Below,the ground continued to rumble in a rhythmic wave, like the snoring of a giant.
“Justplayin’, love,” Soren said, still chuckling.“I can smell her on you from here.Could probably count her teeth on your neck.”Her pink nose wrinkled.“Youenjoying your life as a fugitive, Zaria?”
Zariatightened her grip on Isaac.“You know how it is.Have to claim what’s yours.”
“Notso,” Soren replied.“The rule is—if you’re dead on the ground, then he’s mine,and whatever ransom you’re hoping to collect will be mine as well.”Her blackeye reflected the rows of pirates behind them.“Got that ‘nobleman’s son’ lookto him.Think I’ll call him Coin Purse, once he’s good and broken.”
Zarialet him go, stepping forward.“Have them pointy ears gone deaf, Soren?I’moffering parley, not tribute.”
Thebunny drew her cutlass, slicing it through the air.It made an audible sound.“Only thing you got to offer is your life, traitor.I’d drag you back toCrookspur so I could break you proper, right on the wheel, but last time I letyou from my sight, you managed to sunder a whole bloody ship.You’re dyin’here, down in this bony city, and I’m damn sure gonna bleed you like you bledten of my crew.”
Zariatook another step.By now, the point of her captain’s sword was inches from herchest.
Isaactensed.
“You’regonna lose the rest of them,” the hyena said, “if you stay down here.Thisplace is evil, capt.The stories are true.I’ve seen it myself, and it’s onlythanks to this human behind me that I’m living to tell the tale.”
For amoment, Soren kept the sword raised, the point aimed directly at Zaria’s heart.All it would take was a single thrust.
Theywatched each other.
Thebunny snorted, lowering the blade.“Oh, what?You concerned for us now?Where was that concern a week ago?Did you blow a hole through myship ‘cause you loved us so much?”
“Howmany men you lost already?”Zaria turned, facing the crowd of pirates.“Howmany of your mates won’t ever be leaving this place?”
Thepirates glanced at each other.Behind them, they had laid the bodies of theircrew in one long row, shoulder to shoulder, their animal faces marred withjagged ice and blackened burns.
“Goon,” Zaria said.“Tell me so.You think some treasure and vengeance is worthyour lives?”
Soren’swhiskers curled back.“There ain’t a man on theSaberthat didn’t losesomeone to your rampage.Don’t even got a proper roster for all the souls youleft burned to cinders, neither.Whatever pirate bloodyou think’s on my hands ain’t nothing compared to yours.”
Morethan a few voices rose in agreement.
“Iforced no man down into the black,” Soren said.“All hands came of their ownfree will.Equal risk, equal shares.Aye, lads?”
Evenmore voices shouted back.
“Oh,truly, then?”Zaria asked.“Does all this brotherhood nonsense extend to thetransport of slaves?Children?You all singing merry ‘round the rigging whilesome babes cry for their parents below deck?You gonna spend your blood wage ondrink and whores without a second thought?”
“Shutyour mouth,” Soren hissed.“Job specified no tampering with the cargo.Ifollowed that directive.”
“You musta known.”
“No,Zaria.I had not the faintest.”
“Don’tlie.”
“Watchyour fuckin’ tongue.”
A silencefell.Isaac realized he had not breathed in several moments.Behind them all,the palace of skulls seemed to moan wordlessly, gazing up at the ribs.
“Ipromise,” Soren said, “on my word, I had no idea what the cargo were.Mydisgust is the same as yours.In fact, I’m planning on carving that disgustinto the fat-purse cunts that offered the contract.No one slights me and livesto tell about it.”The bunny twirled her cutlass.“The difference being thatI’m honorable enough to keep my word, and not nearly so low that I’d slaughtermy mates for righteousness.”
“There’shonor in aiding evil now, is there?”Zaria replied.“You still completed thatcontract, didn’t you?”
“Muchas I could,” Soren admitted.“Accountin’ for the cargo you tossed.”
“Cargo,huh?You keep sayin’ that.That your word for innocent lives?”
