Page 91 of A Flash of Golden Fire

Captain Martin frowned. “His name is Domingo.”

“But he’s a—”

Captain Martin silenced me with a finger over my lips.

“—very sweet young man with incredible talents and a malleable disposition. Don’t judge me until after. That is, if youdowant to join me. I won’t force you.”

I tried to think of some fitting words. Domingo was a very pretty man, for certain, but I couldn’t decide if it would be worse, or better, to let Captain Martin enjoy him without me. I’d never been confronted with an opportunity like this before.

He leaned toward me. “Do you trust me?”

“I—I—I suppose so.”

Captain Martin smiled. He was so handsome when he smiled, and I was helpless against his charm.

“Then let me help you to experience the beauty of Tortuga, Rooster, in the arms of Domingo and myself this evening. I promise you’ll enjoy yourself.”

“But to waste that much coin!” I couldn’t get over the cost. Fifteen gold pieces would get you a team of good horses back where I’d come from.

“Oh, the expense won’t be a waste. Domingo’s skills are considerable.”

“But…” I was distracted for a moment, wondering what some of those skills might be.

“The others have probably gambled all their gold away by now, or most certainly will have by morning. At least I’m betting on a sure thing,” Captain Martin said, giving me a dreamy, anticipatory look that I’d not seen before.

“I thought… I thought…”

“Oh, I know. You thought I was going to let you sit in a crowded tavern by yourself, or with only Squid for company, and go off with Domingo on my own for a night of illicit passion.”

“Well, yes.”

“Oh no, Rooster. What I am most looking forward to this evening is watching you and Domingo perform various acrobatic maneuvers for my visual enjoyment.”

“Oh…”

“Before I ravage you both, one after the other.”

He lifted his tankard and gulped down a large swallow of ale.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the bobbing of his Adam’s apple. Suddenly parched, I grabbed my own tankard and downed gulps of the brown ale, as Dinesh laughed with unfettered glee. And when our meal arrived, I forgot about everything except the hunk of rich meat in my bowl.

“Easy. We need to be ready for anything when we go up. Domingo is quite dedicated. Part of his popularity.”

I nodded, trying to slow down and chew my food, taking sips of ale between bites. The portions were small, but hearty.

“When he said he needed to get ready…”

The captain gave me a knowing smile. “I imagine he’s cleaning himself out somehow. They have lovely contraptions for that, you know.”

“Wot? You mean… What do you mean?”

“A bladder filled with warm water and a tube will do the trick. Not complicated but very effective to get rid of any…inconvenience.”

So the whore was cleaning himself of shit and any evidence of his last client. Well, that was kind of him, I supposed. Still, what a life. One I’d briefly contemplated out of desperation before making my bid to board theArrow. I enjoyed bed exercises, certainly, perhaps more than most, but only when I could select my bedfellows. I wasn’t sure I could give myself over for a price.

Domingo was either extremely good at his job, or he did actually find Dinesh and I appealing, which I supposed was a good day when it came to whoring. At least the gold pieces Captain Martin was to pay—fifteen gold pieces—would go a long way to keeping Domingo in some level of comfort, which eased my mind a bit. The world was a rough place, and if this was what Domingo had landed on as his best opportunity to live well, who was I to judge him?

Captain Martin took another swig of his ale and relaxed into his seat.