Free The Starwolves by Thorarinn Gunnarsson Page B

replied. "What does it
matter to you anyway?"
    "Do I have to have a reason?" Consherra asked in return.
    "I was wondering," Velmeran said. "You are no gossip,
and yet you seem to make a point of informing me of how matters stand on the
bridge. I have to endure quite enough motherly ministrations from Fidgit and
Fanny without you joining in."
    "Motherly ministrations?" Consherra demanded, and drew herself up
proudly. "One of the biggest questions on the upper bridge of late has
been the matter of the appointment of the Commander-designate. That person
has to be one of the pack leaders. You are in very high standing just now, and
very likely to get it. And as second in command, this is of considerable
importance to me."
    She paused and stood glaring at him, as if awaiting some anticipated
reaction. But Velmeran did not seem to be particularly impressed. He stood
calmly, arms crossed, staring back at her. A long, tense moment of silence followed,
broken suddenly by the sound of Consherra's suit cycling on.
    Velmeran smiled. "Now look, you have yourself all heated up. Your
thermostat must be wired to your temper. But you worry needlessly. We might be
on the bridge together in a hundred years or so, but just now I am neither
old enough nor respected enough to be accepted as Commander-designate."
    "It is entirely Valthyrra's choice..."
    "And Valthyrra is old enough to know better. A Commander must be
respected to be effective, and I do not have the respect of the pilots and
officers of this ship. If Valthyrra has indicated any favor toward me, then it
is only a game she is playing to get what she really wants."
    "She is waiting for something," Consherra insisted.
    "She is trying hard to encourage me to be a good pack leader, and that
is all," Velmeran said. "And just now I am finding it hard enough to
be that. Please do not complicate my life any more than it already is."
     
    "Keth and I had been working on the same ship, so I was lucky enough to
be near when it happened," Tregloran explained to an appreciative audience
of younger pack members, nearly a score in all, gathered close about the table
where he sat with members of his own pack.
    Velmeran, sitting alone several tables over, did his best not to listen. But
Kelvessan have ears like sonic dragons, one of the many gifts of their genetic
perfection. And just now his ears had a will of their own, tracing that
particular conversation to its source like scanners. At least he was pleased
with the younger pilot's honesty; Treg made it clear that he was much more an observer
to these events than a participant. Unfortunately, Velmeran also noticed
that his own role was more prominent than he remembered.
    Then he noticed, to his dismay, that he was not the only one eavesdropping
on this tale. The dining hall was about as full as he had ever seen it, and
everyone, perhaps three hundred people in all, was listening attentively to
Tregloran as he unwittingly recited his story for the entire group. Velmeran
felt a moment of panic. His real desire was to silence his young pack member on
some pretext, but that would be too blatant. Instead he thought it time for a
hasty retreat.
    "But there was no way that they were going to fool the Captain,"
Tregloran continued blissfully. "He was on her tail the moment that
carrier broke from the rest. And Baressa was right behind him."
    Velmeran rose quietly and began to slip away, unobserved. He edged out
the door, thinking that he had made his escape, only to find a small delegation
of his fellow pack leaders. Then he knew he was in trouble. Barthan, young and
cynical – for a Kelvessa – was the obvious leader of this group,
with the older Train a close second. He was surprised to see Shayrn rounding
out this group of malcontents; she had always been supportive of him in the past.
    "Off to save a world, Captain?" Barthan inquired, radiating
sarcastic displeasure. "We want to have a word with you. We would like to
know what you thought you were