***
I’dpromisedDineshI’dbe available the next day to talk with him and come up with a plan to work on perfecting the minimal amount of control I had over my powers.I wasn’t looking forward to the discussion, let alone the actual work.I’d only summoned the forces twice on purpose, and I still wasn’t sure how I’d managed the job, or if I could do the same again.When I told Dinesh, he said that was even more of a reason to practice and reminded me we had come out of both those situations alive, which surely wouldn’t have been the case if I hadn’t called upon them.
But I avoided him all morning, taking Pearl down below decks to play, introducing her to the goats and chickens so she wouldn’t be scared by them or see them as prey, and continuing to teach her where she was allowed to piss and shit.She was doing well in that regard, although there had been some accidents early on, but nothing that couldn’t be dealt with using a bucket of water sluiced over the deck.
“What are you doing down here, mate?”Martinéz asked when he caught sight of me in the corner where my old hammock still hung, although now the spot was Squid’s, who lolled there with his bare feet hooked on the edge and watched me play with Pearl.
“Maybe I missed you lot, that’s all,” I said, giving him a cheeky smile.
“Missed us!What with Captain Martin needin’ your attention to various and sundry matters night and day?I doubt that.And weren’t we only lately involved in a terrifying skirmish with theEloise?And I thank you once again for saving our hides.”
As if on cue, Lahiri came down the steps and made his way over to me.
“Captain’s looking for you.”
“Blast.Can’t he leave me be for a few hours?”I groused.
There was laughter.
“What’s the matter, White?Your arsehole busted?”
More laughter.
I gave a rude gesture to the person speaking.
“My arsehole is fine.Fresh as a daisy and ready for more, as usual.”
“Jesus.Why don’t you put a sign out?”someone muttered.
“Nah.I wouldn’t want to waste myself on you, would I?”
“I heard our resident reformed whore had an invite to the wedding chamber,” said Hale.
I bristled.
“His name is Domingo, and perhaps he did.He’s a friend of ours, so why not?”
“Didn’t realize the captain was running a bawdy house out of his cabin.”
“He ain’t.For fuck’s sake, can’t we have a little fun without narrow-minded comments?”
“Surely, surely.”Hale said, holding up his hands.“What the fuck do I care?”
“Simon White.”My name was spoken in familiar and stern tones from the stairs.
“Fuck,” I said, closing my eyes, and letting Pearl lick at my face whilst I pretended not to hear him.
“He’s over here, Captain.Playing with the mongrel.”
“Traitor,” I whispered to Lahiri.
The captain’s head and shoulders appeared in my line of sight.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m relaxing.What are you doing?”
“Looking for you.I believe we had an appointment.”
