Aidan’s expression softened slightly at the bribe, giving the general hope. “I was rescued by the Voidhawk. They saw the danger we faced and came in to save us. They showed bravery. Captain Silvercloud’s crew showed me the true value of life. Every one of them risked their lives for each other… even when death seemed unavoidable.”

“The life of all men is not worth more than the life of one,” he said, drawing a pistol he had been given by Rosh from the ship’s stores.

“Even now they have set sail and are leaving this world behind with stores of goods I have given them from your supply tents. Never again will you have their help; you do not deserve it.” Aidan glanced at the slave girl and saw her cowering behind a chest, pretending to hide.

He looked back to Havamyr, who had not moved so stunned was he by his subordinates change of allegiance. “You’re a traitor!” He snapped. “I’ll have you flogged publicly and covered in honey then staked out in the sun for the insects and birds to feast upon!”

“If stopping the madness that weakens our people makes me a traitor, then I wear the title with honor. If fighting back against the cruel dominion of the Azmir is wrong, then I shall never be right again,” Aidan paused and smiled coldly. “If killing you brands me, then I shall shout the price upon my head with pride in every city I enter.”

Havamyr’s fists clenched in impotent rage. His jaw trembled with anger and his nostrils flared with frenzied breath. Finally he said, “One scream and my guards will be here!”

“Don’t bother,” Aidan said. “The thunder from this wand will carry further than any scream you could manage.”

A feral grin upon his face, the former commander squeezed the trigger.

Chapter 10: The Festival of Lords

“Where are we bound for?” Xander asked as Dexter and a few of the crew sat around the table eating a meal.

Rosh snorted. “Don’t matter much,” he muttered, “we ain’t got no money for nothing.”

“There’s been a foul run of luck,” Jodyne said, setting a bowl of stew in front of Dexter.

Dexter nodded to her then turned to look at Rosh, “Speak what’s on your mind,” he said, clearly in no mood for the large man’s griping.

Willa put her good hand on Rosh’s arm, trying to calm him. He ignored her though, and instead stared back at Dexter. “I’m just saying we ain’t been paid in a while,” he said.

“I know you ain’t no better off,” he added, seeing Dexter’s face darken. He hesitated briefly before starting again. “Maybe that’s just it. Maybe we need something different around here to change our luck.”

Dexter’s eyes narrowed. He stood up and looked at Rosh; glared at him, actually. “Leave the table and keep your thoughts to your own,” he growled at him.

Rosh stood up as well, glaring right back. He opened and shut his lips a few times then scowled and grabbed his bowl, slopping some over the side. “You asked,” he mumbled, then turned and stalked off to his cabin.

Willa watched, her eyes going back and forth between the large man and the captain. She looked torn as to what to do. Dexter closed his eyes and took a deep breath, then turned to the others.

“Anybody else feeling that way?” he asked them. Only Willa, Xander and Jodyne were present, but they all were quick to shake their heads.

“Change your mind, feel free to leave at the next port,” he said, then turned to leave with his stew untouched.

“Captain, where is the next port?” Xander asked again, though in a softer voice.

Dexter glanced at the wizard and said, “Little out of the way place I found on an old chart, name’s Corona.”

Xander’s brow creased as he tried to place the name. He had heard of it before, he just could not remember when. Dexter waited a few more seconds for any follow up questions, then headed off to his room.

“You seem different,” Bailynn said to Logan as they worked some lines on the deck. Keshira was off tending another sail by herself, using her unnatural strength to do the work of two men.

Logan shrugged, but found himself smiling. “Aye, I am. I never thought I’d be happy to leave my world behind, but up here I can feel free.”

“Why?” she asked, still confused.

“You were once cursed and shackled to be a slave, right?” he asked her. She nodded, hiding the shame and the pain the memories brought her. “On Azmir I was cursed as well, and while no man or woman owned me, my actions and thoughts were not always my own.”

Bailynn nodded. “I think I understand,” she said. “Except I still do not know freedom,” she added.

“Why not, aren’t you free now? The Captain seems big on that.”

Bailynn shrugged, pretending what he said had not hurt her. It reminded her that she was not important to the Captain… or any of them, really. She was just a body doing work, like Keshira. They might as well be sails or ropes themselves.

“Bekka holds the ring they used to control me,” she said, blinking back her tears.

“Does she… have they ever used it?” he asked, genuinely surprised. His heart went out to the woman, and he actually found his hand on her back.

She shook her head. “No, the Captain said they never would, unless I lost control of myself and attacked them.”

“I don’t know your story,” Logan admitted, “but you seem sane enough to me. Why not ask her for it?”

“She’s supposed to be finding a way to destroy it,” Bailynn said, offering a smile up at Logan as appreciation for his compassion.

“Well then there’s no reason for you to feel threatened. You’re as free as any of us,” he said.

She smiled again and nodded, then shrugged. “I guess you’re right… but I feel no different.”

Logan chuckled warmly. “Well Bailynn, I can think of no better place to be for people like us. We are a danger to our friends and family, and are cast aside because of it. But here,” he said, glancing meaningfully onto the forecastle, “is a place where I think we can safely make new friends and family.”

“My world places no value on the life of others,” he explained. “But I have seen the Captain show more care and concern in only a short time then I saw in my entire life on Azmir.”

“You’re talking about her, aren’t you?” Bailynn asked, referring to Jenna.

He nodded. “Anybody on my world would have cast her aside immediately. Even when Bekka rushed forward to cry out for her.”

“Our Captain stayed his hand though,” he said, remembering the scene. “He…well, you were there, you saw what happened.”

Bailynn nodded and glanced up to the forecastle as well. Then a shifting rope pulled at her hand and she had to refocus quickly on their task. They were pulled apart as the ship tacked into the solar wind, and each found themselves lost in their own thoughts and remembrances.

Bekka had rushed forward, calling out frantically, “Dexter, wait!”

The Captain hesitated, then did as she bade him, withholding the final pound of pressure that would push the trigger past its release point.

“Were you scratched or bitten?” Bekka asked her.

Jenna looked up, trails of tears running down her cheeks. “Was I what? I was scratched. His fingers tore through-‘

“The curse is spread when they bite,” Bekka said, turning back to Dexter quickly and interrupting the elf.

His face was one of warring emotions. He refused to look away from Jenna for a long minute, and the elf’s gaze was tied with his own. Finally Dexter ordered her confined in a cargo hold, just in case. Jenna nodded and smiled, hopeful tears now streaming from her eyes. She reached for Bekka’s to hug her, but saw the alarmed

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