Page 44 of Trapped By Claws
Corvin hit the ground hard. Tagger shook his head, hissing and squeaking. He stomped his paws like he was about to attack. But Corvin snapped his fingers at him. "Away, Tagger!" He pushed himself up, wiping the blood from his mouth.
Tagger looked at him, his dark eyes sparkling. Then he bolted under the table.
"Leave the pet alone," Lishen ordered coldly. He clicked his tongue at Corvin as he stood. "You know why we're here."
Corvin pressed his hand to his mouth. He was still bleeding, but there was murder in his eyes as he stared at Lishen. "I donot know. I have already been to the king and answered his questions."
Lishen strode farther into the room, his gaze narrowing as it fell upon the woodstove. "You have made some changes to your residence."
Corvin glared but gave a slight nod. "I also made food."
"You had company?" Lishen gestured toward the washbasin with the second bowl and glass.
Corvin shrugged. "I ate. Then I went to rest, realized I was hungry again and needed to take the medicine. So I got another bowl. Stew's still hot."
Lishen's eyes narrowed. He chuckled, shaking his head. He dipped his finger in the bowl, then nodded. "So it is. I didn't know you had the skill." He drew in a deep breath. "You've been full of surprises." He set his arms akimbo as he strode back. "And we do not like surprises, Corvin."
"I am not aware of any surprises," Corvin answered, his voice low and deadly. Tagger watched with glittering eyes from behind Corvin, teeth still bared. "All has been as it should be."
"Except it hasn't. This last wreck. There are survivors on the island. And they aren't dead. They aren't even close to dead. The leviathans should be hungry. Yet they were sated. As if they had devoured all aboard the vessel, the way it should be. And someone saw you speaking with a dwarf captain."
"I warned him that if he stepped into the waters again while the boundary encompassed the island, he and all with him would die. His luck will not hold out a second time."
Lishen wagged his finger, a slight smile curling at his lips. Black Claws and Blue Ridges started searching the cavern. They opened the doors and the cupboards, rattling about noisily. Black Claws flung open the bedroom door as Blue Ridges searched the guest room.
I held my breath, grateful I hadn't left anything in there. Nothing except my spoon on the woodstove. My stomach twisted.
Corvin remained motionless as Lishen stepped in front of him.
"So you have never met the dwarf captain before?" Lishen asked, his voice almost sickeningly sweet.
"Not that I am aware of," Corvin said calmly. He folded his arms over his chest, his head tilting. His voice had taken a hard edge. "But many have come and gone over the years. I only concern myself with those on ships that stray beyond the boundary and those who require warnings. I do not worry myself with remembering those who live or die. Why burden myself with the useless?"
"Hmmm. Except I am certain I saw that dwarf before. The green and indigo kraken tattoos…they are distinct. Are they not?"
Corvin shrugged. "I don't concern myself with such things."
"What do you concern yourself with?" Lishen demanded.
More dishes clattered and broke. Black Claws started pulling items out of the cupboard by the woodstove. Blue Ridges flung the mats out from the bedroom and ripped one of the blankets in half. The ragged tear of fabric dragged out as Lishen stared Corvin down.
"I concern myself with my duties. I have fulfilled all of them to the letter," Corvin said coldly. "I am charged with ensuring that ships violating the boundary are destroyed. The ship was destroyed. Every ship that has crossed the boundary has been destroyed."
"There was a young woman," Lishen said softly. "A human woman. Where is she, Corvin?"
He gave a bewildered grunt that was actually convincing. His expression remained like granite, blood leaking from his lips, his eyes dead. "Drowned, most likely."
"Strange. All those survivors. And the only one missing is a very pretty human female."
"The sea has no mercy."
"But you do." Lishen stared at him. "And it's a funny little coincidence, isn't it? You're going through your medicine faster too. When you were in the king's court, you informed the warden that you needed more. But you were restocked a month ago. Why are you taking so much more?"
"I was injured. I wasn't aware that there were rations on the medicine. I have been instructed to take it whenever the heat starts. Am I in error?"
"No. We wouldn't want you to die. But we are concerned about why you have suddenly had such a change in your requirements."
Corvin shrugged at this. "I got snagged in the boundary more than once. You know how powerful jellyfish venom is."
