I SAW THREE SHIPS COME SAILING IN

Christmas is coming early for the girls, that is if Dalla can survive her ruping ride. -LS

...

"We're dead," Dalla announces when Princess banks sharply right and tips them. "Steela, we're dead. The ruping's mutinying."

Steela ignores her, mostly. "Princess, are you mutinying or does the ship's captain need to chill out?" Princess snorts. "That's ruping for 'of course I'm not mutinying, Dalla.'"

"So you speak ruping?" Dalla wraps her arms even tighter around Steela's waist and she's not letting go for love or money. "Some people say that Beast Riders can communicate telepathically with their animals, but I thought you'd stop short of - AAH!"

Steela steers Princess into a nosedive, grinning wickedly.

"See? It's completely safe."

Dalla curses when they finally level out.

"When this is over, we're going up north," she swears. "You and I are going out sailing, and I am going to shove you overboard."

"I can swim. Come on! There's nothing quite like flying on a ruping."

No, there isn't. If Princess didn't hate her guts, then Dalla would be ecstatic. Being on the back of a ruping affords the same kind of freedom as sailing on a day with a good wind, like nothing can touch you. But there's also something else about it, something exhilarating.

She gives up. "Alright, I admit it. Her hatred of me aside, this is amazing."

"I knew we were going to make a beast rider out of you somehow."

And I'll make a sailor out of you when this is over. Dalla tosses her head to get her hair out of her face. With the Highlands rising up before them, Princess gains altitude and soars over one of the peaks, revealing a spectacular view of the river and the valley it carved millions of years ago.

"How far is it back to camp?" Dalla asks, nearly shouting over the wind.

"Not far by air. We should be back soon." Her comlink buzzes. "Will you -?"

Dalla already has ahold of the comlink. She checks the caller's ID before answering. "Lux, it's Dalla. What is it?"

"Hello, Dalla. Did you two drop the boys off at the safehouse yet?"

"Aye, we're on the way back now. Is something going on?"

"Oh yes. One of the militia's scouts saw something I think you need to take a look at. It's about five kliks north of the camp, following the river."

"Five kliks? We're on our way. What is it?"

"You'll see. You can't miss it," Lux says and cuts off the transmission.

Steela glances over her shoulder. "What was that all about?"

"Scout saw something five kliks north of the camp. Lux didn't say what it was, only that we can't miss it. How soon can we get there?"

"On Princess? Not long." She pats the ruping's neck. "Come on, Prin. We're taking a detour."

It only takes them three kliks to see what Lux is talking about. Countless, massive vessels choke the river, moving steadily downstream with their white sails billowed out like birds' wings.

Each vessel is topped with a banner fluttering in the wind. Dalla doesn't need to see them to know that they're blue, with the black ship sailing across the field.

Dalla starts cheering only a split second before Steela does. Even Princess seems to get a second wind of energy.

The northern fleet has arrived.

…

"Come on girl! Let's go see our new friends." Steela urges Princess and then let's out a whoop of victory. "Oh my gods, they're here! They're here! They made it!"

"They must have already been on the move before the execution," Dalla grins and leans over Steela's shoulder to see better. "Circle 'round the port side when we get closer. Let's see who all showed up."

"Aye, captain!"

Princess hurdles them toward the incoming fleet and Steela urges her down for their turn. She circles around starboard instead of port, but Dalla doesn't care. She's beaming so hard her face hurts seeing the fleet and the men and women on deck.

"Do you recognize any of them?" Steela asks.

"I recognize all of them!" Dalla feels like a little kid opening her salt and light festival presents. "Over there, with the pink banners. That's the Harkons!"

She catches a glimpse of red hair on the deck of one of the Harkons' ships. "That's Ephraim Harkon by the mast and his sister Elinor's at the stern."

"Your friends?"

"I knew they'd come." There was never any question about it. "Their father Glover must be on another vessel, since both the twins are here."

Below, Elinor's head snaps up to follow the ruping and she shouts a greeting. She must see Steela and Dalla, but can she make out their faces from the distance? Dalla waves to her just in case.

Elinor brightens and she waves back before yelling over her shoulder to Ephraim. But before her twin can do or say anything, Princess bears past their vessel.

"Are those Flint banners?" Steela asks, getting a look at another ship.

"Aye. Werda's going to be in seventh heaven." Clearly the shadow girl knows Flint banners if she recognized Dalla's, and she'd love a chance to speak with anyone close to Grandmother Flint. Dalla doubts the matriarch herself is with the fleet, but her sons and daughters are. Their ships stretch from one bank to the other, a curtain of support. There are so many family members Dalla isn't quite sure which is which, but she does catch a glimpse of her mother's eldest brother, Wyman. The entire clan buzzes on the deck anyway, too preoccupied to notice the ruping or its riders.

