growled.
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May, Julian - Boreal Moon 2 - Ironcrown Moon
“And did you tell others of what you’d seen?” Maudrayne inquired.
“Only a few good mates who know to keep their gobs shut. Needed advice, didn’t I, to figger the best way to outwit the sea-hag.”
Maudrayne said, “I’m surprised you dared risk her wrath, setting foot on this forbidden shore.”
A look of low cunning spread over the skipper’s face as he took from his shirt a small pouch hanging on a string around his neck. “Got me special charms for that. Vorgo, too. Cost every silver mark I owned to get ‘em from Blind Bozuk the shaman. This here lets us cross the hag’s magic circle of stones without her knowin’. Bozuk said it’d only work on Solstice Eve, when the fires of sorcery burn wan in the midnight sun. We waited till the time was ripe, then sailed back here in my lugger
Scoter
, keepin‘ far out from shore. We came into
Useless Bay with the centerboard up, mostly using sweeps to drive the boat.
Mortal hard work it was rowin‘, but we stayed clear of the shoals and made it to this cove, outta sight of Dobnelu’s steading. We was all set to go afoot along the fjord and creep up to the farmhouse, when the wench and the lad come along.“
Rusgann said, “I was fool enough to say you were following us along the shore, my lady, when I thought the men might be friendly. This one started whispering to that blockhead son of his. The lackwit blurted out something about hiding behind a rock and grabbing you when you appeared.
I tried to run with Dyfrig then, but they caught us and knocked me down.”
“And now you intend to kidnap us, Lukort Waterfall?” Maudrayne said contemptuously.
“
Rescue you, princess!” The fisherman’s voice was laden with false reproach. “First I figgered to take you back to your brother, hopin‘
he’d give me a nice reward.” The yellowish eyes shifted. “But now I reckon if I took you and the boy down south, some others—say, your uncle the High Sealord Sernin— might be even more Page 26
grateful for your return.”
“I see.”
Others! Sly Lukort knew full well that Conrig Ironcrown was the one who would pay a fortune for her and the child… alive or dead. And if it were not to be the latter, she’d have to think fast.
“Here comes Vorgo back with the coracle, so let’s be off, princess. Your boy’s waitin‘ for you aboard
Scoter
. She’s a fine craft, a legacy from my late brother, may the fishes eat his eyeballs. You’ll ride easy in her.”
“How many in your crew?” Maudrayne asked casually.
He chuckled. “For this sailin‘, just me and Vorgo.
Scoter needs five men when we’re haulin’ in fish, but you’re a catch easier to handle, eh?”
Only the two of them. So the plan that had sprung into her mind might work. “You’ll take my maidservant also, of course. She is very dear to me and to my son.”
Lukort’s face hardened and he shot a rancorous glance over his shoulder at Rusgann. “Not bloody likely. The big wench stays.”
“I beseech you not to leave her here with the terrible sea-hag. Look—I’ll give you a fine reward if you but reconsider.”
She pulled the splendid necklace of opal and gold out from her dress and made as if to unfasten the catch at the back of her neck.
“Swive me!” the fisherman gasped, undisguised greed widening his eyes. “That’s a beaut!
Fire-stones the size of quail eggs.”
“The clasp is stuck. Come help me open it. The bauble is yours in payment for Rusgann’s passage.”
“Huh! I reckon it’s mine anyhow!” And he was on her as fast as a heron striking, laughing in malicious triumph. He took hold of the pendant stones and gave a painful tug. She was aware of his wiry eyebrows and foul breath and the bits of food caught in his beard as she pulled the kitchen knife from
file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/May,%20Julian%20-%20[Bor...0-%20Boreal%20Moon%202%20
-%20Ironcrown%20Moon.html (25 of 228)2-2-2007 18:46:18
May, Julian - Boreal Moon 2 - Ironcrown Moon
“And did you tell others of what you’d seen?” Maudrayne inquired.
“Only a few good mates who know to keep their gobs shut. Needed advice, didn’t I, to figger the best way to outwit the sea-hag.”
Maudrayne said, “I’m surprised you dared risk her wrath, setting foot on this forbidden shore.”
A look of low cunning spread over the skipper’s face as he took from his shirt a small pouch hanging on a string around his neck. “Got me special charms for that. Vorgo, too. Cost every silver mark I owned to get ‘em from Blind Bozuk the shaman. This here lets us cross the hag’s magic circle of stones without her knowin’. Bozuk said it’d only work on Solstice Eve, when the fires of sorcery burn wan in the midnight sun. We waited till the time was ripe, then sailed back here in my lugger
Scoter
, keepin‘ far out from shore. We came into
Useless Bay with the centerboard up, mostly using sweeps to drive the boat.
Mortal hard work it was rowin‘, but we stayed clear of the shoals and made it to this cove, outta sight of Dobnelu’s steading. We was all set to go afoot along the fjord and creep up to the farmhouse, when the wench and the lad come along.“
Rusgann said, “I was fool enough to say you were following us along the shore, my lady, when I thought the men might be friendly. This one started whispering to that blockhead son of his. The lackwit blurted out something about hiding behind a rock and grabbing you when you appeared.
I tried to run with Dyfrig then, but they caught us and knocked me down.”
“And now you intend to kidnap us, Lukort Waterfall?” Maudrayne said contemptuously.
“
Rescue you, princess!” The fisherman’s voice was laden with false reproach. “First I figgered to take you back to your brother, hopin‘
he’d give me a nice reward.” The yellowish eyes shifted. “But now I reckon if I took you and the boy down south, some others—say, your uncle the High Sealord Sernin— might be even more Page 26
grateful for your return.”
“I see.”
Others! Sly Lukort knew full well that Conrig Ironcrown was the one who would pay a fortune for her and the child… alive or dead. And if it were not to be the latter, she’d have to think fast.
“Here comes Vorgo back with the coracle, so let’s be off, princess. Your boy’s waitin‘ for you aboard
Scoter
. She’s a fine craft, a legacy from my late brother, may the fishes eat his eyeballs. You’ll ride easy in her.”
“How many in your crew?” Maudrayne asked casually.
He chuckled. “For this sailin‘, just me and Vorgo.
Scoter needs five men when we’re haulin’ in fish, but you’re a catch easier to handle, eh?”
Only the two of them. So the plan that had sprung into her mind might work. “You’ll take my maidservant also, of course. She is very dear to me and to my son.”
Lukort’s face hardened and he shot a rancorous glance over his shoulder at Rusgann. “Not bloody likely. The big wench stays.”
“I beseech you not to leave her here with the terrible sea-hag. Look—I’ll give you a fine reward if you but reconsider.”
She pulled the splendid necklace of opal and gold out from her dress and made as if to unfasten the catch at the back of her neck.
“Swive me!” the fisherman gasped, undisguised greed widening his eyes. “That’s a beaut!
Fire-stones the size of quail eggs.”
“The clasp is stuck. Come help me open it. The bauble is yours in payment for Rusgann’s passage.”
“Huh! I reckon it’s mine anyhow!” And he was on her as fast as a heron striking, laughing in malicious triumph. He took hold of the pendant stones and gave a painful tug. She was aware of his wiry eyebrows and foul breath and the bits of food caught in his beard as she pulled the kitchen knife from
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