The Farthest Shore (Eden Series Book 3) Read Online Free Page B

Daxen’s brows came together. “A hostage?”
    “A pilot. She’ll steer our vessel.” And do what she’s told, or Ralcilos will take a hand. Maybe a foot too.
    There were more murmurs, but when Hewl said, “This could work,” Jash knew they had swung back on to her side. She let herself feel the chair’s back against her shoulders as she relaxed.
    “Of course it will work,” she said. “A steamship meant to win a race would be swift, so once it’s seized it can be brought to us at all speed.”
    Daxen’s eyes gleamed as if he envisioned commanding such a prize himself. “Even if it doesn’t tip the balance of war in our favor, it will be a blow to mainlander morale. For a ship of theirs to vanish in their own waters—they’ll never forget it. Or live it down, if the Dagrans hear about it too.” He grinned and raised his goblet. “I salute you, Commander.”
    “This isn’t something anyone could have expected,” Kier agreed. “I—I still think—”
    “No.” Hewl punctuated that with a fist to the table. “We will never bow to them.”
    “Do you know what negotiation is?” Kier snapped.
    “Do you know what the Unity is?” Jash cut in. “Because I do. That can’t be negotiated with.”
    “Why, Commander?” Daxen spoke quietly, but somehow she didn’t like that any more than she had the thud of Hewl’s fist or Kier’s raised voice. “What is the Unity?”
    A mouth that takes all things into itself, a mouth that grows larger and hungrier the more it’s fed , was how a Denalait defector had put it, but if she blurted that out, she would sound either mad or gullible. “It is power,” she said instead, “and people who have power have no need to make bargains with others.”
    The talk turned back to the steamship and the race. Kier was considerate enough to point out that she had no way to know if her plan would succeed unless a steamship entered the Iron Ocean flying a broken-chain banner. But thankfully Jash had other plans for an attack on the Denalait whaling fleet, which was still made up of sailing ships and which followed the predictable migration patterns of whales.
    Her captains drank again and settled on their strategy for the whaling fleet. Finally the gathering broke up, though Jash told Arudle Vates to remain once the others had left. Her aide closed the door behind him, and Jash got up, looking down at the woman’s belly.
    “Does that really show you the future?” she said.
    Arudle blinked. “This child was fathered by our greatest prophet. Did you think it would have none of his ability?”
    “And all of his madness.” Jash felt herself smile, and knew her expression would be worse than her words. Her smiles were not unattractive, because her mouth was generous and it softened the strong line of her jaw. But her eyes didn’t change, because she never smiled when she was happy.
    “Nion is dying,” Arudle said, as if Jash hadn’t even spoken. “We wanted his bloodline to continue.”
    Jash didn’t know how closely the woman might be related to Nion Vates. She didn’t want to know, because it would be a breach of etiquette to rebuke such a thing. Just because certain customs would never be tolerated on Scorpitale didn’t mean they were equally wrong on Hag’s Hill, and she had a feeling that if she called the child an abomination, Arudle would retort that she was a fine one to talk about making abominations.
    “I’m surprised he was even capable of fathering a child, after his injuries,” she said, “but that’s another matter. Does it show you visions?”
    “Oh yes,” Arudle said placidly. “One of the captains you called to your table will betray you.”
    What? Jash was too stunned to speak. Before she could collect herself, Arudle went on.
    “And we will not win a war against the mainland, even if we seize that ship. You don’t need my child to tell you this, Commander.” She got up, awkwardly. “You know it as well as I do.”
    Jash touched the