“Dunno,” Zaria said, shrugging.“But how do you explain thewyrms and the water?”
With his hands tied, Isaac clenched one fist inside theother.“I don’t have to explain anything to you.”
She held out a palm.“Easy, Isaac.I may not know yourbusiness, but I know mine, and I know a setup when I see one.It looks wrong, is all.Might be you’d consider that, if you weren’t sodesperate for his approval.”
He noted the poleaxe at her back and the dagger at her hip.Some reason returned to him, and he sat back.“Of course you’d think that way.Some common pirate like you would assume the worst of everyone.We’re all justtrying to take advantage of each other, aren’t we?”
“Suppose you aim to prove me wrong.”
“No.Why should I?It’s exactly what you did.You dugthrough my belongings and saw my map, thought you’d have a chance to get rich,and threatened to leave me for dead if I didn’t lead you down to buriedtreasure.You’re threatening my life’s mission just to lineyour own pockets.I’d say you’re a perfect example of cutthroats the worldover.”
Her ears flattened against her skull.“I don’t have achoice.Some of us don’t got the luxury for morals.”
“You could walk away with your life at any time.You arechoosing to do this.”
“I betrayed my crew!Do you know what pirates do totraitors?They’ll flay my hide, and spill my guts, and tell all the onlookersexactly what happens to them that kill their mates!Right now, half thegods-damned ships in the region are combing the desert for yours truly, and ifthey find me, they’ll end up throwing what’s left to the dogs!”
“Hide in a town, then.Try an honest profession.”
“You mean the towns that all got wanted posters with my furryvisage?All that waits for me in civilized society is a cot and piss bucket ina dungeon.That’s what being an outlaw means, in case you weren’t aware.Itmeans if I got an army of thugs wants to kill me, then I have no recourse butdeath, on their side or mine.”
Isaac shook his head.“None of that requires you to pillagea tomb full of necromancy.You have no idea of the dangers that lurk in thosehalls.It’s a fool’s errand, and you’re a fool for dreaming of it.”
“That make you a fool, too?”
“The difference is that I was trained for it.You were not.”
She breathed out through her teeth.“That gold ain’t just adream of mine.That gold is power.It’s peace of mind.It’s the only bloodychance I got left to buy some measure of safety.It’s bribing a magistrate forasylum, paying a smuggler to ship me off to sea, or just plain hiring enoughprotection that I don’t got to look over my shoulder the rest of my life.If Idon’t find that treasure—ifyoudon’t help me get it—then I’mdead.No question, no chance.”
Isaac stared back at her, meeting a gaze that was lined withteeth, scars, and fury.
“Now you listen to me, Isaac, and you listen well.”
“I will not submit—”
“Shut your fuckin’ mouth.”
The way she said it startled him.All at once, her voice wasrough and low, her teeth peeling into view, her eyes gleaming like coins.Herhand settled on the pommel of her dagger.
Isaac tried not to panic.
“I’m sorry for doing this to you,” Zaria said.“Truly.If Iweren’t so desperate, then I’d have sent you on your way with no harm ormalice.For the record, I think highly of your mission.Despite your efforts,I’m startin’ to think highly of you, too.And if my word means anything at all,then I promise to honor our deal.I help you rescue your father, we split thetreasure, and say goodbye.I got no intentions, otherwise.”
She leaned forward, elbows on her knees.
“Here’s how this will play out.Your hands will remain bounduntil I can trust that you won’t blow me to cinders while my back is turned.Ifa situation arises where your hands need to be unbound, then they will be sowith a dagger at your back, lest you try something stupid.I will be watchingsharp for any indication of treachery.And if I find any inclination of such—”
Before he could blink, she drew her dagger and pressed it tohis throat.
“I will not hesitate to end your life.”
Above, the sky had turned the color of blood.
“Do we understand each other?”
Isaac felt the edge of the blade as he swallowed.“I supposeso.”
“Good.”Without removing her dagger, she reached into herpack and pulled out a wheel of rope, tossing it into his lap.“Tie your anklesto your wrists.”
