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“Our passage to the islands awaits,” I told the prisoner, gathering my possessions “We’d best avoid the ire of our captain”
“So it’s true then,” Aruan said “You go to the Islands to fight for the lady?” I foundthe tone in his voice, it sounded uncomfortably like awe
“It’s true” He clasped hands briefly with Aruan and nodded at the captain of his guard before turning to me “My Lord Shall we?”
“You may be one of the first in line to lick your Eer into doe roped to the main mast”
He had shown us to our quarters, a curtained off section of hold near the prow of the ship The hold stank of brine, bilge water and the intere of fruit, dried fish and the myriad spices for which the E
“I am Lord Verniers Alishe Someren, Imperial Chronicler, First of the Learned and honoured servant of the E my words somewhat “I am emissary to the Ship Lords and official escort to the Imperial prisoner You will treat me with respect, pirate, or I’ll have twenty Guards you in front of your crew”
The captain leaned closer, incredibly his breath smelt worse than the hold “Then I’ll have twenty-one bodies to feed to the orcas e leave the harbour, scribbler”
Al Sorna prodded one of the bedrolls on the deck with his foot and glanced around briefly “This’ll do We’ll need food and water”
I bristled “You seriously suggest we sleep in this rat-hole? It’s disgusting”
“You should try a dungeon Plenty of rats there too” He turned to the captain “The water barrel is on the foredeck?”
The captain ran a stubby finger through thethe tallif he could kill hi on the northern Alpiran coast: turn your back on a cobra but never a Meldenean “So you’re the one who’s going to cross swords with the Shield? They’re offering twenty to one against you in Ildera Think I should risk a copper on you? The Shield is the keenest blade in the Islands, can slice a fly in half with a sabre”
“Such renown does him credit” Vaelin Al Sorna sourd a day each, no o short for the likes of you two You can get food fro with scum like us”
“No doubt I’ve eaten orse If you need an extra man at the oars I am at your disposal”
“Rowed before have you?”
“Once”
The captain grunted, “We’llover his shoulder, “We sail within the hour, stay out of the way until we clear the harbour”
“Island savage!” I fu outunderdown to compose a letter to the Emperor I intended to let him know the full extent of this insult “He’ll find no berth in an Alpiran harbour again, ainst the hull “You speak ue
“I study languages,” I replied in kind “I can speak the seven ues of the Empire fluently and communicate in five e?”
I looked up froreat northern forest You’ve heard of thees is far from comprehensive As yet I see little reason to conorance”
“I feel I speak for norance of you”
He tilted his head, studying nored hi out the for for Imperial correspondence
“You knew him didn’t you?” Vaelin Al Sorna went on