“Idjit,” came the reply.
Ellard witnessed the twinkle of the man’s eyes.These men were a solid team and knew each other well, but then, so did he and Gweneth.Somehow, they’d get out of this mess since the reivers obviously didn’t intend to kill them.Opportunists, they wanted currency.He’d heard the Scothage race practiced thrift, which would work to their advantage in this case.Arranging a ransom or selling them to the highest bidder would take time.
Ellard took in their surroundings and memorized their route through the ship.Scuffed gray and more gray.
Gweneth walked at his side, equally attentive, and pride suffused him.She might be young, but she acquitted herself well thanks to Ry and his crew.
A feminine scream rippled along the gray corridor.
At his side, Gweneth tensed.
“Who are you torturing?”Ellard asked, with a glance over his shoulder.
“The woman who came aboard with you,” Stinky said.
“What woman?”Gweneth asked, her footsteps slowing.
The two Scothage men exchanged a glance.
“We never be torturin’ valuable assets,” Stinky said.
Pouter-chick smirked.“Ooh with the big words.”
“Shutup, idjit.”
“Take the right fork,” Stinky ordered.
Ellard and Gweneth turned as instructed.
“Through the double doors.”
They pushed through and saw two Scothage men struggling with Sheera.Ellard wondered why she didn’t blink out to evade capture then he noticed the wide silver band around her neck.It gave off a subtle blue glow.
“Who is she?”Gweneth asked.“What are you doing to her?She’s young.”
“She be our passport to riches,” Stinky said.
Pouter-chick entered a code on a panel, too quickly for Ellard to register the keystrokes.A grate door slid open.“In there,” he ordered.
Ellard hesitated until a sword prodded his side.He stepped into the windowless room—more gray—and turned to face them.
Gweneth stepped in beside him, and relief suffused him.He’d worried they might separate them.
Stinky grinned at him, displaying a gap in his white top teeth.“You be lucky yer the king’s bodyguard and worth a ransom.”He gestured with his chin.“One arm not much use.You shift to feline?You still have missing arm?”
Ellard glowered at him, even though the Scothage spoke the truth.
Stinky shrugged.“No matter.You be valuable.All that matters.”
The door slid shut just as Sheera screamed again.
“Stars, what are they doing to her?”
“I don’t know,” Ellard murmured.“She didn’t seem to register our presence.Did you see Leeam?”
“No.Kiss me, Ellard.Let’s give her a tiny boost of energy.It might help to calm her, and if Leeam is here and languishing, it might help him too.”
“You just want to grab some extra kisses.”But as he said the words, Ellard gathered her closer with his arm.
