Earth Afire (The First Formic War 2)

"And what of the men who hold those weapons?" asked Arjuna. "Does the woman speak for them? Would they like not five thousand credits and a job that pays better than the ones they have?"

The men glanced at each other, curious how the others would respond. After a moment, when no one responded, Arjuna said, "Very well. Then I will ask you to return my money stick."

Magashi pushed it back to him. He caught it, slid it in his pocket, and bowed. "May your shelves never empty and your bellies never hunger." He pushed off the floor and launched back toward the airlock.

"Wait!" The word was out of Rena's mouth before she could stop herself.

Arjuna caught a handhold at the airlock and turned back. Rena flew to him and landed beside him. "You say men, but will you take women? Free-miner women?"

"I would take one free-miner woman over four corporate men. Free-miners are skilled and hard laborers. Are you from a clan?"

"Not a clan. A single ship. El Cavador. Or rather, that was our ship. It was destroyed in the Kuiper Belt by those you call the Pembunuh."

"Then you have my condolences. But if your ship was destroyed, how is it that you are alive?"

"It's a long story. But there are many of us here, and we are wearing out our welcome. If you can promise us protection from your crew and transportation to a depot, I can give you skilled laborers." She had no idea why she trusted this man, but she did.

Arjuna smiled. "You need not worry about my crew, Lady of El Cavador. What I have spoken is true. We are a family of crows, not vultures."

Family. The word reassured her. But only for a moment. Who was this man? Was she ready to put the women and children in his hands? He could be a murderer, for all she knew.

No, there was kindness in those moon eyes.

"As for taking you to a depot," he said, "I give you my word on that as well. Once we salvage, we will make for a depot to trade. Should we part ways there, you are doing me a favor as well. I wouldn't have to fly you all the way back here. Where are you headed?"

"I don't know," she said. "But wherever home is, it's not here."

"What is your name, Lady of El Cavador?"

"Rena Delgado."

"And do you speak for your crew?"

"I speak for no one but myself, but I believe my crew will come if I ask them to."

"Then you are not a woman to be trifled with if you have such sway and influence." He gave her a measuring look. "Tell me how to safely remove an oxygen processor."

He was testing her. But the question was simple enough. There were four steps and three precautions to be mindful of. She recited them all, throwing in a few secrets that Segundo had taught that she doubted Arjuna knew about.

The crow tried to hide that he was impressed. After a moment, as if considering her further, he said, "If you have twenty men and women as sharp as you, I will take them."

"We have more than twenty people," said Rena. "And you will not get a single one of us unless you agree to take us all."

"How many?"

"There are fifty-six of us."

Arjuna scoffed. "My shuttle isn't that big, Rena of El Cavador."

"Then you can make two shuttle trips."

"And are all these people skilled laborers, or can I expect children and invalids among them?"

"No invalids. But thirty-seven of them are children, yes. Some of them infants."

He scoffed again. "And what am I to do with thirty-seven more children on my ship? I have enough little mouths to feed already."

She was glad to hear that he had children on board. That was further evidence of family. Pirates didn't carry children.