“You can’t let him go,” Julian said, indicating the remaining pirate. “He will bring down his entire collective—” He sighed. “Too late.”
Selena turned. The pirate who’d been staring at the stump of his arm was gone. Another wave of dizziness crashed over her. Julian Tergus made to steady her but she waved him off with disgust.
“Leave me alone.”
When the dizziness passed, she tromped through the mud passed him, stepping over the body of the pirate she’d stabbed, and out onto the street. Sloshing steps told her he followed.
“You know, you could use a little godly intervention yourself,” Julian said, catching up to her in two long strides. He gestured at her face where her cheek was scraped raw, and at her arm that still bled. He held up his cigarillo. “And you sound like you smoke about fifty of these a day.”
She whirled on him and almost fell again. This time, Julian’s hand shot out and steadied her. His voice hardened. “You should have let him die.”
Selena tore out of his grasp. “What do you want?”
“I don’t think you heard my introduction. I’m Captain Julian Tergus.”
She stopped as his words struck home. “A captain. You have a ship?”
“I do.”
“I need a ship,” she blurted. Her head reeled and her limbs felt heavy, as if she were walking underwater. This isn’t safe. Got to get back.
“So I’ve heard,” Julian said. “This entire putrid little island has heard. But you’re in luck. I’m for hire. I’ll take you to Isle Saliz. You and your lizards and your shapeshifters and anyone else crazy enough to sail with you.”
Selena’s hopes soared and then darkened again. “Those men attacked me. And you just watched.”
“Haven’t we discussed this already?”
“Why didn’t you help me?”
Julian Tergus’ expression grew serious. “Because Saliz is no pleasure isle. Because the voyage is long and through rough seas. Because the waters around the island are filled with danger: nasty creatures that have been known to take down ships larger than my Black Storm. And if we make it there with our skins intact for whatever business you have, Saliz itself is a thick tangle of jungle filled with the gods’ know what horrors within.”
“Yes? It is all those things. And?”
Julian peered hard at her. “I wanted to make sure the woman who is going to be taking my crew and my ship into such a dangerous place has the mettle for it. I won’t be doing your dirty work for you.”
The two regarded each other on the street that was still mostly empty. He was tall and handsome and broad-shouldered and skilled with a weapon. But Julian’s gray-green eyes—the color of sea glass or the shallows after a storm—met hers and there was a coldness in them she didn’t like.
“I’m sure the coin I’m prepared to pay would help ease your concerns.”
His cold expression shattered as his face broke out in the rakish grin that bothered her more than it set her at ease.
“That too.”
Selena hugged herself, pondering what to do next.
“Come,” Julian said. “You’re shivering, though it’s hotter than a potter’s kiln out here.”
Selena glanced at him sharply but he pressed on.
“There’s a tavern not three steps yon. It isn’t much to look at but it has a hearth in the common room. I’m sure the barkeep can be persuaded to light it for you, for a penny or three. You can warm yourself over a drink and we can discuss the particulars of our arrangement.”
Selena nodded. “Very well. After you,” she told him, her hand resting on her sword.
He grinned. “If you insist.”
She did not smile back. “I do.”
Captain Tergus
The Whitecaps was a name that made Selena think of clean white linens and porcelain coffee cups. Instead, the tavern was dim and dingy, with wooden slats for walls that were stained with the soot and smoke of a thousand cigarillos, and from lamps that left oily smudges climbing their cups. The common room was packed with grizzled old sea dogs. It did have a hearth, as Captain Tergus had promised, with a pot of hot cider set over it to boil. The tables before it were empty, its heat keeping the sailors away. Selena sat as close to the fire as she could and when the cider was ready, she took a mug. The mug was chipped and not altogether clean, but the tingle of warmth on her fingers helped a little.
Julian Tergus watched her from across the small table. He drank red wine, grimacing at the first taste and then leaving it alone. “Something to eat?” he said. “I can’t vouch for the cleanliness of the plate they’ll bring it on, but their pickled herring won’t kill you.”
“No, thank you.” Selena inched closer to the fire. Her clothing was soaked through and try as she might, she could not still her shivering.
I should have gone back to the inn as now I’ll have to explain this.
“You have rooms near here?” she asked the captain.
“Do I live on Uago, you mean?” Julian said. “I’m no pirate. My home is my ship.”
“What is it you do, Captain?” Selena sipped her cider. It smelled better than it tasted.
“I transport cargo. Passengers. Whatever needs to get from here to there.”
Selena was about to ask another question when a strong shiver wracked her. She felt the weight of Julian’s gaze on her, watching her hands tremble enough to spill her cider.
“Are you ill?” he asked slowly. “Can’t say I’d be too eager to take you onboard, close quarters, if you’re ill.”
“I’m not sick,” Selena said. “Tell me about your ship.”
“Tell me why you’re shivering as though we were in the Ice Isles in the middle of winter, instead of on Uago at summer’s end.”
“No.” Selena set down her cider mug. “Despite what you said about testing my ‘mettle’ this is your interview, not mine. I owe you nothing until I decide to hire you and your ship, which I have not yet done. Should we come to some sort of agreement, I will tell you what you need to know about my…situation.”
Julian sat back in his chair. “Fair enough. We can pretend that you have a half-dozen other captains waiting to be interviewed after me, each with a ship as fast as mine and each with the same willingness to sail you through dangerous waters to a dangerous island. To say nothing of taking aboard your dragonman.”
Selena cast her gaze to the flames. “I’m tired of this island and its men,” she murmured. She caught him watching her with a milder expression. “Don’t pity me, Captain Tergus. Just tell me what I wish to know.”
“Very well. She’s a brigantine. One hundred and ten spans long.”
“Small,” Selena commented. “Two masts?”
“Of course. But topsail gaff-rigged and speedy as you could want.”
“Guns?”
“Four, and I don’t want more. I won’t have her blown to bits in a gunfight she’s not going to win. She’ll outrun any ship that thinks to make trouble.”
“Good. I don’t care for cannons. Or flintlocks, or any other gun for that matter.”
“Way of the world now,” Julian said with a shrug.
“Cabin space? I’ll want my own cabin, if that’s possible.”