Sword Born-Sword Dancer 5 by Jennifer Roberson Read Free Book Online

to a man who could not swim, and now had no horse to do it for him. The third point depressed that same man because she made perfect sense: Del and I couldn't sail this ship. And unless we killed every man aboard once we killed their captain, we wouldn't even get a chance to try to sail this ship.
    An idea bloomed. I very carefully did not look at Del.
    The woman saw me not looking, saw Del not looking back, and laughed. "That is why he is chained up," she said, grinning broadly, "in a locked cabin."
    Del and I now exchanged looks, since it didn't matter. So much for the captain of our former ship, who likely could tell us how to sail our present one. If we killed everyone else first, starting with this captain and her colorful first mate.
    "You can try to get him out, I suppose," the woman said musingly, "but we would immediately kill him, which would undoubtedly upset him, and then where would you be?"
    "Where are we?" I asked, irritated. She wasn't taking any of this seriously.
    "Oh, about five days' sail from Skandi," she answered, "and a lot more than that from wherever you came from." True. "Now, to business: Who in this world would pay coin to keep your hides whole?"
    Promptly, Del and I pointed at one another.
    "No, no," the woman declared crossly, "that is unacceptable. You cannot pay her ransom"--this was to me--"because you have nothing at all to pay with; and she cannot pay your ransom"--a glance at Del--"because she does not either." She arched coppery brows and indicated the ocean beyond the rail. "So, shall I have you heaved over the side?"
    "How about not?" I countered, comprehending a distinct preference for staying put on deck.
    "Why not?" The woman affected melodramatic puzzlement. "You have no coin, you have no one but one another to buy your hides, and you are no use to anyone at all as sailors." She paused. "What would you do with you?"
    The tattooed sailor grunted. "Shall I tell you, captain?"
    "How's your ankle?" I asked pointedly.
    "How is your jaw?" he asked back.
    "Boys," Del muttered in deep disgust, which elicited a delighted grin from the--female--captain.
    "No, I want them to tell me." She rode the deck easily as the boat skimmed wind-ruffled waves, thick tail of hair whipping down across one delicate shoulder. "If they can."
    "I'm sure I can think of something," I offered. "Eventually."
    "Well, when you do, come back and see me." The woman flapped an eloquent hand.
    "Now, run along and play."
    FOUR
    I SETTLED ON fat coilings of heavy rope and looked at Del, who stood at the stem of the ship with her back to the rail. Wind whipped her hair into a shrouding tangle until she caught and braided it, then stuffed the plait beneath the neckline of her tunic.
    We consulted quietly, but with precision. "So, what do we know, bascha?"
    "There are eight men, and one woman."
    All eight men and the woman were busy sailing the boat through roughening waters and a potential storm, judging by the look of the sky; we'd made certain before taking up our present positions no one was close enough to hear. "And three prisoners."
    "One of whom could sail this ship, but is chained and locked into a cabin." She paused.
    "While the other two are seemingly without recourse."
    "Seemingly, yes. For the moment." I considered the odds. "Eight men, one woman. Nine swords we know about, probably more; double the number of knives and assorted stickers, I'd bet."
    "And any number of things with which to bash us over the head," Del added.
    "Yes, but those items are just as available to us." I patted the top coil of rope, thinking of chains and hooks and lengths of wood. "We can improvise almost anything."
    She crossed her arms, swaying elegantly with the motion of the ship. "An option," she agreed, though she did not sound convinced. "And?"
    "And ..." I tongued the inside of my cheek where the splinter had pierced it. "Men are frequently taken by you, my Northern bascha. If the captain were male--"
    "She isn't."
    "No, but--"
    "She