Steela whistles. "There are so many of them."

"Northern or southern, Flints are Flints," Dalla laughs.

"Werda could have told me that. Sweet drexls, where are we going to put all of them?"

"Y'know, I'm honestly not sure…"

"They can stay on the ship," Steela decides and then snickers. "Look over there. I recognize those banners."

"That's Lord Bralykburn all right." She smirks. "And it looks like he brought all his troops." Their roast must have gotten to him better than they thought.

"Should we buzz their ship?"

Do they want to push their luck? "I'm very tempted, but I'm not sure we should do it so publicly. Do you want to circle him?"

"Let him see it's us? That sounds great." She guides Princess into another dive and brings them into a clearly visible range. They circle over Hugo's ship, and look down at him.

Hugo follows them with his gaze and they don't need to be any closer to know he's sweating.

"We really got him good. I've never seen him like this before," Dalla whispers.

"Shh, don't ruin it. Look scarier," Steela urges.

They probably look like reaving Beast Riders of old, and it shows on Hugo's face. Dalla almost feels sorry for him. Almost. "Salt gods, I wish we had a holocam."

Steela shoots Hugo one last terrifying look and then takes them away. "And that's Southern Whore one, House Bralykburn zero!" she cackles.

"Your first victory as a Lady of a Great House. It's a nice one, too. You straight-up roasted a Lord and he's still scared of you."

"And I'm looking forward to seeing more of his terror." She changes the subject. "Okay, a few of these smaller vessels have seashell banners. Who's that?"

"The Kretashes. They're vassals to House Harkon but I'm not surprised they're flying their own banners. My father says Rash's mother was a Kretash, and they've been focused on proving their loyalty ever since."

"I would too if I were them." She takes in the sight of the fleet. "Holy drexls, this is huge. And we haven't even gotten to the best part yet."

"But we're getting close." Their circle is almost complete, and they're coming ever-closer to the ships bearing Blackwell banners.

"Recognize any of them?"

"Oh, do I! See the smaller one, up at the head of the fleet? She's my ship, Maiden's Heel."

Steela gapes. "That ship is yours?"

"I barely recognize her." Dalla's never seen Maiden's Heel as anything but a fishing vessel, but now she's armed to the teeth and her deck is packed with fighting men instead of nets and crates. "But aye, she's my ship."

"I need to move north if it means I get a ship," Steela mumbles. "Moving on. The one to her ri - starboard, whose is she?"

"That's the Polaris, my uncle's ship. I think I see him at the rail!"

Their circle brings them closer and Dalla gets a better look. Yes, that is Uncle Jamos! He's watching them and Princess and waving politely until he finally recognizes the second rider. And then he cheers and whoops and cups his hands around his mouth to yell "Chirn Bait!"

Dalla cautiously unwraps one hand from Steela's waist to wave back. "You came!"

The wind rips her words away and Jamos isn't very intent on hearing them anyway. Instead he races to the bow and shouts to the ship at the head of the fleet: "Marlon! Marlon, look!"

"The first ship is the Queen Lana, my father's flagship," Dalla explains before Steela can ask.

"She's huge! Do you want to put Princess down on her?"

Dalla shakes her head. "Her weight will break the mast. But can we go near the bow, to see my father?"

"We'll give them an escort until they drop anchor. Come on, girl. Let's go see the Lord of the North!"

When they get close enough to see Marlon, he's distracted yelling something that sounds like "what?" to his brother over the waves. Finally Jamos gives up and just points, and Marlon follows the direction.

Her father sees them and his face lights up like a thousand suns. She's not sure whether he's going to yell a greeting or cry.

Salt gods, she's not sure whether she's going to. He's the best thing she's seen in weeks.

Dalla manages a small wave. "Hi, Father."

Marlon waves in kind, equally choked with emotion, and doesn't say a thing.

Princess streaks past Marlon's ship, leaving the fleet behind. Dalla watches her father until he's turned into nothing more than a dot on deck.

"They'll be at base soon," Steela says, watching her watch the fleet. "We're going to give them a proper welcome when they do."

…

Dendup is beaming when the fleet anchors in the river. "Northerners involving themselves in a southern war. I can't say I saw that coming before I knew you were here." He winks at Dalla.

"I can't say I did either," she admits.

"Or any of us did," Lux says. "Rash almost did us a favor by bothering the north. There's no other way the navy would have involved themselves to take back Onderon unless I called in the banner oath."

