“Because I found her!”
“You did not. You just happened to be closest,” said a stout one, whose name sounded likeGurr.
I studied my captors, taking inventory of weapons and weaknesses. The plump one seemed the weak link—but he was between Thetis and some bearded guy who was roughly the size and shape of a beluga.
I’d found my longblade. Well, that cod named Nestor had. He carried it like he’d discovered treasure, swinging it around to taunt me.
“If we find the other one,” said Thetis, “you can have the reward for her.”
Nestor snorted. “What, the rest of us have to share a reward, while you get the full amount for this broad?”
“Hey!” I tried to smack Nestor in the head, but Thetis jerked me away. He carried a mace with spikes on the end that I wondered if he’d chiselled himself. I’d never seen one made with such care. My skin tingled from the points slicing through the water.
“Wanna tell us where your girl is, Lysithea?” said Nestor, flashing yellow fangs.
“I don’t know where she is.” It was the truth, however terrifying.
“Come on. We’ll let you swim without the ropes.”
“You think I’m going to believe that?”
“All right, how’s this?” said Beluga. “Tell us where she is, or we don’t let you breach next time.”
“I don’t know where she is! You think I was hanging out between those icebergs because I felt like it? We lost each other when the glacier broke.”
They all glared at me. After a pause, they resumed arguing over how to divide my bounty and whether they would find Meela.
When Thetis and Beluga began shouting at each other, I seized the opportunity and made an abrupt dive, twisting so the ropes tangled together.
The shouting grew louder. “Don’t let her go!” said Gurr stupidly.
In the ensuing chaos, I felt two of the ropes slacken.
But the other ropes tightened. They stopped me easily.
I hadn’t really expected it to work; I was too overpowered. The huge knot that had formed in the ropes was a small consolation, though. It took some effort for them to untie.
“Would you cooperate for once in your life?” said Nestor, fighting with the ropes. “You anarchy warriors are half this kingdom’s problem.”
“It’s not anarchy I want.”
Nestor gave the others a maddening grin. “What they all say, isn’t it?”
They laughed.
“We’ve got enemies to fight,” said Thetis, “yet you warriors are doing everything you can to divide and weaken us.”
“Enemies? We wouldn’t have enemies if it weren’t for Adaro!”
Nestor gave me a condescending look. “I’m just saying, we’ve got enough problems at the luna bin without you anarchy warriors causing problems at home, too.”
Luna bin? Anarchy warriors?Did these terms come from Adaro himself, or was this some new slang I hadn’t heard before?
“It’s a selfish battle you’re fighting,” said Thetis. “He’s your king, and you need to accept that.”
“He’s not my king. I’d rather die than serve him.”
“Looks like you get to choose your fate, then.”
