Gweneth cautiously opened the door and peered into the corridor.“It’s safe.Let’s go.”
Ellard closed the door after them and followed Gweneth.They turned the corner and came face-to-face with two of the Scothage reivers.For an instant, they all stared at each other.The two Scothage males wore their leather kilts with plaid tunics.Their faces, the parts not disguised by bushy beards, were tan from exposure to the light of a star.Although he stood half a head taller, Ellard knew not to discount their wiry builds.
“What they be doing here?”one blurted.
“Ran out of water,” Gweneth said.“We were thirsty.”
“Huh?”the other said.
Ellard struck before their brains started functioning.He kicked one hard in the middle of the chest in a move he’d learned from training with Ry.The Scothage went flying, hitting the wall with a sickening thump.He slumped downward, and Ellard dragged him back to the room where they’d left the first.Galling as it was, Gweneth didn’t seem to require his help, her Scothage opponent becoming more cautious with each blow she landed.
Gweneth appeared in the doorway.“Quick.We have to go.Coward turned tail and limped away.”
Ellard left the groaning Scothage in a heap on the floor.
“They could at least wear underwear under their skirts,” Gweneth said with a sniff.“A strong wind could blow at any time and create a show.”
Ellard bit back a grin at her disapproval.“I can’t believe we’re discussing male dressing habits while trying to evade capture.”
Shouts and running feet sounded outside the door.Ellard waited until they could no longer hear anything before cracking the door to observe the corridor.“Clear.Let’s go.”
“We can’t evade capture forever.”
Ellard grinned a feral grin.“But we can create havoc meanwhile.”
They cautiously exited the room and continued in the direction away from the mess.
Gweneth halted, a furrow appearing on her forehead.“The ship is stopping.Something is happening.”
“Our rescue?”
“No, if a strange ship appeared, they wouldn’t stop.It’s someone they were expecting.”
Ellard listened, not as attuned to the ship as Gweneth since he hadn’t flown as much in deep space.Grata, she was right.
“What do we do?”she whispered.
Ellard shrugged.“Keep to our plan.They know we’ve escaped the cell.”He prowled down the corridor and peered around the next corner.“The bridge.”
“Can we get closer?We might learn what is happening.”
Good plan.As one, they slinked along the corridor walls, taking care to maintain silence.The familiar vibration of a moving ship recommenced.The stop had been a quick one.To let someone board or someone disembark?Ellard froze at the thought.What if they’d off-loaded Sheera and Leeam?
“You got them?”a harsh voice demanded.
“Aye, sir.They be locked in the cells.”
The second voice belonged to the leader of the reivers, but it sounded as if someone else had charge of this mission.A new arrival?
“Are the collars in place?”
“Aye, sir.”
“Good.That’s good.Set a course to Kiraxes while I go to inspect my prize.”
“There they be,” a man cried from behind them.
“Phrull,” Ellard muttered.
