down in the hold.”
“I want to see him.”
“Cap’n, I swear to ye, I ain’t done nothin’ to him.”
“I know, Bull,” Raithen said. “My reasons are my own.”
“Aye, sir.” Bull took a massive key ring from his waist sash, then knocked the contents of his pipe into the river. No fires except the watch’s lanterns were allowed down in the hold, and those were taken there seldom.
Bull walked into the small cargo hold. Raithen followed, inhaling the familiar stink. When he’d been with the Westmarch Navy, ships were not allowed to stink so. Sailors had been kept busy cleaning them out, dosing them with salt water and vinegar to kill any fungus or mold that tried to leach into the wood.
The boy was kept in the small brig in the stern of the cog.
After unlocking the brig door, Bull shoved his big head in, then pulled it out just as quickly. He reached up and caught a board aimed at his face, then tugged on it.
The boy flopped onto the ship’s deck, landing hard on his belly and face. Quick as a fish taken out of water, the boy tried to get to his feet. Bull pinned him to the ship’s deck with one massive boot.
Incredibly, the boy revealed a huge knowledge of vituperative name-calling.
“Like I said, cap’n,” Bull said with a grin, “this ’un here, why, he’d make for a fine pirate, he would.”
“Captain?” the boy squalled. Even trapped under Bull’s foot, he craned his head around and tried to gaze up. “You’re the captain of this pigsty? Why, if I was you, I’d sew a bag for my head and only leave myself one eyehole out of embarrassment.”
In the first real amusement he’d felt that night, Raithen glanced down at the boy. “He’s not afraid, Bull?”
“Afraid?” the boy squealed. “I’m afraid I’m going to die of boredom. You’ve had me for five days now. Three of them spent here in this ship. When I get back to my da and he speaks with his brother, the king, why, I’ll come back here and help wallop you myself.” He clenched his fists and beat the deck. “Let me up, and give me a sword. I’ll fight you. By the Light, I’ll give you the fight of your life.”
Truly taken aback by the boy’s demeanor, Raithen studied him. The boy was lean and muscular, starting to lose his baby fat. Raithen guessed he was eleven or twelve, possibly even as much as thirteen. A thick shock of dark hair crowned the boy’s head, and the lantern light revealed that he had gray or green eyes.
“Do you even know where you’re at, boy?” Raithen asked.
“When the king’s navy pays you off or tracks you down,” the boy said, “I’ll know where you are. Don’t you think that I won’t.”
Squatting down, holding the lantern close to the boy’s face, Raithen shook the dagger sheathed along his arm free again. He rammed the point into the wooden deck only an inch from the boy’s nose.
“The last person to threaten me tonight,” Raithen said in a hoarse voice, “died only minutes ago. I won’t mind killing another.”
The boy’s eyes focused on the knife. He swallowed hard but remained silent.
“I’ll have your name, boy,” Raithen said.
“Lhex,” the boy whispered. “My name is Lhex.”
“And you are the king’s nephew?”
“Yes.”
Raithen turned the knife blade, catching the lantern light and splintering it. “How many sons does your father have?”
“Five. Counting me.”
“Will he miss one of them?”
Lhex swallowed again. “Yes.”
“Good.” Raithen raised the lantern, getting it out of the boy’s eyes and letting him see the smile on his face. “This doesn’t have to go hard for you, boy. But I mean to have the information I came here for tonight.”
“I don’t know anything.”
“We’ll see.” Raithen stood. “Get him up, Bull. I’ll talk to him in the brig.”
Bending down, keeping his foot in place, Bull caught the boy’s shirt in one massive hand and lifted him. Without apparent effort, he carried the boy back into the small brig. With exaggerated gentleness, Bull placed the boy against the far wall, then stood by him.
“You can leave, Bull,” Raithen said.
“Cap’n,” Bull protested, “maybe ye ain’t yet figured out exactly what this little snot is capable of.”
“I can handle a small boy,” Raithen said, hanging the lantern on a hook on the wall. He took the key from Bull and sent the pirate on his way with a look. Gripping the bars of the door with one hand, Raithen closed the door. The clang of metal on metal sounded loud in the enclosed space.
Lhex started to get to his feet.
“Don’t stand,” Raithen warned. “If you insist on standing, I’ll use this dagger and nail you to the wall behind you by one hand.”
Freezing halfway to his feet, Lhex looked at Raithen. The look was one of childhood innocence and daring, trying to ascertain if the pirate captain had meant what he’d said.
Raithen maintained his icy stare, knowing he’d carry out the action he’d threatened.
Evidently, Lhex decided he would, too. Grimacing, the boy sat, but he did so with stubbornness, keeping his knees drawn up and placing his back securely against the wall behind him.
“You must think you’re something,” Lhex snarled. “Menacing a kid like that. What’d you do for breakfast? Kick a puppy?”
“Actually,” Raithen said, “I had one beheaded and rendered out to serve you for breakfast chops. They tell me it fried up like chicken for your noonday meal.”
Horror flirted with Lhex’s eyes. He remained silent, watching Raithen.
“Where did you get such an attitude, boy?” the pirate captain asked.
“My parents blame each other,” Lhex said. “I think I get it from them both.”
“Do you think you’re going to get out of here alive?”
“Either way,” the boy said, “I’m not getting out of here scared. I’ve done that till I’m sick of it. I threw up the first three days.”
“You’re a most unusual boy,” Raithen said. “I wish I’d gotten to know you sooner.”
“Looking for a friend?” Lhex asked. “I only ask because I know most of these pirates are afraid of you. They’re not here because they like you.”
“Fear is a far better tool for command than friendship,”
