“Hiya, Cap’n,” a tiny voice says from above. Roslyn sways down from a rope
until her bare feet hit the ground. The wee lass is more stable swinging through
the air than she is on flat ground.
I ruffle the girl’s hair as I take in the faces of all my crew, promising myself
that there will be time to catch up with everyone later. But there are a few things that must be settled first.
“Niridia,” I say. No matter where I am on the ship, my first mate always manages to hear me. I swear I could whisper to her from down below and she’d
hear me from the crow’s nest. It’s a fantastic ability of her own.
“Aye, Captain?” she asks, materializing in front of me.
“How many dead in the skirmish?”
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. When there is fighting to be done, good men
and women will be lost. And there’s not one on this ship who isn’t willing to die for you.”
“How many?” I repeat.
“Two.”
“Who?”
“Zimah and Mim.”
I close my eyes and picture their faces in my mind. Zimah was one of the three who volunteered to come with me on the journey to get myself kidnapped
by Draxen. She was a great tracker and a fine conversationalist. She had all kinds of stories to share about the places she’d been. I loved listening to her.
Mim had a good pair of hands on her. Always willing to do what I asked, glad
no matter what it was. A mighty fine pirate. I shall miss them both dearly. I hate to think it was because I called for help that the two of them died. I realize every man and woman knows what they sign up for when they join the crew, but still. I
hate the constant losses that come with pirating.
“We will light candles for them tonight,” I say.
“Already sent the order to Roslyn.”
“Good.” As captain, I have to push aside losses and focus on what’s best for
the crew. I hate that part, too. “We’ll need a new navigator. Someone who can
track and knows the lands and waters well.”
Niridia nods.
A crazy thought comes to me. “I know just the man.”
“Man?” Niridia asks. “Didn’t you swear after Ralin that you’d never take on
another man for the crew so long as we already had one?”
“Oh, don’t remind me about Ralin. Couldn’t keep his hands off the crew, that one. Despicable creature.”
“He was a bit more bearable once you cut them off.”
“Yes, shame he decided to leave our employ after that. Can’t imagine what that was about.”
Niridia smiles. “Some men don’t have the stomach for being pirates.”
“This one, if he’s willing, should be well cut out for the job. He’s more interested in his drink than in the girls. And he’s so slow, he wouldn’t be able to catch any of the women.”
“Sounds like a fine specimen. How could we turn down such an able-bodied
man?”
I laugh. “I missed you, Niridia.”
“Missed you, too, Captain.”
“I need to go belowdecks, but I should be back shortly. Get us going, will you? I want to get to the checkpoint as quickly as possible.”
“Of course.”
It doesn’t seem right that the first place I should go once boarding my own ship, the Ava-lee, is the brig. I’ve spent so much time in cages, cells, and other forms of entrapment over the last month. It’s hardly the sight I want to be met
with now.
But there is lots to do, and why waste time?
Besides, Draxen’s in my brig, and I want to gloat.
I tread belowdecks. The sound of my feet pounding on the wooden steps is much sweeter than when Riden was dragging me belowdecks on the Night Farer. Freedom is a sound unlike any other. And my ship is so much prettier. I doubt I could find its likeness anywhere.
The cells are all full. I like to keep the prisoners as separated as possible. Less chance of escaping that way. As it is, some have to share, two men to a cell. Not Draxen, though. He’s the one to be especially wary of. He’s all the way down on
the end by himself.
I probably kept more of Draxen’s crew than I should have. There will be plenty of opportunities for getting rid of them. Ideally, before Trianne runs out of food to make in the kitchen. Men are more expensive to feed.
Wallov and Deros stand to attention once I enter the brig. Draxen looks pointedly away from me.
“Why so sullen, Draxen?” I ask. “You got the best cell.”