Page 10

Andor

I honestly didn’t think she’d do it, but that’s the second time I underestimated Brynla Aihr, daughter of rebels, before she did something rash. I suppose she’s more like her lineage than I thought.

I watch as she flips over the railing, her dog Lemi leaping clear over it in a frantic pursuit after her, and then I’m running across the deck to look over the side. “Slow the ship, bring her around!” I yell at Toombs, our boatswain.

Down in the surf Brynla and her dog try to swim away from the ship but are pummeled by the waves and smashed against the hull.

She can barely keep her head above the water, perhaps not fully recovered from when I made her unconscious.

I know how to do it so that it disables the person and doesn’t hurt them, even if they’re buzzing with suen magic, but she should still be resting, not swimming in the frigid White Sea.

I sigh heavily, weighing my options as she struggles in the water below.

I know what my father would do. He would let her swim, let her drown, it would make no difference to him.

And part of me wants to let her go. After all, she’s made some fairly stupid decisions so far and is turning out to be more trouble than she’s worth.

But that’s my fault really. I assumed that whatever I offered her would be better than the life she had in the Banished Land. I’ve never been there myself but from the stories I’ve heard, it’s a cruel and rough life without any mercy. I thought she would be begging me to leave.

I didn’t account for her tenacity, spite, and pride, or that she would react without thinking, like she’s doing now. The more I push and corner her, the more she tries to run, even if it hurts her. Even if it kills her.

“Pass me that rope,” I say to Kirney, my right-hand man. “I’m going in after her.”

“You’re daft,” Toombs says as Kirney grabs the nearest rope and I tell him to fasten it around the cleat before I tie the rest around my waist.

I ignore Toombs, climb up on the railing, and jump overboard just as a large wave smashes into the front of the boat, the seas picking up now as if the sorceresses wanted to create an extra challenge for me.

I hit the surface like a net of stones, sinking deep before a wave twists me upside down, the rope tangling in my legs, water going up my nose until it burns. But I find my strength and kick to the surface as another wave breaks over me, the salt stinging my eyes.

The ship has slowed but Brynla and Lemi are still a ways off.

I start swimming toward them in time to see Brynla’s lavender hair disappear beneath the waves.

Her dog sticks its head under, grasping the collar of her shirt with its teeth and pulling her up through the waves, but even with the dog’s strength, I can see he’s struggling in the surf.

I reach Brynla and grasp her by the collar, then grab the thick roll of fur at Lemi’s neck, making sure both of them stay above the surface.

“I’ve got them! Pull us up!” I yell up at the crew, tugging at the rope around my waist just as another wave smashes against the side of the ship.

Slowly, they begin pulling us up the side of the boat.

I hold on to both Brynla and Lemi with all my strength.

Brynla spits out water, stirring in my grasp as she dangles above the waves.

She glances up at me and for a moment I think she’s going to do something foolish again and cause me to let go, but thankfully she goes limp.

“Almost got ye,” Kirney says from above, and with a few more grunts and heave-hos we’re hoisted up to the railing, where the boys pull the three of us over the edge and into a sodden lump on the deck.

Lemi gives his body a thorough shake, drenching the crew with drool and seawater as a result, then comes over to Brynla, licking her face until she sits upright, breathing hard.

For a second I’m jealous of both the dog and Brynla, wondering what it would be like to have someone—human or beast—care that much about you.

“Aye,” Toombs says with a gruff chuckle as he wipes away the drool from his face. “They say it’s bad luck for a woman and a hound to be onboard.” His expression then turns dark. “Maybe next time I don’t stop the ship.”

Despite being an old sea captain who’s worked for my father for many years, Toombs is probably the most moral member of the Kolbeck crew. So when he’s ready to toss someone overboard, I have to wonder if I’ve made some sort of mistake by rescuing the girl.

She hasn’t said anything. She’s sitting with her back against the railing, still catching her breath while her dog lies down beside her, his giant head in her lap. She avoids my eyes and I’m not about to crouch down again. My dick still aches, and not in a good way.

I nod at Toombs. “Get underway again. We’re going straight home.”

“Aye,” Toombs says, heading back to the helm while the rest disperse to help with the sails.

