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"Neverye, " One-Eye whispered as they nearedtheoffsoed his shoulder, getting a better grip on Daniel before ruh on thatShe’ll let us get yeup there and all; then old Henrywill talk hersoe hermindHappens all the time"

"She often decides to have people killed? " Daniel asked incredulously as he bobbed on Bull’s shoulder, then lifted his head totry to avoid knocking it repeatedly against the man’swide back

"Nay, " One-Eye admitted reluctantly "As far as Ican recall, she’s never ordered it afore" When Daniel cursed at that, he added cal She’s notorderedanyonekilled ere now, so she’s not likely to startwith you Shelikes you"

"You could have fooled ain wearilyThehisheadatsuch an aard angle

"Idon’t know, One-Eye, "the other fellow trailing argued "She looked pretty riled to , she has soordered someone killed Twicenow"

"She did not, "One-Eyedenied

"Aye, shedidLe, then tossed overboard for shark bait"

One-Eye’s rimly "Those were the rules, Jackson We all know therules Weweretold ’ened up Yer to leave ’prudent wo, else yer donein We all know that"

"Aye, " Jackson agreed with disgust, then turned to Daniel’s bouncing head to explain, "It’s a wo She’sa woainsta , " One-Eye snapped impatiently"That rule was ot it froat all ’Tain’tdecent to be forcing somethin’on a lady that she don’t want, and if ye’re having to be told that, ye’ll froot a sister or nothing? "

"No"

"What of aotsone of theo to visit her one day and find soed"I’dbe asking what she was doing letting hiing frorimly

"And just likeshedid for Lemmy and Jake, she’llsimplysay, ’You knohat must be done, ’ then leave andwait inher cabin, "

One-Eye predicted He peered down at Daniel and explained

"She’s got no sto It’s why I’one to her cabin She’s still standing on the deck, letting Henry ya her spleen some Ye’ll see"

Daniel fervently hoped so astheed him up the ropeladder toward the crow’s nestabove Tied and trussed as hewas, fighting was nolonger an option His lifewasfully inthe hands, and at the whi them Daniel’s lifehad never beenin anybut his ownhands before Not another human’s, anywayItwas a new experience - one he didn’t like very muchNot very much at all

"Here we are, "One-Eye announced as Bull set Daniel down

The man said itas cheerfully as if they had just arrivedatthe theater

"Well, " Jacksonsaidas the threeat usto stop yet"

"Nope, "Bull agreedunhappily

"She’sstillwatching, though"

"Yep, "theothertwo ry still, too Shedon’t look quite ready to sparehi tohanghim"

"Seems so, " One-Eye said, his voice heavy with disappointtherope? "

One-Eye frowned at that question from Bull and shook his head"Seeot up here"

"Ho down and fetch soested

"Aye Mayhap the delay’ll giveher achance to re, the man started down the rope, and One-Eye and Bull turned their attention back to their captain

"I don’t know, " Bull rupretty mean"

"Alwaysdidhavea temper, " One-EyeHis calling her Back-from-the-Dead Red probably didn’t help"

"Yep" They turned to glare at Daniel briefly for being foolish enoughto do so;then Bullnudged One-Eyeand nearly sent hihtthey would be perfect for each other"

"You agreed, " the fellow said , " hesaidsadly "Here co downthere? " One-Eye asked as Jackson mounted the lastof the ladderand handed up the rope

"Babbling his head off, tryin’ to convince herto spare hian toattach the rope to the rail

"What’s shesaying tohis babble? "

"That his knowledge could put us all at risk, so him here That herjob is to lead usand keep ussafe, andit isa job she has to see to"

"Hh"I seeRichard and Peteyareon deck now"

"H toassure her that Dannyhere won’t talk noneiftheyjustareallowed to chat with hi that? "

"Notfor a bowlof beans"

They all sighed, then Bull finished tyingthe rope and sighed