“That firefin brought you a message. His name is Rensi. He says he has spoken to you before. He will not tell me the message. He said it is for the Prince of Bristola from the Princess, who is a captive, but he won’t tell me where, because he isn’t sure which of the Curans he can trust.”
My heart leapt into my throat. Of course! Of course, Ceritha would try to send a message through the ocean animals she loved! Why hadn’t I thought of that?
I practically leapt to the side of the gazebo. I slipped through the side planks and down the side of the cliff until I was at the closest edge of grass and mud, on my knees, nearest the water I could get.
“Please, firefin Rensi…” I called into the water, opening myself up telepathically to the ocean currents. I can do it… I told myself. I can do it… I was doing it earlier. I can communicate with these animals… “Please tell me your message. I am Axis of Bristola. I am the lover of Princess Ceritha that you met earlier. I am her Commander and Prince. You can trust me. I am your friend. Please trust me and tell me your message. Where is Ceritha?”
I waited, looking into the dark waters, fingers clenching at the dark mud, star and moonlight gleaming on the tides lapping into the cliff. Then, the many horned, feathered head broke the surface and rose up to meet my face. I had a sharp intake of breath, but gently put my hand out to his snout and he guided his head into my palm.
An impression from Rensi filled my mind with the power of a storm surge. I marveled at the connection and smiled, then took a deep breath, asking Rensi for the message, my heart beating hard. He showed me one of the ships back in the cove off from the harbor, one of Gorgin’s fleet, but not one actively attacking the harbor. Then he showed me an image that was a bit fuzzier, as if it had been passed to him. It was a memory from Ceritha’s viewpoint, and it was of Gorgin, rising up within the StarChaser, grabbing her, pulling at her, restraining her. My blood boiled, my stomach tensed, jaw clenched, free hand balled to a fist in the grass and mud, as I watched her thrown around by him. I nearly cheered when I watched her break his arm, then I winced and gritted my teeth as I felt her fury as he punched her. I felt her sorrow and regret at disobeying my orders and taking the StarChaser and I wondered if she had meant to put that into the impression she sent to Rensi, or if that was just an earnest part of the memory. Through Rensi, she showed me her little jail cell in the armory of the ship and asked me to rescue her. Rensi showed me her beautiful little face leaning out the porthole to talk to him. She is okay. She is bruised, but she is okay…
“I will come for you…” I said. “Tell her that, please, Rensi. Tell her I will come for her. Thank you, so much, for bringing me this message of hope. You are my true friend.”
Rensi purred a chitter and nuzzled into my hand, then slunk back into the water and slithered away, his tail flicking up water droplets as he disappeared.
I stood up, wiping the mud I had balled into my fist on my also muddy pants. I took a deep breath, trying to extinguish the fury and fear in my chest to a manageable size, before slipping back up to the gazebo. I looked at Cowrie and Ilisa.
“Thank you for getting me. Ceritha is on the pirate ship Endeavor’s Desire in the Darken Coves, part of that pack of twelve ships that are waiting, anchored still, while this first set of ten attacks our harbor. The Endeavor is third from the back of the pack, with a dark wooden lionlark as the figurehead at the bow. We are going to go get her. Bravo Ilisa, where are the other seven of the crew who you picked? Please gather them quickly at the courtyard of the castle.”
“The courtyard?”
“Yes.”
“Are we not taking a ship?”
“No, Bravo. We will be taking my speeder. It should have arrived by now.”
“Confirmed. We will be there in five minutes, sir.”
“Great. I will meet you then.” I turned to Cowrie. “Thank you, Cowrie. I will always owe you.”
As I was turning away, Cowrie grabbed my arm.
“I need to tell you one more thing, Commander. Scientist Murex has been missing for two days. We just thought he was sulking, but maybe he was also captured? I just want you to know.”
“Thank you. I will keep that in mind.”
I spun away and sprinted back to the command room, the two assigned soldiers trying hard not to get left behind. If Gorgin had somehow gotten Murex that far ahead of time, would he have had time to make any progress with telepathy with animals? Likely not. But, that might have been how he would have found out about Ceritha’s sailboat.
I came to a speeding halt in the command room and everyone stared at me. Cartari guessed what had happened before I even needed to tell him and he knew there was no stopping me. I was going to go get Ceritha. I was going to go get the woman who I knew in my heart had to be my Destin.
I was going to pilot my speeder over that pirate ship and strafe the shit out of anything that moved. Then rescue my Princess.
“Send the Spec Ops teams,” I told Cartari. “Give the order. Give them thirty minutes to get abroad, then call a ceasefire to our laser cannons. Tell the telekinetic warriors to keep up their defense but tell everyone to stop our attack.
