“Them’sthe terms of contract.Not my place to debate.”Her sword glinted as it spun.“My word’s gotta mean something.I have to show I’m principled.No ship wouldsurrender her hold if I were known for breaking promises.My reputationprotects my crew, and I have to protect it in kind, whether that be honoring mysignature on a line, or hunting down a traitor.”
Zariaturned to the gathered crowd of pirates.“I want to hear you all say it.Sayyou’re fine dipping toes in the slavin’ business.Sayyou’re fine earning wages off the blood of children.Just admit, right now,that you’re no better than some bandits slitting throats on a highway.”
Shelooked around, receiving only stares in reply.
“Tellme you’re still feeling brave.Tell me you aren’t having second thoughts,confronting all these curses and magic.”
Most ofthe pirates were silent.Some were looking around the dead city, staring withwide eyes at the palace of skulls or the giant rib cage above their heads.Somewere glancing at the floor, the sandwyrm rumbling and circling beneath, closeenough to rattle the barricades and crates of rations.Others were looking atthe bodies of their friends.
“Leave,”Zaria said.“Call it a withdrawal, if you want some dignity about it.Everyone of you that stays down here is gonna die.”
Sorenlooked over the uneasy gathering of her crew, their faces reflected in herblack eye.Her half-burned muzzle twisted into a snarl.“I was fair to you,Zaria, wasn’t I?”
“Asidefrom torturing me for several days, you mean?”
“Fairpenance for a gutless crime.”
“Well,then.Right you are, capt.No complaints from me.Good shares, good grog.”
“Damngood hand you were,” Soren said, her voice grinding and low.“Worked more thanhalf these sods combined.Absolutely fearsome with an axe.”
“Oh,none compare to the Black Eye.That’s for fact.”
Theylooked at each other.Soren gripped her sword.Zaria folded her arms.
Isaacwaited.
“Matterof fact,” Soren said.“I’ll just tell ya, since it don’t matter.Vossler’sstepping down as third mate.I planned to promote you to it.”
Zariablinked.“Truly?”She seemed to consider this, acting genuinely surprised.“Never thought I’d hack it as an officer, tell you the truth.Leading men, thewhole bit.”
“Youwould have.I see it in you.Might’ve made it to captain faster than I did,even.”
“Appreciateyou saying so.”
“Callit a parting gift.”
Zariamade a noise in her throat.“Funny how that works.”
“No,”the Black Eye replied.“It ain’t.”
Thesilence settled again.
“Had tostick to my principles, Soren.”
“As doI, Zaria.”
“Nochance I’m talking you out of this, then?”
Soren narrowedher eye, the burnt flesh tightening down.“You know better.”
“Aye.Suppose I do.”
Hyenaand bunny stared at each other, heedless of the other eyes around them.Below,the sandwyrm’s angry patrols continued to rumble through the earth.The palaceof skulls glowed in the cartilage light, like a bulbous pile of gold.
“That’senough,” Soren said.“We’re dueling, here and now.Toss your polearm and grab ashort blade.”
“Got abetter idea, capt.”Zaria stepped back to Isaac’s side.“He’s gonna be mychampion.”
