King of the Seditious

At first light he bundled her into his arms and pressed kisses to the top of her head. Sliding his large tunic over her head and pulling a pair of his breeches up over her shapely legs while she sat on the edge of his cot watching him with a mournful expression. He rolled the breeches up at the cuff, so they’d be short enough to her. Despite the slightly bagging waist. He wrapped her in his heaviest fur and carried her out of the tent.

“Jax. No…” She whimpered into his bare collar. Face tucked into his neck as she clutched him.

“You need to go, Murah. Don’t make me be cruel. You know I will.”

“You’ve never been cruel to me!”

“I know.”

“Don’t…”

RedBayne was waiting in the foggy courtyard. Holding his arms out for her, but when Savage went to hand her over, she shrieked loud enough to wake the fortress.

Savage’s face crumpled.

“Dimurah.” RedBayne chastised. “Ye know I won’t hurt ye.”

“I won’t go!” She leapt from Savage’s arms. Clutching the fur around her as she backed up like a scared animal prepared to fight.

RedBayne’s arms fell. “She’s not going to go with me, Savage Jack.”

“I know.” He watched her with a heartbroken expression.

RedBayne was startled by the depth of emotion raw on Savage’s face. His mouth gaping slightly at the astonishing sight.

Screw him. Savage thought. Not even caring that the man witnessed his pain.

Composing himself, RedBayne said “We have to get her out of here before word gets here of the coin on her. I saw them posting the announcements yesterday.”

He gave Savage a hard look and said what didn’t need to be

spoken aloud.

“By now half of Ardae will be headed this way for her.”

I know! Savage gritted his teeth looking at him. Scarred hands working tight fists. Wanting to hit him just to expel his frustration.

“No.” RedBayne shook his head at him. Knowing that look. “Ye’re not going ta take this out on me. Ye’re too clever to try and put blame where it’s not due.”

He’s right. Damn him!

Savage sighed. “Fine.”

“I’m not going.” Dimurah shook her head so firmly that curling red hair tossed over one shoulder than the other. Her lips whitened. Blue eyes sparking fiercely. “Not a chance you’ll make me leave.”

Savage walked up to her and caught her face between his palms. Pushing a long hard kiss to her forehead and holding her a long moment.

She grabbed his wrists as if to keep him near her. “No, Jax. I’m not going. Not ever. No chance...”

1723 Aboard the FireStar, Peril Sea

“Jax!” Dimurah railed from the FireStar’s hold.

RedBayne’s pale blue eyes flared with annoyance. Days of the same had worn him down until his patience was beyond frayed. “Are you going to let her out?”

Savage was standing at the bow staring across the Peril Sea knowing they’d soon be traversing into the Sea of Souls. A bleak, dark water where it was not unusual to find bodies floating. The corpses of those forlorn people who’d been cast or cast themselves from the Sourthern Vale Scarps.

Savage’s profile was as still and unreadable as always. “No.”

“Whyever not?” RedBayne’s voice rose, and he waved his arms in agitation. “I’ve had many a slave and never was I so cruel to any of them as ye’re being to tha’ lass!”

Savage tossed him a quick glower.

Because I do not wish to.

“Where’d you get this ship?” He changed the subject. He’d been impressed in how fast RedBayne had acquired such a fine one.

“Borrowed it.”

Stole it?

“Does the owner know?”

RedBayne’s brow lifted. “Of course, he does. If he didn’t, he’d be swimming the Peril after us to brawl with me.”

Determined man.

To brawl with RedBayne? Savage eyed the giant barbarian consideringly. Must be a bold man.

“Good…” Savage commented.

“Now are you going to answer?”

Not willingly.

“Because she’ll only want to battle.”

And I can’t bear to see the on her face.

“Nah!” RedBayne scoffed. “After ye chained ’er up and loaded ‘er aboard Delcourt and then this ship wit’ a bag over ‘er head? Surely no’! She shoul’ see it as a gift!”

Savage’s blue eyes flicked sideways. Not amusing.

It was necessary.

“Jax! You blonde devil, you’re going to rot! Let me out of here! Face me like a man!” She shrieked from the hold.

The other sailors were skittering around the deck. Cringing every time she shouted, and watching Savage warily to see how he reacted.

The whole crew was well aware the King of Assassins was onboard their boat. Eyeing him warily, and easing by him quietly.

“Ye dunno’ wanna at leas’ tell ‘er we’re headin’ to Sanctuary Isle?”

“Not particularly.”

“What is your aim exactly?”

This is why I hate conversation.

“To keep her safe.”

“Why did Ocnomad wan’ ’er dead?”

“He doesn’t. He tired of trying to kill me.”

“No one is foolish enough ta come after ye!”

“Exactly.”

RedBayne waited impatiently for the rest of an explanation.

Savage relented. “He knew he could get to me through her.”

“Why does ’e ’ave such a hard spot for ye?”

Savage shot him a warning look.

“Ooh…” RedBayne was intrigued.

“He knew coming after her would drive me out of my Fortress. He needs the ability to get to me with the Grier Guard.”

“It has.” RedBayne pointed out.

“Yes. Once she’s safely on Sanctuary Island, I’m going after him.”

“You’ve already ripped open the underbelly of Grier by overtaking the Undermarket.”

“Now I’m going to cut off its head.”

“Jax!” It was a prolonged shout. “I’m going to claw your face off!”

“I think she means that.” RedBayne said dully.

“She’ll try.”

RedBayne sent him a nervous look.

No, I’m not going to hurt her. Why does everyone think I’d hurt her?

She was shrieking wildly now. Chains were rattling.

She may tear this shape apart. Savage inwardly groaned. She’s not going to stop.

They entered the bleak icy waters of the Sea of Souls. The fog hovered over the water as far as the eye could see. Wobbling upward in curling gray fingers.

Savage turned and ordered the sails adjusted. Slowing the ship.

There was a thunk and a slight jostle before a scraping along the starboard side.

“Got a floater!” A sailor called. Leaning over the rail. To watch the greenish bloated figure bobbing in the water. Loose bits

of skin peeling free to coat the hazy water.

“Savage Jack!” Dimurah shouted. “Are we in the Sea of Souls? You’re not dumping me on Sanctuary Island! You’re not!”