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point.
 Aye,  tis the way of it, lad, Jasper laughed, pleased, as she was forced to retreat from
Torin s advance.
Torin, it turned out, was a natural with a sword, as if he had been handling the weapon his
entire life, confidence pouring off him. Torin had started to swagger. It made Gin want to get the
man alone and naked in a locked room for a few hours. But then again,  twas not an usual feeling
for him.
At first, Torin had been nervous about the prospect of having such lessons when the subject
was first broached that evening after Nova Blast had sailed off.
 I am not that sort of man, pirate. Torin looked up from his meal. They were in the galley
for dinner.
 I would have ye protected. Today offered a mighty scare. Nova was not cur, but what if he
had been? Aye, most of our crew is experienced with a sword, but we are few. Overwhelmed we
could have been, and  tis more than possible that I would not have been there to keep ye safe. I
would not lose ye.
 Gin, Torin worried his lower lip a moment,  are you certain  tis necessary? I am not a fit
man, nor a quick one. I& 
Jasper laughed as she sat at the table, having been eavesdropping.  Why the worry, lad? A
fine swordsman ye will make. Why would ye think otherwise?
 Never have I handled one before. Such a thing, it made my mother nervous. We eth
Welexes& 
 Pesh! Jasper waved that off,   Tis a foolish notion. Besides, the blood of my brother ye
carry and a Champion he was all over Dahrè.
 He was?
 Aye. Jasper s eyes went unfocused for a moment remembering her brother, but then
shook her head, pushing the past away.  Also will I be teaching Lemon and she is most excited
by the prospect. Remember,  tis an adventure ye both are on.
 Very well.
Gin whooped, his hands flinging into the air, seeing Torin nearly dislodge Jasper s sword
from her hand. His heart sped up when Torin offered him a cocky grin. Oh aye, the man made
him hot.
Well, if Torin did lose weight from the exertion, he would just have to make certain that his
lover ate more.
 Lesson is not over, nephew. Keep yer attention upon me. Nae, better yet&  Jasper
motioned to Lemon.  Keep yer attention upon Lemon,  tis she who will now be yer opponent.
Jasper sat next to Gin on the steps, nudged him companionably.  Much does he remind me
of his father with that sword, his ease with it. Always did I hate how simple  twas for Slate.
 Do ye say  twas difficult for ye and a liar I will call ye.
  Twas easier for me than for most others, but for Slate& A cocky bastard he was when
each time he knocked the sword from my hand. Though a day did come when his arrogance
played in my favor and he left himself most open. Not only did I unsword him, I had him go
down upon a knee in defeat.
 Should not older siblings defeat their younger siblings?
 Mayhap, but  tis the younger sibling s desire to defeat the older, wishing for said sibling s
respect. Lemon, watch yer stance, ye leave yerself open. Grow not so arrogant, Torin, that way
leads to trouble.
Gin thought about that for a moment. Was Rum trying to earn his respect with all the extra
studying he did with sword and fists? Each time Rum defeated him while wrestling?  Never did I
hear such a thing.
 Of course not, the older sibling ye are.
 Only by three minutes.
 And according to Rune, ye make certain yer brother knows it well. Rune mentioned that
Rum had wished to hold blade to the Minister Prime of Terlyra and force all he knew about yer
parents last voyage.
  Twas a foolish idea, he grumbled.
Jasper flicked Gin s ear.  Nae, lad,  twas a fine idea,  tis what my father did after learning of
Whiskey s death. A fool my father was not.
 And there was naught to learn, was there? He rubbed his ear.
 Debloos were placed within his bank, though he claimed to not know by whom, to have yer
parents deliver the chocolate themselves.
Gin jumped up from his seat on the stairs, hands fisted, face red, temper exploding.
 Minister Prime! Fucking Minister Prime and& 
 A bribe he gladly took.  Tis not an unusual occurrence for someone such as he.
 Pirate, is all well? Torin had stopped fencing, was in fact approaching Gin, worried over
the sudden burst of anger.
Gin took several deep breaths before turning towards Torin, smiling, wishing to ease his
mind.  Aye, love, aye. Cease not yer practice, I have enjoyed watching ye.
Torin crossed his arms, waited, and so Gin closed the distance between them. He brushed a
bead of sweat from Torin s brow with the pad of his thumb. He looked forward to when Torin
bathed afterwards; he never seemed to mind that he watched.
 All is well, and  tis the truth I enjoy watching ye practice. Yer progress is most thrilling.
 I dislike being lied to, but I will allow this to pass. He turned away and returned to fencing
with Lemon.
 I will& This eve, I will explain. Gin offered another smile hoping Torin would return it.
 A promise.
 Gin, sit. Talented he may be, but still is he in need of much practice, Jasper admonished.
 Aye, the proper way that is, Lemon. Torin, concentrate; worry not of Gin. If ye allow yer mind
to lose focus within a fight, the odds are raised for injury.
* * *
Gator stared at the large boat tied near the end of the pier, the nude carving of a buxom maid
upon the prow, certain his eyes had to be deceiving him. Surely the bastard had sailed to a
different section of the world. Had that not been the plan after landing upon Thesop, to sail to the
Southeastern seas? To visit with Granny Crimson?
He started frantically looking about him, searching for the flame hair of his father, thoughts
of& Guilt assailed him as he discovered that his hands had curled into tight fists.
 Is all well, lad? Rune placed his hand on Gator s shoulder, tried to see what he looked for.
  Tis The Oil Rag. He motioned toward the boat.  What do I do?
 What goes on? Jag crossed his arms over his chest. He liked Gator, he was even coming to
like Rune, but that they were pirates still did not sit well with him. That he wanted vengeance
against those who wronged him on The Mistress Grey&
 The boat, belongs it does to Rigger Boots, my father.  Twas he who abandoned me upon
Thesop. Were it not for Gin&  His teeth snapped together, clenched, the feel of betrayal souring [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]