"We would have come. We're going to need everyone we can get." For the first time in her life, Dalla thanks the salt gods that her mother's side of the family is so huge.

"Alright, I see sailors getting into rowboats," Saw says, changing the subject. "Which ones do we need to talk to?"

"I'm just waiting for my father and uncle. The others will all be behind them anyway; it would be extremely rude for them to talk to us before their Liege Lord does."

"There is bad blood between some of the northern houses. They may jump at the chance for a slight." Dendup muses.

Steela and Dalla share a knowing look. "Not to Dalla's face, they won't."

Dendup gives them a look and it's clear he knows something happened, just not what. And maybe he doesn't want to know either. "Still, keep a lookout just in case they land before him. I'd rather not have -"

"Dalla!"

Dalla's head snaps in the direction of the booming voice, and there he is.

Marlon Blackwell jumps out of his rowboat into waist-deep water and races up the riverbank past his men, past the other lords, past Jamos, past the militiamen and rebels, and even past King Dendup with no more concern than if they're shrubbery. His only concern is Dalla.

She only gets a few steps toward him before Marlon reaches her and scoops her into an embrace like she's a little girl again.

"Thank the gods," he gasps. "When that slime grabbed you on the steps of the palace, I thought I'd lost you. After your mother…" He chokes and squeezes Dalla tighter. "I couldn't...I don't know what I would have done. Thank the gods."

She hugs him back and it takes all she has not to cry. "You're here, Father!"

"After what I saw I can't be anywhere else." He sets her back on her feet and suddenly realizes there's only one of his children present. "Where's your brother?"

"He's fine; he and Kason are at a safehouse. What about Cade?"

"He's at the Hold with Aunt Shara." Marlon breathes a sigh of relief. "I'm so glad you're okay."

There's silence, and then King Dendup speaks: "So this must be the elusive Lord Marlon Blackwell."

It takes Marlon a second to register that yes, that is the king speaking and yes, his voice is coming from behind him.

"Your grace," he bows his head. "My apologies; I didn't realize you were there. Please pardon my rudeness, I was…"

"You're a father first, Lord Blackwell." Dendup's expression holds no offense at all. "There's nothing to pardon."

"Your grace is merciful," Marlon keeps his head ducked in deference a moment longer. "Thank you. I've never been prouder to serve my king."

"We need more men like you," Dendup asserts. "Do I have your loyalty?"

"On my honor," he stands still and then says: "Is this where we do the kneeling bit?"

Dendup shakes his head. "Let's not and say we did."

Dalla couldn't be more grateful to the king for sparing her family's pride, and neither can Marlon. The Lord of the North looks again to his daughter, then back to Dendup.

"The navy is yours," he says. "My life is yours. And all my bannermen will swear the same behind me."

"I accept your declaration," Dendup replies formally. "And I promise the north will be duly rewarded for your support upon our victory."

He extends a hand, and Marlon shakes it.

Dalla speaks up when they step back. "Father, this is Lux Bonteri."

"Lord Blackwell," Lux holds out his hand. "It's good to meet you."

"You remind me very much of your father, young man," Marlon says. "The pleasure is all mine. Thank you for helping Dalla."

"Thank you for keeping my family's assets out of Count Dooku's hands. I look forward to continuing our families' friendship," Lux replies.

"And next to him are the rebellion's leaders, Lord Saw and Lady Steela of the House Gerrera." Dalla crosses her fingers behind her back that Marlon will just go with it.

He glances over to her but then goes with it. "House Gerrera. I can't say I've heard of your house before, but you two seem brave, honorable people. I'm honored to work with you."

"Thank you, Lord Blackwell," Steela says. "We're a new house, and we're so thankful for all your assistance."

Dalla's eyes go wide in the universal gesture for No Steela, don't tell him you're a new house!

She wipes the expression from her face when Marlon looks back at her. He must sense her hand in all this. "A new house?"

Dalla shrugs, trying to play it off as best she can. "I did a thing," she whispers.

Marlon doesn't bite. "What thing?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Hugo Bralykburn approaching with the other lords and Jamos. "Let's not talk about the thing."

He follows her gaze to Hugo. "We'll discuss this later," he says and folds his arms behind his back when the other men get closer. "My king, may I introduce my bannermen Lord Glover of House Harkon, Lord Hugo of House Bralykburn, Lord Wyman of House Flint, and -."

"Your grace," Jamos pushes past the other lords and kneels at Dendup's feet. "Your grace, my son. Thank you for looking out for him in the palace. He's impulsive; I feared the worst but you were there looking out for him, protecting him, and I don't know how to thank you."

