~
ROGAN re-entered the carriage and as he took a seat his shoulders slumped with weariness. The crowd opened up and the drudge got underway.
"You did well," Amelia said. "I'm proud of you."
"I had to lie, something I promised myself I'd never do. Bastian wants power. Can't they see it? Scratch that man!"
"Sometimes you need to say whatever it takes. The worst thing that could happen is you let the city fall to mob rule."
"What will I do though, if the mob gets truly violent? Will I call out the army — my men, many of them Tingarans — to fight their own people? How do you think that will stand, having an Alturan order soldiers with swords to strike down the hungry citizens of Seranthia?"
"We're not at that point yet. You did well today."
"It's not over yet," Rogan growled. "Not by a long shot." He looked out at the common people passing by. "Evrin Evenstar, you had better get those machines working soon."
10
MIRO woke to a burst of pain as a boot crashed into his head. He ducked his head into his body as he was kicked again.
He looked up, into the rat-like face of the Delphin's new captain. Carver rose when he saw Miro was awake. He stomped over to Amber's comatose form and kicked her savagely in the ribs. Amber moaned, and Miro wanted nothing more than to kill him.
They were in the brig, an iron-barred room half the size of Miro's old cabin. A tiny window let in fresh air and sea spray, and Miro and Amber were both wet and bruised. They'd suffered through more than one beating. Fortunately, the cut on Miro's side wasn't deep.
Carver nodded to some men, who entered the brig and cut the bindings on their ankles, dragging them both to their feet. They were marched out of their cell and down a series of passageways, finally emerging on the main deck.
They were taken to the side of the ship, with the rough water crashing not far below.
Miro squinted in the bright sunlight. Carver had evidently ordered the sails reefed, and the ship now bobbed on the water with little power or steerage.
He looked at Amber. She looked terrible; one of her eyes was half-closed and she had a blue bruise next to her mouth. He couldn't bear to see her like this. Miro wondered what would happen next. They were far from home, and apparently Carver now had full control over the galleon and her crew. What story had he given his men?
Miro and Amber were still trussed and gagged, their hands tightly bound behind their backs. Sailors knew how to tie knots, and Miro had no chance of breaking his bonds.
The huge sailor with the broken nose stood beside Amber.
"Do it, Ros," Carver said.
Ros marched Amber to the rail at the side of the ship. Without a word he picked Amber up, his muscles bulging, and tossed her over the side.
Miro roared: a sound of primal rage. His arms burned as he pulled and twisted at his bonds, to no avail.
Carver waited a moment, and then nodded to a seaman who held a rope in his hands. The seaman dived off the side of the ship, the rope running free behind him. Miro counted the breaths. The blood throbbed in his head and he twisted and strained, receiving a sharp punch in his gut from one of Carver's men. The end of the rope was held by two big sailors at the rail. After an incredible length had vanished over the side, the rope went taught, and the sailors started to haul.
Amber was hauled back over the side of the ship with the end of the rope tied in a loop around her waist. The diver climbed up a ladder and was helped over.
Amber flopped onto the deck like a fish. Carver strode over and with a flick of his wrist cut through her gag. Tears poured down Miro's cheeks as she coughed and a huge volume of water came out of her mouth. She twitched and spluttered, yet while she was still gasping Carver stuffed a ball of cloth into her mouth.
The newly-made captain came over to Miro. "We can do this as many times as we like. Klaus here is a strong swimmer, but who can say if he'll find her again the next time? Or I can simply tell Klaus not to bother. Do we understand each other? I'm going to remove your gag now. I've learned not to let this one speak. She can breathe through her nose. Or not at all, as far as I care."
Miro nodded, and his gag was removed.
"You're no enchanter, but I've heard a bit about what bladesingers can do," Carver said. "Take a look."
Miro's turned to where Carver gestured. "No!" he cried.
A sailor flung his arm, and Miro's armoursilk caught the wind like a kite, flying far into the distance before falling to the sea, finally swallowed by the waves. The sailor then tossed Miro's zenblade over the side. Amber's satchel followed.
"Now you're nothing," Carver said.