The Sail Weaver by Muffy Morrigan Page B

little havoc. Muher, a man in his early forties, had risen quickly up through the Corps to become General and second-in-command of the Corps. Though a few years older than Tristan, Muher often sought him out at functions, they weren’t close enough to be friends, but Tristan enjoyed his company. “Are you okay, sir? We heard about the Weaving. I saw the sails as they were being rolled into their containers. They were perfect!” He grinned enthusiastically.
    “I remember them, they were lovely,” Tristan said cautiously. “I’m okay, sails that large take a lot.”
    “I bet! I heard the Victory sails with four full Aether le vel Air Weavers! I wish I could be there to see her sail.”
    “I suspect everyone who can is going to find a way to get out to Terra Secundus to see her launch.”
    Muher frowned. “Yes, I suspect the same thing. The Corps intends to be there in force, as well as Weaver security. Since the t hree attempts have been made, we are taking no chances.”
    “Three ?” Tristan asked, feeling a little stupid.
    “Yes, the violation of the Sanctuary Lokey Fenfyr informed us of, the one on Alden, and then your shuttlecar deciding it wanted to catch fire.” He shook his head. “It’s too coincidental, so it has to be intentional. Someone nearly killed Alden and less than twenty minutes after the Guild informed the Navy you were to be the warrior for Victory your vehicle blows? Nope, no way is that chance.”
    “You think it’s the Navy?”
    “I don’t have a clue who it is. Some splinter group claimed responsibility for Alden, I’m not sure if they are behind it, if they did it on someone else’s request or just want their name in the news.” Muher slammed his cup down on the table. “Sorry, sir.”
    “It’s okay. I expect I’ll get a full briefing later, I like to hear what people are saying, though.” He smiled. “What are they saying?”
    “Here or out there?”
    “Both?”
    Muher took another drink of coffee and sighed, looking at Tristan over the rim of his cup. “Here, the dragons and the Corps think it’s the Navy up to something, but what that is they don’t know. In the Corps, once we found out about the Victory, they think the Navy has gotten their hands on a Rogue Weaver who is willing to try to fly the ship for them to get their flagship completely out of the hands of the Weavers.” He paused. “Out on the streets, people think the Navy has come up with the answer to everything. They don’t know what it is, but they think it will stop the Vermin incursions and drive them back to where they’re from once and for all. An awful lot of them don’t care how it’s accomplished—and that’s a problem. Because the dragons think the Navy is withholding Vermin technology and the majority of the humans just want the war over, and if this would help them win…”
    “Not good.”
    The other man frowned. “Not good is an understatement, as you well know. If they are using that filth on a Navy vessel, the dragons will put an end to humanity!”
    “At least the Navy,” Tristan said with a smile.
    “No, sir, you don’t understand. I’ve heard rumors from my people who are out in the cities. The general population is terrified of the Vermin since the attack on Terra Undecimus , people want the Vermin stopped. They don’t care how. There are several groups openly agitating against the Weavers, saying the Navy needs to be in control. There are civilians who don’t care how the end of the war is achieved, they just want it over. And then there are the few whack-jobs who think we should try to make peace with the Vermin.”
    “Didn’t the only attempt at that end up with the humans being eaten alive?” Tristan asked, digesting the information he’d just been given.
    “It did, they were dressed out like a butchered steer, the films were sent back to the Worlds Council.”
    “They were more hopeful in those days?”
    “After a hundred and fifty years of world war?”