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a knot at the most, which gave me the "option" of trying to draw Maris in
towards the coast, where I might just get "lucky" and meet up with an Imperial
warship capable of dealing with the North Star! Darlanis having a couple of
schooners similar to the North Star. Light three masters of a design I had
once "considered" for mine. Hopefully one of them might be at sea instead of
sitting in port!
"I plan to let her have the `wind gage' this time," I smiled. I
suspected that if I "baited" a trap Maris might be just willing to "sail into
it" for me if I did it just right too!
"Dangerous," Janice warned, her dark eyes glowing into mine.
"If I `fall', do the best you can to `cripple' her," I said. Janice
nodded, her expression leaving no doubt as to her feelings about the matter.
"Including boarding if nothing else `works'."
"It has been a pleasure to serve with you," she smiled.
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Chapter Sixteen
"I wonder what `she's' thinking right now," Janice mused, her dark eyes
glowing into mine as she stood at my side. The North Star now swinging back
about to face us perhaps three eights of a mile distant. I had ordered the now
blood-stained deck cleared of bodies, the wounded taken below for treatment by
the ship's physician. There would soon be more for her atten- tion. I might be
one of them. Perhaps to watch my own arm or leg being removed after it had
been smashed by a catapult shot!
"Probably just as `scared' as we are as we stand here," I smiled back as
Janice nodded in reply. I knew that the Huntress couldn't "outrun" the North
Star, although their advantage in speed would not be very great. That "option"
was denied me now. Janice suddenly knelt and handed me her sword. I kissed the
hilt and handed it back to her. Such is "meaningful" to my own caste.
*****************************************************************
"She's a `crafty bitch', that Imperial Warlady," the first officer mused
to his beautiful young golden haired Queen. Maris nodding, while wondering
what "trick" I might pull on her this time! She was now also concerned as to
the possible damage that her ship might suffer this far from Dularn, as well
as the loss of life that could render it almost impossible for her to contin-
ue on without first returning to Dularn. And to return to Dularn with the
knowledge that she had not "beaten" the Imperial Warlady was something she
didn't like to think about for long. Certainly not when there might well be
"those" who would doubtlessly call into question her painful decision to
declare war upon the Empire of California! Especially not when it was public
knowledge that Darlanis herself was actually opposed to the war between them!
"I think we all underestimated her," Maris smiled back.
*****************************************************************
"Helm to starboard," I snapped, studying the wind. Calcu- lating the
"vector of forces" both for the Huntress and for the North Star. There was a
point to which the enemy craft could not sail even with its "handy" fore and
aft rig. Whether or not the Huntress could lie any "closer" to the wind than
the North Star was doubtful considering what I knew about the design of Maris'
own ship, the "North" class being a new design with one main keel and two
smaller ones on either side that came into play when the ship was heeled into
the wind. The Huntress' movement forcing Maris to either chase me around in a
great circle or attempt to tack to a position where I would be. In any case I
planned to "tease" Maris until she did something "foolish" that I could take
"advantage" of. She was a highly "competent" captain, but young and
inexperienced. I had to admire the woman however, despite my own feelings
about her. She was cautious, but able to exploit any "chance" she got to carry
the battle to me. Sort of a female version of my own Jon, I thought to myself,
recalling that he and Maris had once been lovers. The thought of Jon with her,
of the two of them being together, of making love, irritating me consid-
erably just then, although just "why" I really couldn't say then!
"She's `cautious'," Janice said with a smile, having spoken to the first
officer. Another man now at the helm. The thought occurring that Janice looked
a lot like me. That probably con- fused the "enemy" a bit. We were dressed
pretty much the same. Black silken flowing skirts to below the knee, leather
trappings. Quite practical attire for fighting women aboard a sailing ship. A
woman who "exposes" too much of herself "distracts" the sailor.
"She's making her move," I said, the North Star now sailing close hauled
to a point somewhat ahead of us. I had suspected that Maris would do something
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