Page 73 of Wicked Tides
“She miss you,” she said in a heavily accented voice.
I raised my brows at her. “You’ve learned how to speak their language.”
“Little,” she nodded, gesturing with her hands. “Maps. I help.”
“You learn fast. What is your name?”
“I, Sakari. Ahnah,” she said, pressing her hand to her chest. “Mother… my sister…” She gestured to her belly, unable to find the words.
“Your niece. Her mother is your sister.”
“Yes,” she said, somewhat uncertain.
“And the others?”
She started to explain in her own language, peppering words I could understand in the mix like “home” and “taken.”
I got the picture. Then she proceeded to tell me the other girls’ names. Kimi. Aponi. Halona. Knowing their names made a difference. Since much of my purpose had been stripped in recent days, I made them my new purpose, and knowing their names solidified my decision. I would need something to drive me until the day came that I could get my revenge the way I intended to get it.
After what seemed like ages, there was a knock at the door. I walked over and opened it to find Vidar leaning on the doorframe. Downstairs, the tavern sounded livelier and someone was even playing music, though the singing left something to be desired.
“Thought everyone should eat,” Vidar said, looking past me at the girls.
Half of them were already sleeping, but the other half were alert and attentive. I glanced back at Sakari.
“Hungry?” I said, gesturing to my mouth.
She nodded and without hesitation, I stepped out of the room, skirting past Vidar and heading to the stairs.
“You should stay close,” he said, catching up to me.
“Why? Do I not look human enough to blend in?”
“You look plenty human to the untrained eye, but that other ship just docked and men from the sea like pretty women. Keep your hat on.”
I looked over my shoulder at him and narrowed my eyes.
“Feeling protective?”
“Of the others, perhaps, because I know what you’d do to them if they even put a finger on you.” To drive the point home, he lifted his hand where two wooden fingers were strapped on in place of the ones I’d taken. “I don’t want a scene.”
I rolled my eyes and continued into the tavern where the men from the Rose were eating stew and drinking warm ale.
“I’ll try to contain myself,” I mumbled.
I walked up to the bar where the plump woman was lining wooden mugs out to be filled. She caught sight of me as soon as I arrived and instantly her expression warmed.
“Ah! A lady in my tavern. Color me pleased. It’s not often we get feminine faces in this port.”
I smiled at her, leaning forward. “I’ve got a whole room of young ladies upstairs and they’re famished.”
“Saw those girls when you all came in.” Her eyes moved to Vidar, who took up the space beside me, and her face soured. “Thought Cap’n Bone Heart here was doing a different sort of business.”
“Thelasa, you wound me,” he said, pressing a hand to his chest. “You don’t think they’re a bit young for me?”
“You’d be surprised what kind of nasty business I see passing through here.”
“I’m never surprised,” Vidar said under his breath, placing a few coins on the counter. “Fresh loaves of bread, cheese, and stew for six mouths.”
