Different creature entirely.
One who knew his place, and was comfortable with the fact that he was alone in this world and wanted nothing from anyone. Ever. Not even Cameron. He meant it. In spite of what his other regions might be thinking and wanting.
Determined to stay in control of his mutinous body, he made his way topside, where he found Sallie repairing a sail that had frayed a bit.
Kalder paused to watch the expert way the older man’s hands worked with the rough material. Like his own treacherous body that cared not a whit what his brain told it to think, they appeared to have a life of their own. And their graceful movement was a stark contrast to the gruff sailor’s appearance.
But then Absalon Lucas, or Sallie as they called him, was one of the few members of the crew who’d actually been a sailor before Devyl and Thorn had recruited him for this madness. And his expertise was more than evident, even as he scratched at his scraggly, graying beard.
“How did you get crossed up with a sorcerer, anyway?” The question was out before Kalder could stop it. Oddly enough, he’d never thought to ask it before this.
Sallie paused to look up at him. “Interesting way to open up a conversation there, Mr. Dupree. No finessing at all. Just jump right to it, do you?”
Kalder shrugged. “Never been one to mince words.”
He tugged at the ropes to test them. “Makes two of us.” Sallie pulled his rum bottle from the waistband of his breeches and held it out to Kalder.
He took it, thinking it was the one that held the man’s soul. Until he realized it was a much smaller bottle, and that Sal was offering him a drink. Laughing, he obliged himself, then returned it to the strange middle-aged man.
Sallie pulled a kerchief from his pocket to wipe at his lips before he took a drink himself.
With a sigh, he savored the fiery liquid then put a keen squint to Kalder’s form. Not censuring, just measuring. Comparing. “You know, Mr. Dupree, I’m a fine, handsome man in me real body, I am. Give even a dandy like you a run for the folderol skirts, I would. And like you and Will and Bart and the captain, I had even posh birds aplenty who turned their heads any time I entered a room and watched me every move with wanton eyes, they did. Thought nothing of it, I did… until it was gone. Damn shame, that. The things you take for granted that leave your company far too soon, mind you. We should all take a minute to appreciate our moments in the sun before they fade bitterly to night.”
Kalder didn’t comment, as he knew just how right the man was. Life had a nasty habit of turning from kind to vicious on the breath of a breeze. Honestly, he was sick with the unpredictable treachery of the bitch.
She’d bitten him personally one time too many.
“Anyways, so there I was with this comely dainty vixen, just minding a bit of me business with her as most men would. Drinking me fill of her lips and taking a bit too much freedom with her ample charms, when all of a sudden her father shows up, a bit vexed and chafing over me dalliance with his daughter, as any good father would be. He hit me and I hit him. Some harsh words we exchanged. And an insult I never should have said about his daughter. Next thing I knows, I was turned into this short, hideous thing you see before you now, and me soul was handed to me with a warning about attacking any man e’er again.” Sallie shook his head as he fidgeted with the bottle that did hold his soul.
“That how you died, then?”
Sallie’s eyes turned dark and grim. “Nay, lad. What soft, for that, I killed meself to escape the nightmare what was me life thereafter. Couldn’t stand the pain of it all. But you see, before the final act that damned me eternally, I’d been a mercenary bastard. That was the deed what cost me the soul dearest. For I’d wandered for years, murdering for gold, without conscience. Thought to battle meself into Valhalla, I did. Forgot that me mother was just Christian and vindictive enough to hex me to both me parents’ hells for me wanton and vicious ways. Aye, she got the last word on that, she did. What with bitter, bitter clarity.”
No one could miss the pain in that aged voice. It branded Sallie’s soul as deep as the scars that marred Kalder’s, and he hated that he’d dug into the man’s past wounds.
“Sorry, Sallie. I didn’t mean to pry.”
He shrugged with a nonchalance Kalder was sure was for his benefit only. “’Tis what it is, lad. When you go a-viking, you know the consequences of your actions. Especially when you’re raised by Jutes.”
Perhaps… But then Kalder hadn’t known many Jutes in his day.
Sallie paused to give him a gimlet stare. “So what’s really on your mind, son?”
“How do you mean?”
“We’ve been on this ship for months. Never once have you shown so much interest in me, or any other. Been keeping to yourself, you have. Saying little as possible to anyone—not that that’s a bad thing, mind you. Especially what with this misbegotten crew, and all the secrets what’s kept here. But now you have your brother with you and instead of passing time with him who you’ve missed so dearly, you’re out here wasting the night with me? Mite peculiar it is, if you ask me. Can’t help but wonder why this sudden and critical interest in me past that has a burning hole in your patience, laddie.”
Kalder snorted. Sallie was far too astute, and there was no need in keeping another secret when it was clear the older man already knew the answer. “A peculiar feeling in me gut, Mr. Lucas. That is all, and nothing more.”
“Sounds like you been eating some of Cookie’s stew, then. That’d give anyone a peculiar feeling in the gut, ’specially what with these rocky seas we’re having. You’re lucky you’re not tossing it all overboard.”
Kalder laughed at a very true statement.
An ill wind blows ill things.
His humor died as he recalled one of his mother’s favored sayings. It was something she whispered often in his father’s court. Most often because she was the source of the bad tidings and maleficence.
And his father had reacted swiftly and with an equal measure of rancor.Stop that, Bron! You’ll be calling down bad humor upon us. The universe has ears and it listens to the words you speak. Careful what you say, woman! Hex us and I’ll see that you pay for it with your tongue! And your life!
