, he thought with dark amusement, Neverlin was still trying to outthink him and Draycos. You just watch and—

He broke off the thought. No, Draycos wouldn't watch and learn. Very soon now, neither he nor Draycos would ever learn anything again. Here we go, Jack said instead. Twisting the control yoke completely around, he sent the Essenay spiraling into a half circle around the Advocatus Diaboli, coming out on the far side of the ship and well clear of the Foxwolf's blockage.

And it was time. It's been an honor to know you, Draycos, he told the K'da, reaching down to stroke the K'da's head as it lay flat against his right shoulder. Strangely enough, the words didn't sound corny to him, as he'd been afraid they would.

And an honor to know you, as well, Jack, Draycos replied. Good-bye, my friend.

Good-bye. Taking a deep breath, Jack threw full emergency power to the Essenay's drive, sending the ship jumping forward and outward along the Advocatus Diaboli's, side.

He had just enough time to see the burst of debris and dust and compressed air that exploded from the Foxwolf's side, swirling blackly directly in his path and completely blocking the view of the distant K'da/Shontine defenders.

And then, the violet cone of the Death cut across space in front of him, slicing across his view of both the Foxwolf and the masking cloud of debris.

He twisted the control yoke again, trying to pull the Essenay out of the beam's path.

But it was too late. Before he could do more than gasp, the violet cone swept back toward him, passed unhindered though the canopy—

And cut through him like a tingling knife.

CHAPTER 29

The voices were still murmuring around Alison, murmuring like a mountain brook in the distance. There were words there, too, she knew.

But with her head bowed, her eyes closed, and her heart aching, she hardly heard any of it.

Jack and Draycos were dead.

Vaguely, distantly, she heard someone calling her name. Blinking the tears out of her eyes, she looked up. "What?" she asked.

"I was just telling you not to take it so hard," Neverlin said. "After all, you'll be joining them soon enough."

Alison took a deep breath. This was no time to fall apart. "As will you and Frost and the Valahgua," she said. "I know Cornelius Braxton, and you're not going to find him an easy nut to crack."

Neverlin shook his head. "You still don't get it, do you, Alison? Even having seen it demonstrated right in front of you, you still don't get it. The Death is literally the ultimate weapon. It doesn't matter how many people Braxton brought with him. He's dead, and so is everyone with him."

"Sir, the Essenay's gone into a half-powered drift," the captain reported.

"Very good, Captain," Neverlin said. "Swing us around and bring us up behind Backstop. No rush—give them time to reform into their attack cluster."

"Yes, sir."

"It's a shame we couldn't be on the same side, Alison," Neverlin went on, his voice lowered. "You're obviously a girl of many talents."

Alison flicked her tongue across her upper lip. There was only one chance left for her now. "What if I told you I was ready to join up with you?" she asked.

Neverlin smiled. "You really think I'd believe you?"

"I could pay for my life," Alison offered. "I still have a few secrets. Things I know that would be very valuable to you."

"What sort of secrets?"

"The sort that would be very valuable to you," Alison repeated. "Or to anyone else who knew them."

For a moment Neverlin eyed her closely. Then, he looked at the two Malison Ring mercenaries still holding on to her upper arms. "Three paces back and wait," he ordered them.

One of the soldiers glanced at the other. "Sir, Colonel Frost said—"

"Three paces back," Neverlin repeated.

"Yes, sir." Letting go of Alison's arms, the two men stepped back as ordered.

"Now," Neverlin said, his eyes back on Alison. "Go on."

"Your side of the bargain first," Alison said. "I want in on the deal with you and Frost. I especially want in on anything the weapons labs turn up out of all this."

Neverlin smiled thinly. "You have a particular interest in weapons?"