“I was preoccupied.”
He winked at her. “So I see.” Glancing toward the approaching ship, he narrowed his gaze on the ominous crew that wanted to bring them in. “What are you doing, Bane?”
“Dancing with the devil, Nibo. You?”
“Doubting your sanity. That’s Jonathan Barnet. Why are you letting him get this close?”
The captain shrugged. “Haven’t had a headache in the last two months. Figured it was time. After all, everyone needs at least one good brain tumor once in their lifetime.” He jerked his chin toward the ship. “This one comes with friends.”
Nibo laughed. “That he does. Weapons, too. Big ones, I’m told.”
“Good. It’s no fun to attack those who can’t defend themselves. More the merrier, I say.”
“Then you ought to be deliriously happy right now.”
Bane flashed him a most uncharacteristic smile that was actually frightening. Both in its eagerness and the fact that it was such an unnatural look on the handsome man’s face that it was downright terrifying.
Valynda groaned at their inappropriate bantering. Men! She’d never understand them. Aggravated at Nibo for his timing, she grimaced at him. “Thought you told me you weren’t a fighter.”
Nibo shrugged. “Not a runner, either,ma chère. I will hold me own in a fight.”
“And why are you here?”
“You were calling for me.”
Had he gone daft? “Nay, I was not.”
He scowled at her. “Pretty sure I heard my name on your sweet lips. ’Tis a most unmistakable sound.” He lowered his voice so that only she could hear him. “That does unmistakable things to me body.”
Clearing her throat, she glanced about nervously to make sure no one else had heard that. “Pretty sure you didn’t.”
He looked over at Thorn.
“You’ve gone senile, old man. And don’t be casting those eyes at me. God knows I didn’t call for your sorry arse. I’ve no use for you whatsoever. And especially not for those two trolls you usually travel with. Have to say I’m glad you left their rotten souls at home for once.”
“Captain! They’re hoisting up the white flag!”
Bane actually looked deflated by the news. “Well, bugger me that.” Grinding his teeth, Captain Bane glared at Thorn.
“What? I had nothing to do with it. Why you looking at me with those downcast eyes?”
“Something this disappointing feels like it should have your name engraved upon it.”
“Seriously?”
Before anyone could speak, Captain Barnet requested permission to come aboard.
Both Will and Bart turned toward Bane with looks that said they couldn’t wait to see what he had to say about that. And honestly, neither could Valynda, given the captain’s behavior thus far.
“Sure. Why not?” Captain Bane said in a sullen tone that conveyed just how unenthusiastic he was about it.
With a deep growl and grand show of irritation, he sheathed his sword, then looked to Strixa, their resident water witch. “Could you at least sink their ship to make me feel better?”
She actually laughed at his beleaguered tone.
Lady Marcelina tsked at her irritable husband before she kissed his cheek. “There, there, my warring love. I’m sure you’ll have the chance to gut something before nightfall. Cheer up.”
“So say you. Haven’t had a good gutting in days. Beheading either.” Bane crossed his arms and stood aside as Barnet swung over from his ship to their main deck so that he could talk to them.
