“But this—” Janek looked Ronan up and down, all the muscles in his face tense with dislike. “This man claims to be a refugee from the shaauri. It’s well known that the most powerful Kinsmen telepaths went over to the stripes when the Second War began. If he is one of them—”
The captain swung on Ronan. “Can you read my thoughts?”
Her question lodged in his gut like a bellyful of spoiled meat. “I am not Kinsman,” he repeated, turning his stare on Janek. “When I was young, they stripped my mind of any such abilities.”
“Then he was a telepath,” Janek said. “It’s vital that he be interrogated immediately. Your cooperation and assistance in this matter is essential, Captain.”
Her expression had lost every trace of congeniality. “You have no authority to instigate such an interrogation, Ser Janek. I suggest that you adhere to your assignment.”
“If you endanger Pegasus with your disregard for basic security…”
She turned on her heel to face him, legs braced. Janek responded in kind. Ronan stepped in front of Janek before he realized he was moving.
The warrior called Kord aimed his weapon at Ronan’s chest. “Stand back,” he ordered.
Ronan acted without thought. A casual slice of his hand caught the barrel of Kord’s gun and pushed it toward the deck. Only the warrior’s practiced grip on the weapon kept it from flying across the bridge. At the same time Ronan assumed the stance of Blood Waiting before Janek, prepared to strike.
Janek threw up his hands in an awkward attempt at self-defense. Kord recovered and slammed into Ronan, using his weight to throw Ronan off balance. Ronan kept his feet. He met Kord’s gaze in the way of one acknowledging the worthiness of his foe, and saw the surprise and answering respect in the young warrior’s eyes.
“Enough.” The captain’s voice rang with unquestioned command, and all eyes turned to her. Janek took advantage of the moment to back well out of Ronan’s reach.
“They are animals, Captain,” he said, brushing his shipsuit as if it had been contaminated by some foul purulence. “You’ve seen it for yourself. If he was raised among them—”
“I will give your opinion all the consideration it deserves.” Captain D’Accorso set her back to him in the most brutal of insults. Janek spun sharply on his bootheel and strode from the bridge.
“I’ll have no fisticuffs on my bridge, gentlemen,” she said to Kord and Ronan. “Stand down, or I’ll throw you both in the brig.”
Kord slid back a few centimeters, his gaze never leaving Ronan’s. He kept his weapon at his side as if he disdained to use it. Ronan straightened, his mind strangely heavy with thoughts and emotions he couldn’t name.
“I regret, Captain D’Accorso,” he said, turning his hands palm-up. “I was”—he sought the correct human word and could not find it—”unmindful.”
Captain D’Accorso sat down in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. “At ease, Ser O’Deira.” She addressed Ronan with a lifted brow. “If your ill-advised actions were on my behalf, Ser VelKalevi,” she said, “I can assure you that they were unnecessary. Janek is prone to wild speeches with little intent behind them. There is a proverb on Dharma: ‘The wave is loudest when it reaches its end.'”
“The shaauri have such a saying as well,” Ronan said. ” ‘One is a foolish wraith who paints on the stripes of Will.'”
Captain D’Accorso tapped her chin. “I think that something has been lost in translation,” she said, “but that can be remedied in time. I trust that you understand I cannot permit any further displays of this kind, Ser VelKalevi?”
“Yes, Captain,” Ronan said, turning his head down and to the side.
She relaxed, a slight dropping of shoulders and easing about the mouth. “I will take you at your word. And since you have met some of our crew under less than ideal circumstances, you should at least be introduced.” Her sharp gaze swept over the guards and the black-haired cyborg. “Ronan VelKalevi—”
“Ronan,” he corrected humbly. “Only Ronan.”
“As you wish. I have already given you my name, and that of this ship. Our departed visitor was Ser Phineas Janek, civilian attache’ representing the Concordat and the Archon of Persephone.”