Lock by Kate Hill

in unison.
    “Looks like you’re strong enough to start pulling your weight around here.” Sparrow approached Lock, standing just shy of his reach.
    He raised the chain in front of his face, his pale eyes staring at the links. “Good. Anything is better than being locked up in here.”
    “What do you think we should do with him?” Sparrow stood with Shea-Ann by the fire. She took a spoonful of the stew and swallowed.
    “He’s your property.”
    “I’m sure I can think of something for him to do.”
    “Hey! You can talk to me,” Lock snapped.
    Shea-Ann continued speaking of the pirate as if he wasn’t in the room. “We can’t let him out of this house, you know that. As soon as we try to unchain him, he’ll be off.”
    “Even if you gave him a sleeping potion, he’s rather heavy to move,” Sparrow reflected. “Not that I couldn’t do it.”
    “Either of you two bitches tries to give me another sleeping potion and you’ll regret it!”
    “Such a strong man,” Shea-Ann said. “Pity we can’t use him for the farm work.”
    “No, that’s impossible. Too risky.”
    “And he’s not healed enough for it now,” Shea-Ann added. “I know! He can do the washing up.”
    Lock stood, nearly yanking his chain from the wall. “Not on your lives! I’m not doing the washing up.”
    “Oh,” Sparrow raised an eyebrow, “not man enough for it?”
    “Come over here, girl, and I’ll show you what a man is.”
    Sparrow swallowed and glanced back into the stew pot. His offer was almost too tempting. She said, “It’s settled then. From now on you’ll do the dishes and the wash.”
    “Nothing’s settled!”
    “You haven’t got much of a choice, boy .” Shea-Ann looked down her nose at Lock.
    “I’m nobody’s boy!” he snarled, the mere annoyance in his eyes turning to pure rage.
    “I was alive before you were a happy whistle on your father’s lips!”
    “Shea-Ann, that’s enough,” Sparrow said softly. “He’s doing the washing up and there’s no more need to discuss it.”
    “Over my dead body!”
    Shea-Ann turned her spoon on Lock again. “It would have been had it not been for My Lady!”
    “Your lady ? Your lady ? I forget I’m in the presence of a princess .” Lock extended a long arm as far as his chains would allow. “Come, Princess, and let me kiss the hem of your trousers.”
    “You love to be hateful, don’t you?” Sparrow shook her head at him. “Why? Life is such a short gift, I can’t imagine wasting so much time being miserable.”
    “Life is the underside of a slimy rock, and we’re the slugs who suck upon it.”
    “Marvelous conversation for before dinner,” Shea-Ann said. “Just get used to your place. I do the cooking and bring in what goods I can from healing, Sparrow does the wood cutting and farm work, and you do the washing up.”
    “If she does all that, she doesn’t need a male slave.” Lock jerked his head in Sparrow’s direction. “And I can see why she’s got no husband. She’s got all the femininity of a he-goat.”
    Sparrow’s eyes hazed red with fury. She clenched her fists and stomped toward Lock. “I have news for you, I had my share of proposals when my family was in power! I was engaged to a prince!”
    “And where is he now that you’re common?”
    “I might be a commoner, but I’m not nearly as common as you!”
    “Can’t argue with that.” He snatched her wrist before she realized what was happening. She tried pulling away, but he held her fast and placed a kiss on the back of her hand. “I wonder, Princess, did you give him an early taste of the royal wedding night?”
    “Let go of me!” She tugged harder.
    Shea-Ann whacked him over the head with the shaggy end of a broom. “Unhand her, you murdering scum!”
    Lock released her, smiling wickedly, his gaze still fixed on Sparrow’s. “No, Princess, I don’t believe he did. I’m truly honored. I’ve never met an actual virgin before.”
    “That’s it! No supper for