Page 76 of Blood of Dragons
Squid stepped away from the blade. “I follow orders from the captain—not from you.”
“Then I’ll do it.” I turned to the women and started to cut their ropes.
They sobbed and thanked me, bowing their heads in gratitude.
“Get the captain,” Squid ordered. “Now.”
I cut all the women free. “Go. Quickly.”
They rushed off down the pier, taking off at a dead run to get farther and clear of the ship.
Captain Blackstorm climbed down the ladder a moment later and immediately looked at Squid. “What’s the problem?”
Squid shifted his angry stare to me.
“I ordered Squid to release the women. He refused, so I did it myself.”
Captain Blackstorm turned his stare back to me, his eyes cold. “You had no authority to do that. I’m the captain, and you serve me.”
“And if you want me to continue to serve you, then we don’t take women. Accept my terms—or I’ll walk.”
He stared me down, his eyes shifting back and forth between mine.
I openly opposed his authority, and there would be repercussions for that. But I stood by my decision. “There are brothels in almost every port. Be patient and get your jollies off there. I will not command a ship while women are being forced underneath. That’s not the kind of man I am, and you shouldn’t want to be that kind of man either.”
Captain Blackstorm continued his stare, like he didn’t know what to do. To keep his authority, he couldn’t let anyone oppose him. He would lose the respect of the crew. But I was a special sailor, the best with the blade, and I’d won them fights they would have lost. I’d become essential to his crew, and he knew it. “I accept your terms, Commander Talon. Now, let’s finish loading the supplies and head on our way.” He turned back to the ladder and climbed up, dismissing the matter.
Squid didn’t hide his surprise and his disappointment. When he looked at me, his expression was full of disdain.
“You have a problem, Squid?”
He immediately looked away. “No problem…Commander.”
8
TALON
I lit the cigar and let it sit in my mouth. I sat behind the desk in my study, the window behind me cracked to let the fresh air into the room. Winter was still present, but its harshness had faded as spring started to make its slow appearance.
Can we speak?
About?
You know what.
I relaxed into the chair and let the smoke absorb on my tongue before I finally released it.I’ve waited a long time for this. I’m not waiting any longer. We’ll prepare the ships to sail to the Southern Isles. Order the soldiers to vacate their lands and travel to the shores for departure.
But we have no dragons.
I’m not waiting another ten years for that.
Then we’ll both die as failures.
Khazmuda, I’ve looked everywhere for these fucking dragons. Calista won’t tell me what she knows, and since I don’t know where the fuck she is either, we’re back to where we started. I have the power of Bahamut in my grasp. I will take my revenge with my blade and my rage.
I understand you’re upset about Calista, but running into battle unprepared is not the answer.
I sail with ten thousand soldiers and a mighty dragon.It will be enough.