I glance back down at Brynla, watching her for a moment, her chest rising, her focus on her dog.

It’s curious that she’s still struggling to catch her breath.

I know suen gives the user a wide variety of magic and powers and it’s hard to predict what magic will come through for each person, but one thing that seems common in all who consume it is an increase in strength and fitness. Why is she so weak?

Maybe Steiner’s raven, Moon, or my informant got their information wrong. She’s a good fighter, I’ll give her that, and she seems adept at stealing eggs, at least with Lemi’s help. But I’m starting to wonder what her actual magic is, because I’m not seeing it.

That doesn’t mean I should underestimate her again, though.

I reach into my boot and pull out a foot-long knife.

Both Brynla’s and Lemi’s eyes automatically focus on it.

The hilt is carved from bonewood, dotted with various gems, with a silver sword emblem to signify the Kolbecks.

The blade itself is made from semitranslucent water crystal, which, when dry, can cut through anything, even stone.

It doesn’t appear dangerous with its iridescent ridges.

Looks like it’s carved from ice more than anything.

I shake the water off, then blow on it while undoing the rope around my waist.

“What is that?” Brynla asks quietly, and I can see her curiosity overpowering her. So she likes weapons—duly noted.

“This is Dagger,” I tell her, flipping the blade over and over in my hand now.

She coughs. “You named your dagger Dagger?” she asks, deadpan.

“A knife can be your best friend,” I tell her. “Doesn’t your best friend deserve a name?”

Satisfied it’s dry, I bring the dagger down across the rope, cutting it in two like a hot knife slicing through butter, and then before Brynla can ask what’s happening and fight back, I grab her wrists and tie the rope around them tight.

I step back just as Lemi starts to growl at me, showing large, sharp canines.

Shit. I didn’t want the dog to turn on me but I suppose tying up its owner will do that.

I quickly bring out a small vial of tranquilizer I had tucked inside my armor and hold it out for Brynla to see.

“This brought down a dragon; it can bring down your dog. I don’t want to hurt him—and I won’t—but I have no problems putting him to sleep.”

I could add a few more threats in there, but frankly I’d be lying. The only animal I’d ever hurt is a dragon and even then it would be in self-defense, like what happened last night.

Lemi continues to growl, even getting up and stepping toward me. I quickly calculate if I can get the serum in his mouth without losing an arm.

“Lemi,” Brynla warns him with a sigh. “Sit.”

Lemi’s growls disappear and he sits back on his haunches, his tongue hanging out the side, going from a monstrous killer to a giant puppy in seconds.

Then Brynla lifts her hands. “Was it really necessary to tie me up?”

“I’m afraid you’ve taken me by surprise one too many times,” I tell her.

A satisfied smile flashes across her face.

“All right.” She clears her throat and leans back against the railing. “So now what?”

“You’re just going to gloss over the fact that I saved your life a third time?”

“I never asked you to,” she replies. “Not my fault you aren’t able to lose gracefully.”

I blink at her. “Lose gracefully?”

She shrugs. “You weren’t saving me because you wanted to. You saved me because if I died it would have meant you lost.”

“Lost at what?” I frown.

“Whatever game you think you’re playing. The one you’re so desperately trying to make me a part of.”

I suck on my lower lip for a moment. On the one hand, I don’t like how perceptive she is, even if she’s not entirely correct. On the other hand, she’s impressing me.

“I’m not playing a game,” I tell her, sliding the knife back into my boot. “Not with you, anyway. The only game I’m playing is the one we’re all playing.”

“Us against dragons,” she says, her voice going low.

“Us against House Dalgaard,” I tell her. “And in the end, they’re the ones who will lose. As for everything transpiring between you and me, well, that’s a deal. A negotiation that hopefully leads to a partnership.”

She snorts. “This isn’t a negotiation. You’re kidnapping and blackmailing me into working for you.

Which will be your biggest mistake. As long as I’m in your care, you’re going to be looking over your shoulder, waiting for me to betray you.

After all, if I work for you, I’m betraying House Dalgaard.

What makes you so sure I won’t do the same to House Kolbeck?

Highest bidder always wins for thieves like me, don’t they? ”

Finally, something I can work with.

“Because I’ll make it worth your while.”