Page 10 of The Lost Child

A wave of unease went through me as a new possibility occurred to me. What if the female was a new test? Master did love his little tests. If he came to see me and there was no food, then the female must have been the battle! She was the test! What if master was trying to see if I remembered the rules? There were only two I could think of that would matter: don’t kill any females who aren’t fighting back and kill anyone who enters the cave.

Hmm. That was a challenge. Which rule was more important, not killing the female or killing anyone in my cave?

I huffed, growling low in my chest.

I would figure it out. Then the next time, I would prove myself worthy. Master was simply testing my knowledge. Helping me grow. Where would I be without him?

My eyes closed for sleep, content enough to have a plan. Inwardly, I hoped the female never set foot inside my cage again. It would be a shame to kill her.

Five

NERISSA

Despite my father claiming there was no need for my continued training or ambitions of leading the company one day, he still sent me out on missions. It enraged me, because it was obvious I was being used despite knowing there was nothing in it for me long-term. Yet, I loved the fighting and the danger. I loved being in charge and giving command, and having others follow.

Of winning.

The next month passed in a haze of fire and gun smoke, each mission harder and more cutthroat than the next. We cut down competing and rival pirate companies, amassing wealth and more men than was probably necessary. I relished the challenge, but the ones that suffered the most were the men.

“Seth! Get to the wheel! Make sure the ship doesn’t run adrift!” I screeched at the blond sailor, who had to be near myself in age, or younger. He’d been a prisoner-turned-company member.

He scowled and clutched his cutlass in his hands. “I can’t steer the shipandfight!”

I whirled around and sliced off the ear of a pirate about to run his blade through my back. The man fell with a cry to the deck, clutching his head.

“Fucking figure it out!” I bellowed at him, but Seth merely backed up against the wall, eyes widely dodging here and there. The weathered coat he wore was much too large, and his skin too clean. How had he possibly survived the tests to become a member?

Fucking useless. “Jagger! Take the wheel!”

My friend immediately spun from his own fight and scaled the rigging, dropping lightly in front of the wheel and taking command. Water splashed around us as rain came from above and below, making the fight even more treacherous.

I didn’t understand why we were attacking this ship. It was headed by Captain Maguire, one of our usual trading allies and rare partners in this business. But my father was notorious for changing his mind, and I wasn’t one to question orders.

“Gerrick! Have you found the captain yet?” I ordered, looking around as the last man was struck down. I was allowed to select a dozen men for the mission, but the ship had been virtually unmanned and unarmed. Not much blood at all had been shed, except for one or two men who hadn’t taken our presence as easily as the others. Only six men total were guarding the ship.

“No sign of ‘im. Or anyone else, fer that matter,” Gerrick huffed, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

I frowned. “See to the men left, and make them man this ship. I’ll take the others back with me on the Tundra and meet you there before we head out. With such a small crew, we’re best off towing this.”

Gerrick nodded and rushed off.

I called the eleven members of my crew over to me, including fucking Seth. We jumped easily over to our own ship, and made ready to go home. I sighed once the familiar wood was under my feet, my hands running over the rails, smooth from decades of hands touching its surface. I knew this ship better than my own hands.

“Set a course to home. Then we celebrate!” I raised my sword in the air, the whistles and small cheers from our tiny group bolstering my spirits.

* * *

Gerrick sat in front of me on the main deck, propped up against the side of the ship. Seth was there, along with a few others I had chosen for this mission, Kai, his twin brother Hai, and Groth. Sitting across from them were Toby and Mullins. Toby was a young boy of ten or so, a quick climber who was being trained to be a lookout on the crow’s nest.

I grasped the tarnished, silver tankard in my hands, turning it around and around rather than drink it.

Gerrick wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, clearly relishing the brew. “Maguire had some good beer. Now what’s wrong with cha?”

Kai and Hai looked up from their card game, and Groth frowned. Seth and Mullins shot a glance at me, waiting for an answer. I was technically their captain, but if anyone could question me and get away with it, it was Gerrick. Alcohol brought out a more fatherly side of him, unlike most of the other men.

I pinched my lips together, unsure how to explain the ball of unease in my chest. Things were shifting and changing rapidly in the company, and between my father and me.

“Did it have something to do with the pirate lord introducing you to Canavar?” Gerrick pressed, one eyebrow raised.

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