Minotaur (Leviathan Trilogy Novel)

CHAPTER 02

Jasper was conscious of the echoing of his steps as he walked to the Captain's Deck. He had never been there or even met the captain--in some cases, you could serve on a ship for extensive lengths of time without meeting the captain once. He just knew the Captain's last name: Sadana. Which gave him little impression as to how he treated his airmen.

The message lizard sat contentedly on his shoulder, occasionally whispering directions into his ear, rearranging his claws so they weren't digging directly through his shirt.

Jaspert took a quick glance at himself and sighed. He was still wearing his sweaty undershirt, not even the slightest bit formal for meeting the captain.

Unfortunately, he had arrived at the entrance to the Captain's Deck, feeling quite a bit more nervous than usual. At least jumping off of a gigantic flying beastie was fun.

He knocked stutteringly on the edge of the entryway.

"You may come in," a voice said, which nearly stopped Jaspert in his tracks as he entered.

The captain... was a barking woman!

Jaspert hung aside warily, looking the captain up and down. She was slim and considerably tall, but her piercing eyes seemed to latch onto his like the claws of a strafing hawk. Her dark hair fell in short curls, and she seemed to be of Indian ancestry.

"I'm blighted for sure," Jaspert muttered under his breath.

The captain seemed to have exceptionally sharp hearing, as she picked up on this.

"Not at all," she said, her voice smooth and with the slight flowing lilt of an Indian's. "If I had brought you here to remove you from service I would have had Chippak inform you to dress yourself." She extended her arm, to which the Message Lizard quickly scuttled, settling on her shoulder, which seemed to be its preferred perch.

Jaspert could feel his cheeks redden. "I apologize sir--I mean, ma'am," he said stiffly, naturally reverting to his training. When someone more important than you is speaking, you stand up straight and listen. When the Captain is speaking, you willingly fling yourself from the window-ledge if asked.

"But... how are you the captain? If you don't mind my asking," Jaspert said, his usual bravado replaced with a skittish submission.

Sadana laughed.

"I've proved myself to be worthy of this fine creature," she said, looking out the front observation window towards the wispy clouds, before continuing. "But I requested your presence for a matter concerning you."

Jaspert wiped his palms on his pants. "I can stop doing the jump from the rigging, if you'd like, I totally underst--" he began, but trailed off when he saw that she didn't seem particularly irked.

"I am not against your... aerial exploration. I find it rather amusing," the captain said, a quiet smirk on her face.

"Then, why--"

"Why have I called you to the Captain's deck, you ask?" The Captain walked over to a small chest of letters, withdrawing an envelop sealed in dark red wax, emblazoned with the insignia of the Allied Air Fleet. She studied it for a second, her sharp eyes scanning over the adress information. "It appears that you have caught the attention of a very specific fabricationist, with the aid of some choice letters from myself regarding your exploits."