Celta Thursday: Heart Thief Chapter 3, Version 3, Captain's Log:

I'm continuing with the Captain's Log from Heart Thief, the secondary story that I'd planned on telling before every chapter. That didn't work out. The story itself ended up being Heart and Sword in the collection: Hearts and Swords.



LOG: STARSHIP NUADA'S SWORD, CAPTAIN MATTHEW BOUDREAU, AWAKE INTERVAL, DAY 3, 1100 HOURS
As I fumble to understand a world strange to me, I must maintain a perfect facade of the all-knowing, all-powerful, completely capable Awakened Captain. Yet I get side-long looks from the generational crew, words of obedience but glances of wariness, suspicion, even hatred.
They judge me.
As I judge them, and the situation.
I must function as a leader. I cannot express any doubts, risk any sort of human error. The lives of those still sleeping in the suspended-animation tubes, human and animal, all the heritage of Earth, as well as the lives of all those now staffing these three starships are in my hands. Failure is not an option.
My orders are slow to be carried out. I've surprised muttering clumps of men who immediately disperse. Suspicious system breakdowns are common.
Mutiny may be imminent.
And I must stop it.
Somehow.

New Story: Pinky Becomes a Fam, in my New Newsletter! So much new.

Yes, I will be sending out my first newsletter that originally went out on Monday, once again tomorrow. I wrote a new story especially for it, Pinky Becomes a Fam, from Pinky's point of view. The newsletter also includes (up first), the story Zanth and the Treasure.

You can subscribe here: http://eepurl.com/bYc2dT

I hope you all enjoy my work!

Cut from Heart Legacy

Okay, the filibuster I've been watching all afternoon and evening has ended and now I know where to go to see the senate in action/inaction all the time. Since it's after midnight here, and Thursday, I will post a small cut portion from Heart Fire.

**I have decided to accept your offer of a home with you and living in your stables,** said a slightly pompous voice in her head.

The Fam she'd found! He'd called to her mentally for a month, since she'd first begun her excursions into Druida and had found him prowling from one alley to another. She'd given him furrabeast jerky she'd had with her, and they'd actually talked, discussed various topics. He'd helped her firm up a map of the city in her head.

**Thank you!** she enthused back to him.

**You promise good food and a warm room of my own.**

**Yes!**

**You may come and get me tonight.** A feline sniff.

**I will.**

**I will be in the alley near Woodruff Street. I will see you later.**

**Yes.**
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Deathless prose. LOL. I'm punchy.

Beltated Celta Thursday, Original Scene from Chapter 8, Heart Thief

Belated Celta Thursday, Original portion of Chapter 8, Heart Thief. "We have replaced the warped panels in the energy storage
area," the Ship said four days after Ruis had fallen ill.

Ruis smiled and leaned back in his desk chair. He'd had some
techbots alter it until it was a pleasure to sit in. He was
getting used to the Ship speaking in the royal We. When
asked, it stated it was an amalgam of departments integrated
to communicate with him.

"We request further orders."

This made Ruis' smile widen and a kernel of pride unfurl.
The first time the Ship had asked him for orders had
startled him. *He*, Ruis Elder, the despised, asked for
orders. People had always avoided him. He had no good
friends and mere acquaintances. Lord and Lady knew, Samba,
his only companion, never asked for orders.

"List priorities."

It did.

"Repair additional maintenance androids," he decided.

"Yes, Captain," the Ship replied.

Ruis whistled through his teeth. He was Captain. The
Captain's quarters, *his* quarters, contained a small room
the Ship had converted into a workroom at his request. On
the table before him was his latest project, an Earth motor
the Ship was teaching him to repair and renovate. That was
his passion.

He had plans of the Ship spread out, covering the huge desk.
With a drawstick -- a *pen* -- the Ship called it, he traced
a thin line of red that showed where the infamous CommonCold
viruses had bred. They were gone. But not forever.

Ship had insisted that Ruis take samples to preserve in case
they were needed for the future. Ruis tapped his finger on
the area of the map that showed the DNA Room, a huge room
filled with samples of all the life of Earth, information on
papyris and film and "bubbles." Encyclopedias of
instructions and diagrams.

He shivered in pure awe at the thought of all that work and
knowledge and potential, all at his fingertips, all
available to be crammed into his brain. So many options for
his learning to follow, and his life, that he struggled to
decide what to study.

But he did know what he wanted to do most. He wanted to see
D'SilverFir

Heart Thief, Book 2, Cut

That evening, before the SilverFir Family was to leave for the opera -- an annual box had already been purchased -- Ailim sat opposite her financial advisor, Donax Reed, in her den, drinking t'caff. He stretched his legs out. Ailim noticed he didn't have the elegant height or figure of Ruis Elder. Donax sipped from an antique china cup. Eyes half-closed, a small smile on his face, he said, "I want your cuz Cona."

A dangerous, but unreadable thought pattern emanated from him. Ailim lifted her own cup to give herself a little time and scalded her tongue. "In marriage?"

He inclined his head.


"I'm sure we can come to an agreement," Ailim said.

"She doesn't want me."

"She doesn't know you. Give her time." Ailim sipped.

"With a few reasonable risks and aggressive action, we can clear the D'SilverFir debt in this generation. Or," he shrugged, "we can plod along."

Blackmail. Her blood heated and her fingers tightened around the cup handle. The Family had to show more than plodding before the six month deadline to keep their Residence and estate. But two could play this game.

Inhaling deeply to tamp down her outrage, she set her cup down and leaned forward a little in her chair. "It will take time to develop a relationship between you and Cona. Court her. We can set a date for the formal announcement in six and a half months -- perhaps Spring Equinox."

He narrowed his eyes. "You think so?"

She kept her gaze locked with his. "You must decide your priorities, and what actions you will take to gain your goals. But," she smiled with teeth, "my cuz will not appreciate a man who lost her Residence. She is very proud." And vain. And selfish.And troublesome. Ailim smiled faintly. "I think you will do well together."

He stared at her and laughed, a hand flew up in a fencer's acknowledgment of a hit. "You look soft."

She curled her fingers over the chair arm. "I am Supreme Judge of Druida."

He stood and put the cup onto the saucer without the hint of a clink. "I want your cuz. Will you promise her to me?"

"No, not now."

His teeth flashed. "She's spoiled. I may need to be a little mean." He sounded as if he relished the task.

Her face froze. "No force or coercion at all, or your Family will be plunged into another blood feud."

He raised his eyebrows. The Reeds had more men and younger sons to fight than the D'SilverFirs. "No force or coercion. But she's my price, don't deny her to me."

"You have my agreement to wed her."

"And perhaps a D'SilverFir estate?" he asked

"Land for a younger son?"

"A cultivated, profitable portion," he pressed.

"We shall discuss that. If you do well and Cona refuses the marriage, then there will still be payment for you from D'SilverFir, a larger, more prestigious estate."

A corner of his mouth lifted. "Ah. I want the woman, though. But if my strategy does not work, perhaps a mid-sized estate would be acceptable." He glanced at the puppy sleeping beside her chair. "And a litter of pups."

"I'll promise a litter."

He bowed and left the den quietly.

Ailim knew one thing for certain, she couldn't trust him. She would have to be very cautious and very clever, or, at the end of six months, she'd lose the Residence and estate.
One telepathic word shot from his mind as he exited. Seduction.