Jaeger lifted the collar out and turned to the other sailor. “Put this on him, Hans, otherwise he may cause us some difficulty.”
Hans accepted the gift and bowed his head. “Yes, Captain.”
The man slipped over to Marc and tied the leather collar around his neck. Marc twisted his neck and frowned. “I don’t think this look suits me, Captain.”
Jaeger strolled over to him and lifted his nose. “It suits all men who abuse their gifts.”
Marc cocked his head to one side and studied the captain’s throat. “Then why don’t I see one on your throat?”
Jaeger sneered down at him. “You speak very freely, but you will not speak so when we have taken you to the capital. Your trial will be swift and your death slow.”
Marc’s good humor faded as he nodded at me. “And the girl?”
“You need not concern yourself with her.”
A crooked smile slipped onto Marc’s lips. “Because you’ll have sent her to your client? I didn’t know the Admiralty were now playing the dogs for the mercenaries.”
Jaeger drew back his hand and slapped Marc hard enough to jerk his head to the side.
“I strangle dogs like you and the mercenaries,” Jaeger growled as he bared his long teeth at Marc. His attention fell on the patch, and curiosity replaced fury. “You will have no more need to hide whatever shame is beneath that patch.” He stepped back and nodded at one of his men. “Remove it.”
Marc cast a sharp look of warning at the sailor. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Hans paused, and his eyes darted up to Jaeger. The captain scoffed. “Why should we not?”
Marc turned his face toward our captor. “You’re fond of your ship, aren’t you?”
“Of course. What captain is not fond of his ship?”
“If you value your ship and the lives of your men, then don’t remove the patch.”
Jaeger puffed out his chest and scoffed. “You do not frighten me, pirate. The collar will manage whatever you have hidden under there. Remove the cover.”
Marc shut his eye tightly as the first-mate grabbed hold of the patch with one hand. He jerked his hand like he was ripping off a bandaid, but the cloth didn’t move. The man blinked at the patch before trying again, with the same result.
“What is the matter, Hans?” Jaeger questioned him.
“N-nothing, Captain,” Hans stuttered as he grabbed the patch with both hands and yanked it with all his might. The edges of the patch twitched, but did nothing more.
“Stand aside!” Jaeger roared as he pushed his man out of the way. His left hand faintly glowed as he grabbed the cloth and yanked the patch off.
And unleashed chaos.
Chapter 32
The patch revealed not an empty eye socket, but a swirling mass of blues and greens. The colors formed a round ball inside the socket, the light of which swept over the room like the explosion of a star.
It also began to swirl around Marc. He clenched his teeth as the light enveloped his form and changed it. Scales burst out of the left side of his face and spread to the right, while his nose elongated into a snout. Wings burst out of his back, and his hands transformed into thick claws. His body expanded, and his clothes were torn to shreds, revealing more scales. A tail burst out of his butt and slammed into the wall behind him.
While he transformed, the room fell into chaos. A wild wind accompanied his transformation, spinning around us like a small tornado. Dust and small furniture were flung about. I had trouble keeping my eyes open against such a gale, and my feet were nearly swept out from under me more than once.
Sailors burst into the room, but paused on the threshold to gape at he monster Marc was becoming. “Detain him!” Jaeger commanded them.
His men clambered across the room and dogpiled Marc. Most of him disappeared for only a moment before the pile began to pulse like it was breathing. The sailors were flung aside as Marc stood, more beast than man now.
“Take her out of here!” Jaeger shouted at the man who held me.
My captor tried to retreat with me, but a small shape skittered across the floor from the corner shadows and latched onto his legs with sharp teeth. The sailor yowled and danced about with my old friend Ramaro securely attached to his leg.
