Demon in the Mirror
Page 22
Victor or no, weary or no, Tiana ran.
The sun was breaking over the horizon when Vixen’s captain came running onto the pier and without slowing leaped into space. She alighted aboard her departing ship and ran full into Bardon, who prevented her from falling. Men stared; grins broke out on piratical faces. The captain was back. She snapped out a series of crisp orders and noted that Bardon seemed grateful. She took from him the letter to Caranga, bade him take the helm. The breeze was strong and favourable under a rising topaz sun that was painting the ocean a flickering gold. Vixen moved out to sea.
Tiana tore the letter to shreds as she went below, to Caranga’s cabin. How embarrassing if her foster father had read her soupy note!
He snored still, and would for hours, with the liquorish load he’d taken into his hold. The jet-black, almost purple Darvra was there, waiting. Tiana smiled and gave the patient temptress a finger-to-lips sign. She rolled her eyes at Darvara’s bare, painted breasts; the girl grinned. The captain of Vixen went back up on deck and, though she should have been weary unto dropping, it was with the springy step of victory and elation and relief that she went to take the helm.
“Come, Vixen” she murmured, with the breeze tugging her hair as it bellied the sails. “The sea is full of rich ships owned by men evil and unworthy. Let us redistribute their wealth!”
Thus Tiana Highrider sailed away from Reme. Naught has been said concerning the second half of the bargain between Lamarred and the mage Ekron, or of the consequences of Pyre’s swearing the dread third oath; and these things remain to be told. But they are another tale.