THALES

 

‘The commander’s here,’ whispered Fariss.

She brushed past Thales and crouched close to Janne and Magdalen. Getting this far had been harder than they’d anticipated; the station was frenzied. They’d travelled in small groups so as not to attract the attention of the red robes, who were scattered among the crowds. Linnea knew the way to the information node and had given precise instructions to the Feohte.

Now they’d reassembled a corridor away from the IN and Fariss had just scouted the last stretch. The news she had to give was the last that Thales expected to hear. He joined their huddle, anxious to know exactly what she’d seen.

‘There’re a bunch of soldiers at the door. Some mercs have got station sec baled up against the wall. I’ve seen the mercs before. For some Crux-damned reason, Commander Lasper Farr’s in the IN.’

Magdalen and Janne stared at her.

‘Commander Farr,’ said Magdalen. ‘Of the—’

‘Stain Wars. Yeah.’ Fariss turned to Thales. ‘Ideas?’

Thales shook his head. He couldn’t imagine what had bought Lasper Farr here at this time. What could be so important that he would risk his ship by coming to Scolar station?

‘We could go through the front door,’ said Janne.

Fariss shook her head. ‘They’ll have more Robes at Shift Command than anywhere else. It’s this way or none. We’ve got surprise on our side. Don’t imagine the Commander’s expectin’ to see us either.’

‘Will the mercs know you?’ asked Thales.

She thought about it for a moment. ‘Yeah, but that might not be a bad thing. A little reputation, you know...’

Thales’s stomach clenched even tighter. ‘Fariss, please—’

She ignored him and spoke directly to Janne. ‘I’ll get close enough to deal with two or three. When I make that move you need to get down the corridor quick. Take the mercs first. Station sec won’t know what the fuck is going on. My guess is they’ll run.’

Janne nodded.

Both women were bright in a way that brought a bitter taste to Thales’s mouth, but he set his jaw and swallowed. His idea had brought them here.

Fariss’s large hand descended on his shoulder. ‘You stay behind Janne and the Feohte with Magdalen and Linnea. Got it? Sammy might be inside there—don’t let any of the Feohte shoot her.’

‘Fariss?’ He wanted to thank her for this—it was his world not hers—but the words dried up in his mouth.

She didn’t wait for him to free his tongue. Slipping her weapon into her belt, she sauntered straight out into the IN corridor.

Janne and the Feohte crouched closer to the bend. Thales couldn’t see past them, or hear anything until the first shout. Then suddenly the Feohte were gone, a dozen women swarming up the passage.

Magdalen put a restraining hand on him. ‘We’ll just give them more to worry about. When the hatch is clear, we go.’

Thales waited in an agony of dread while Linnea crept forward and peered after the Feohte. A moment later she flattened herself back against the wall. Instinctively Thales did the same but Magdalen was slower to react.

The station sec guards bolted past them, one of them colliding with the slight woman, knocking her against the rough conduit. The guard picked himself up and kept running but Magdalen lay still.

Linnea went to her and felt over her head. ‘She’s out.’

‘Can you get her back to Ling-Ma’s ship by yourself?’ asked Thales.

Linnea nodded. ‘Should do. She weighs less than a bag of beans. Now, remember that the common wall is the one behind the node. You cut through the wrong one and you’ll be floating—permanently.’

Thales gave a grim nod. ‘May Villon protect you, Linnea.’

She gave him a strange look. ‘That’s what Mira Fedor said too.’

 

* * *

 

He watched the brawny woman lift Magdalen into her arms and leave. When she’d gone he walked into the IN passage.

Farris was crouched at the hatch. A mess of tangled bodies lay before her on the floor, throats cut. Most of the dead were Farr’s mercs but not all. Two Feohtes were being shifted aside from the mercs and covered out of respect.

As Thales drew closer he saw the surviving Feohte sheathing curved bloody swords in their belts alongside their soft-projectile guns. He wanted to force his way past them to Fariss’s side and touch her for reassurance, but he wouldn’t get that chance again, not until this was over.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw him. A quick frown creased her blood-dirtied face. ‘Where are they?’

‘Magdalen was knocked out by a station guard. Linnea’s taking her back to Ling-Ma.’

She pressed her lips together, unimpressed. ‘Janne, you got that cutting gear? Could get messy in here, depending on how many Lasper’s got with him. I’m bettin’ on not too many.’

Janne tossed her the sack. ‘Sounds like a good bet.’