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“Aye.”
“Sure thing.”
They both enter the cell, Deros standing near the door while Wallov goes in all the way. There are two pirates in this cell. The younger one stands up and tries to give Wallov some trouble, but Wallov shoves him backward, sending him to the ground and leaving a free trail to Kearan.
Kearan’s slumped on the floor, but he stands quickly. “No need for force, mate. I’ve got no reason not to come willingly.”
Wallov lets him walk back on his own, but he keeps an eye on Kearan. He’s got strong arms and sharp eyes, that Wallov.
Deros locks the cell back up while Wallov brings Kearan to me. I’m standing back over by the entryway to the brig. No need for all the pirates to hear what I’m about to offer him. Might give them all the wrong idea. For Kearan is one of only two men I intend to recruit.
“Kearan?”
“Yes?” he asks, not bothering to tack on any sort of civil title. Even in such a dire situation, he has his come-what-may attitude.
“One of my good women died in the skirmish. A spot’s opened up on my crew. I could use a navigator like yourself. Are you interested?”
“It’s been only a month since you tried to kill me. Now you want to hire me?” He doesn’t look confused or scared or even grateful. Just bored.
“I know. I’m questioning it myself.”
“What’ll happen if I say no?”
“You’ll stay down here until I either kill you or… well, killing you is probably the only option.” I don’t want to tell him I’d let him go. He can’t think he has too many options. Besides, once he spends some time on my ship, he won’t regret the decision.
“With such gracious options like those, how can I choose?”
I cross my arms. “I think I’m being more than fair. You’re lazy, and you wouldn’t need to contribute all that often.”
“In the meantime, will I stay down here?”
“No, you’ll be on probation, free to roam the ship with a guard trailing you. Once I feel I can trust you, I’ll remove that.”
Kearan scratches at the stubble on his face, thinking it over.
I add, “We have a rather large rum storage.”
“I’ll do it.”
“I thought you might say that. Now, report up top. Go introduce yourself to the helmsman.”
“Aye.” He starts to leave.
“Kearan.” I stop him.
“Yes?”
“You will address me as ‘Captain’ from now on.”
He looks down at the floor for a moment, as though this might change his mind. Finally, he says, “Aye, Captain.”
“Good.”
He leaves, and I grab Wallov’s attention again. “Now I need that one. The man with the pearls.”
Enwen is the only one in the cell. He comes strolling out as soon as it opens.
“Miss Alosa,” he says. “I see the bracelet brought you luck after all.”
