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Ivan scowled "I don’t think--"

"Clearly Why start now?"

Ivan’s face flushed in anger "You don’t--"

Sturone fro with a sword’s edge "I don’t care who you are on land On this ship, you’re nothing but ballast Unless I put you over the side, in which case you’re shark bait I like shark Cooks up tough, but it makes for a little variety Remember that the next time you have a mind to threaten anyone aboard this vessel" He stepped back, his jolly manner restored "Go on now, shark bait Scurry back to your et this, Sturmhond," Ivan spat

The captain rolled his eyes "That’s the idea"

Ivan turned on his heel and stomped off

Stur how quickly a ship feels crowded, no?" He reached out and gave the giant and the girl each a pat on the shoulder "You did well," he said quietly

Their attention was still on Ivan The girl’s fists were clenched

"I don’t want trouble," the captain warned "Understood?"

They exchanged a glance, then nodded grudgingly

"Good," said Sturmhond "Get back to work I’ll take her belowdecks" They nodded again Then, to my surprise, they each sketched a quick bow to me before they departed

"Are they related?" I asked, watching theo

"Twins," he said "Tolya and Taood days," he replied He wore leather breeches, a brace of pistols at his hips, and a bright teal frock coat with gaudy gold buttons and enore, not on the deck of a ship

"What’s a pirate doing on a whaler?" I asked

"Privateer," he corrected "I have several ships The Darkling wanted a whaler, so I got him one"

"You mean you stole it"

"Acquired it"

"You were in htly as he steered me down the deck

"I saw you when I woke up," I insisted "I need--"

He held up a hand "Don’t waste your breath, lovely"

"But you don’t even knohat I was going to say"

"You were about to plead your case, tell me you need my help, you can’t pay "

I blinked That was exactly what I’d been about to do "But--"

"Waste of breath, waste of time, waste of a fine afternoon," he said "I don’t like to see prisoners oes"

"You--"

He shook his head "And I’m notoriously i dog, I don’t want to hear it Does it?"

"Does it what?"

"Involve a talking dog"

"No," I snapped "It involves the future of a kingdom and everyone in it"

"A pity," he said, and took ht you worked for Ravka," I said angrily

"I work for the fattest purse"

"So you’d sell your country to the Darkling for a little gold?"

"No, for a lot of gold," he said "I assure you, I don’t coestured to the hatch "After you"

With Sturmhond’s help, I uards aiting to lock me inside The captain bowed and leftmy head in my hands Sturmhond could play the fool all he wanted I knew he’d been in rasping at any little bit of hope

When Genya broughtthe wall

"You should eat," she said

"Leave ives you warts," I said sourly She laughed, then entered and set down the tray She crossed to the sidescuttle and glanced at her reflection in the glass "Maybe I should go blond," she said "Corporalki red clashes horribly with lance over my shoulder "You know you could wear baked irl on two continents"

"True," she said with a grin

I didn’t return her shed and studied the toes of her boots "I missed you," she said