Wolf Captured by Jane Lindskold Page A

huddled sailors.
    “You have knives. Drop them, too.”
    They did, and Blind Seer brought her one.
    “It is not your Fang,” he said, “but it will bite nearly as deep.”
    Firekeeper stuck the knife into her belt alongside Shelby’s, then called down to Derian.
    “Bring Harjeedian. His turn to be hostage.”
    Derian called back. “I’ve tied Rarby to the bars of your cage. No need for him to get frisky.”
    Firekeeper agreed. Her real reason for wanting Harjeedian above decks was to see if he could do anything for her nausea, but she didn’t want to admit that until Derian was there to manage the other men.
    Harjeedian came up, his expression angry, his eyes narrowed. Derian was right behind him, holding a long knife, doubtless taken from Rarby, to the other man’s back.
    Harjeedian gave a thin-lipped smile when he saw the other sailors subdued.
    “I am impressed. I thought the cages would hold you. I admit to underestimating your capacities.”
    Firekeeper bared her teeth at him. The expression was not a smile, but closer to a snarl. Harjeedian remained calm.
    “You have escaped,” Harjeedian went on. He made a wide gesture with his arm. “But where will you go?”
    Firekeeper followed the gesture, registering for the first time that the only land in sight was a distant shape of green. They were as trapped as they had ever been in the compartment belowdecks. Her head swam with renewed seasickness.
    “I see sails,” Derian said defiantly. “We will get that ship’s attention and be taken to shore.”
    Harjeedian laughed.
    “That ship is coming to meet us,” he said. “We could not make a long voyage in this tub, nor could you—even if you had the skill. This boat is leaking in a dozen places already, for it was never intended for rougher waters. You have done well—and I promise not to underestimate you again. Will you surrender, or must the crew of Child of Water subdue you?”
    “If I promise to kill you,” Firekeeper said, trying to keep her voice steady, “then maybe they think and take us home.”
    “That only works,” Harjeedian said, sounding amused, “if the other party cares if I live or die. Frankly, I do not think the ship’s captain would weigh any of our lives very highly if the prize to be won was taking you. I must also warn you that my teachers, who are not on that vessel, but whom you will meet someday, will care very deeply if I am killed.”
    This flood of words was too much for Firekeeper. She looked blankly at Derian.
    Derian hissed out his breath between his teeth.
    “Firekeeper, we may have no choice but to surrender.”
     
     
     
    DERIAN KNEW FIREKEEPER felt betrayed, but he believed Harjeedian. The man was not merely blustering. He spoke with the confidence of one who knew he had the upper hand.
    “Can you explain more clearly?” Derian said. “Firekeeper confused is not a safe person. What puzzles me is why you want us. You’ve gone to a great deal of trouble to keep us alive. Who are you working for? Queen Valora? The pirates?”
    “Neither,” Harjeedian said. “Though you might say that your actions against both those parties played their role in bringing you here. Nor is this the time for you to know my teachers’ wishes.”
    Firekeeper growled, the sound echoed by Blind Seer’s deeper rumble.
    Derian felt a bit frantic. He knew the pair could easily take out their captors, but he didn’t see how that would do them any good—and it could do a great deal of harm.
    “Harjeedian, you can’t care so little for your life. I beg you, explain.”
    Harjeedian seemed to reassess the situation.
    “I can tell you this much,” he said. “One of whom you made an enemy brought word of Firekeeper and Blind Seer to my teachers.”
    Derian could tell that, short of torture, he would learn nothing more.
    “Firekeeper really was seasick,” he said. “If you don’t want her wasting away, you’re going to need to help her.”
    Harjeedian considered. “After the