“We need to get these collars off them,” Gweneth said.
Voices shouted.“Ellard!”
Shiloh?Ellard gave a feline shriek, and running footsteps headed in their direction.
Ellard stared at his younger brother as he raced toward them, expression fierce, blaster at the ready.Ransom, ran behind him, equally ferocious.
“Everyone all right?”Shiloh demanded.“Who is that?”He kept advancing and tripped without warning, catching himself on his hands before he struck the floor.“What the phrull?”
“I think you found Niran,” Gweneth said.“The ship has been moving around.Sheera said he hit his head.How can we check on him if we can’t see him?”
“Me,” Leeam said and attempted to move toward Shiloh.He groaned, the half a step he took taking more power than he had.He slumped.
“Let me help.”Gweneth slipped her hand around his waist and supported most of his weight.
“Stop,” Sheera said.“Niran is right in front of you.”
Gweneth released Leeam, and he dropped to his knees, his trembling hands reaching for his invisible uncle.“He’s alive,” he said hoarsely.“I’ll look after him.”
“Good,” Shiloh said.“Who is that?”
“That’s Malasses, a wealthy trader from Kiraxes,” Ransom said with distaste.“Where is the control for the collar?He must have it on him somewhere.”
Ellard shifted and fingered his side where Malasses had got him with his horns.“He swallowed it.Need to secure the bridge.”
“Ry has weapons locked on them.”Shiloh felt the deck around him and carefully climbed to his feet.“They’re not going anywhere.”
“We need that control,” Ransom said.“It’s impossible to remove the collars without it.”
Ellard grimaced.“Who is going to retrieve it?”
“Not me,” Gweneth said.“I blasted him.”
“You?”Shiloh glanced at Ellard and noticed the absence of his Stores for the first time.“Where is your arm?”
“Long story,” Ellard said.“The bridge.I don’t trust those Scothage reivers.The captain is crafty.”
Ransom pulled out a knife.“I’ll retrieve the control and guard the Incorporeals.The three of you should be able to secure the bridge.”
“Which way?”Shiloh demanded.
Ellard scooped up his blaster.“This way.”
He set a brisk pace down the corridor, aware of his brother and Gweneth trailing him.He wanted to tell her to stay with Ransom because it would be safer if the Scothage males attempted to resist.Yet, she had saved them from Malasses and kept her wits in a difficult situation.Gweneth had earned her place at his side, even if the feline part of him hated the idea of her in danger.
Ellard burst onto the bridge.The captain sat at the ship controls, his features grim, his attention on theIndy, visible through the viewport.The rest of his crew stood behind him.
“I’ll check them for weapons,” Shiloh said and rapidly conducted a search.He retrieved four blasters, two short swords, and six knives.“Here.Com Ry.”
Gweneth accepted Shiloh’s com unit and contacted theIndy.“Ry, it’s Gweneth.We have control of the ship.”
“Is Niran with you?”
With his feline hearing, Ellard could hear the conversation.
“Yes.”
“Tell the captain to set course for Narenda,” Ry said.“Lynx will disengage Ransom’s ship and fly it back to Narenda.Tell Shiloh and Ransom to stay on board.”
