Ship of Magic

“Well. I am glad that the loss of my leg proved entertaining for so many.”

“Now that's not it, sir,” Sorcor began hastily, but Ke

“My liveship,” he a

“Oh, Sar,” Sorcor groaned.

“Did we not have an agreement?” Ke

Sorcor scratched at his beard. “That weren't quite the agreement, sir. It was that if we saw a slaver, we went after her. And then the next liveship we saw, we'd go after. But you're talking about hunting a liveship, or laying in wait for one.”

“It all amounts to the same thing,” Ke

“No, begging your pardon, sir, but it don't. I've been giving it some thought, sir. Maybe we ought to lay off both for a time. Just go back to pirating like we used to. Go after some fat merchant ships, like we used to do. Get us some money, have some good times. Stay away from slavers and serpents for a while.” Sorcor's thick fingers fumbled with the gilt buttons on his vest as he offered this. “You've shown me life can be different than what I thought. For both of us. You got yourself a nice woman. She makes a real difference around here. I see now what you were trying to get me to understand. If we went back to Divvytown with a good haul, well, like Sincure Faldin was saying about being respectable and settled and all…”

“Once we have a liveship under us, you can have your choice of virgins, Sorcor,” Ke

“I see,” Sorcor conceded grudgingly.

Ke

Sorcor frowned. “I'll never forget them. You took us in there that one time the Satrap's galley got after us. Current caught us and we shot through there like an arrow. Took me three days to believe I came out of it alive.”

“Exactly,” Ke

“So?” Sorcor asked warily.

“So? So we anchor here. A beautiful view of the approach to Hawser Cha

“Unless she simply rams us,” Sorcor pointed out sourly.

“Oh, she won't,” Ke

“And lose the Marietta?” Sorcor was horrified.

“And gain a liveship!”

“This is not a good idea. A hundred things could go wrong,” Sorcor objected. “We could be smashed to bits on the Damned Rocks. That's not a piece of water I'd ever willingly run again. Or if her draft is shallower than ours, we might take all those risks and she might still just slip past us quick-like while we were still anchored. Or…”

He meant it. He actually meant it, he wasn't going to go along with the idea. How dare he? He'd be nothing without Ke

A sudden change in tactics occurred to Ke

He lifted a hand to stem the mate's words. “Sorcor. Do you care for me at all?” he asked with disarming directness.

That stopped his words, as Ke

Ke

“Oh, sir, don't talk like that!” Tears actually started to the scarred mate's eyes. Ke

“Easy. I've got you. Easy now.”

“Sorcor,” he said faintly. He regained his grip on the chart table, and leaned hard on his arms to keep from collapsing. “Can you do this for me?” He lifted his head. He was shaking now, he could feel it. It was the strain of standing on one leg. He wasn't accustomed to it, that was all. He didn't truly believe he'd die of this. He'd heal, he always healed, no matter how badly he was injured. He could do nothing about the grimace of pain that twisted his face or the sweat that had started fresh on his face. Use it. “Can you give me this last chance at it?”

“I can do it, sir.” The dumb faith vied with heartbreak in Sorcor's eyes. “I'll get your liveship for you. You'll walk her decks. Trust me,” he begged Ke

Despite his pain, Ke

He reached for his crutch. He took hold of it, but realized he did not have the strength to hold it firmly. The healing of his stump was drawing off every bit of strength he had. He blinked his heavy eyes. “I shall have to ask for your help to reach my bed as well. My strength deserts me.”

“Captain,” Sorcor said. The groveling affection of a dog was in the word. Ke

Sorcor stooped awkwardly and actually lifted Ke