"...And my brother, Captain Jamos Blackwell."

"You're Kason's father?" Dendup asks, gesturing for Jamos to rise.

"Yes your Grace," Jamos gets to his feet.

"He's a good boy, even if he made a poor decision," Dendup smiles a little. "It was my pleasure to look out for him. I was so very lonely, and he brought me some company in return for my looking out for him. And of course I can't take all the credit; General Tandin kept his eyes open for us."

"I'm still forever in your debt." Jamos says humbly and bows his head once more before putting his hat back on and turning to Dalla with his little boy grin. "Chirn Bait!" He exclaims and grabs her in a hug. "Good to have you back."

"I missed you too, Uncle Jamos."

Marlon's straightened up at Tandin's name. "The general, where is he?"

"He's with the militia," Steela says. "He'll be back soon, I'm sure."

"Until he does,we have other business to settle." Lord Harkon drops to his knee and Bralykburn and Flint follow his lead at warp speed, followed by their vassals. "Sire, it's our honor to follow our liege to serve you. All we have is at your disposal."

A crowd of rebels, militiamen, and sailors is starting to gather, staring at the kneeling northerners. There are other banners approaching, foreign ones escorted by militiamen. It must be the Beast Riders, responding to their new lord and lady's call.

"All hail Ramsis of the House Dendup," Marlon bellows to everyone who can hear him. "The first of his name, rightful king of Onderon in Iziz and in the north!"

Then he drops to a knee.

For a second Dalla doesn't move. She's too shocked to see her father, the unsinkable Lord of the North, kneeling.

And then she goes to her knee by his side.

Steela, Saw, Lux, all the rebels and sailors and militiamen, they all kneel for the king.

…

Kason wandered around the big old house aimlessly. For being rescued it sure felt like he was still a prisoner. The old guy, Kason still wasn't sure what he was supposed to call him, Lord Kira? Mr. Kira? Uncle Brem? Had stationed himself in a chair in front of the exit. The girls said something about him losing someone once who he was supposed to protect. The old guy wasn't about to make that mistake again.

Thias had found an old flight simulator and seemed perfectly happy soaring around in holo projected star fighters and freighters, but Kason couldn't sit still. So he tried every door and searched every room. Mostly he just found dust. The old guy obviously didn't spend much time indoors.

Kason wished he could go out. Those rupings looked really cool! He'd love the chance to fly around on one. He had his mom's beast rider genes. Surely, it wouldn't hate him like it had Dalla. The dalgos had been great! He remembered the holo he'd once seen of his mother's trick riding days. She'd been amazing, even more than she was with the Brylks back home.

He sighed, closed one door, and opened another. This was… a baby's room. It was all set up. There was a beautifully carved cradle, a dresser and a changing table. He smiled when he remembered that his own baby sister had just recently started climbing out of her crib. Then he frowned. Lana had probably learned all kinds of other adorable tricks while he was gone.

A tear trickled down Kason's cheek and he swiped it away angrily. He missed his family, his brothers, and sister, and his mom and dad and old Portia. The norcog wouldn't last much longer but they'd been saying that for months. Surely she'd still be there to greet him when he got home. She'd always been there, for as long as he could remember.

It had been so stupid of him to run down south. What did he think he would be able to accomplish? He'd just been so angry that the man who had hurt his mother was now trying to hurt his cousin. He brushed away a few more tears and swallowed a sob. Kason was 12, too old to be bursting into tears at the slightest thing.

He focused again on his surroundings. There was a portable holo projector unit lying on the top of the dresser next to a silver handled brush and rattle. He picked it up and before he thought better of it, activated the image.

It was her. The girl from the painting in the palace. She was smiling, no, laughing. There was no sound but she twirled around as if music was playing and then dropped into a deep curtsy and stood again grinning. She was beautiful. But why was she here and why was she in the palace? What was the connection? Kason almost didn't care. He just wanted to keep gazing at her.

And then two things happened at once. The craft that Thias was flying in the simulator crashed and burned and somewhere in the house a comlink chimed. Someone was rushing down the hallway toward his hiding place.

Quickly Kason shut off the holo image and stuffed the projector in his pocket, just as the door to the room was shoved open the rest of the way.

"What are you doing in here?" Lord Kira demanded. He seemed to be barely containing an angry outburst and then waved the question away. "Doesn't matter. Your father just commed. They're coming up the river. He and your uncle and half the north will be here soon."

…

Thank you everyone for reading and reviewing, and don't forget to check out DK's Some Say I Got Devil if you want to see more of the Blackwells.