Read Online Lost Empire by Jeff Gunzel - Free Book Online Page B

like the rich men you will soon be.” That brought a series of cheers and fist pumps from a suddenly determined group of men.
    The sailors exploded into action and began scampering about the deck. Multiple sails along the three masts fell at different levels as men climbed up and pulled loose the leather cords holding them. White, billowy puffs of flax canvas seemed to inflate instantly in the rolling sea winds. One of the men pulled out a fiddle and began to play as the others sang along. An old tune about a long-lost lover filled the night air as the men kept working.
    Najus stalked over to the group as his sturdy black leather boots thumped hard with every step. With his shoulders rolled back and his head held high and level, it was clear that confidence was not something he lacked. His gold and silver hoops twinkled in the moonlight as his baggy pants fluttered in the mild rolling breeze. With his hands planted firmly on his hips, he eyed them up and down. His confident grin more than matched his stance. “I hope you are all thick-skinned enough to understand why I referred to you the way I did.”
    “ So you didn’t really mean it when you called us nothing more than cargo?” said Athel sarcastically, her silver teeth catching a good deal of the moonlight as well.
    “ Of course I did,” he laughed while throwing back his head. “That’s all you are to me anyway; just another payday, and a big one at that.” His smile grew as he rubbed his hands together. “True, the Queen of Taron seems to believe you kids are quite a bit more than that. I simply don’t see it that way. But no matter, such opinions have nothing to do with whether or not I get paid. My lack of curiosity in such matters has kept me in this business for many years.”
    Jacob began to protest before Eric cut him off. “Fair enough,” he said over Jacob’s complaints. “How you run your business is no one else’s concern. As long as you do what you were paid to do, I have no complaints.” Eric folded his arms over his chest. “So we are in agreement, then? As long as you get us where we are going, we will stay out of your way and not question your methods.”
    The captain stood in silence for a moment, his sharp, chiseled features shadowed in the moonlight. Frayed hair that had escaped his ponytail flipped up and down with the cool breeze as he tapped his chin with a single finger. Tilting his head back, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying the cool ocean air. At length he finally opened his eyes. “Now that’s what I like to see. Agreeable cargo.”
     

Chapter 5
     
    Even though the four of them had to sleep together in a single room below deck, none felt any urge to complain, seeing as how all the other men were forced to share the remaining two. The lucky ones got hammocks, while the rest spread out on the hard wooden floors. And of course Najus had a small room to himself. It was not uncommon at all for one or more to drag a sleeping roll to the upper deck and find a spot all to themselves. Even Jacob had considered it more than once. Not that he minded sharing a room with his close friends; he just liked the idea of sleeping out under the stars. Other than for the shelter from the wind, the rooms down below were really no warmer than being up top.
    The seamen went about their daily routines as always while the four of them did their best to stay out of the way. The daily meals had even become a mild source of entertainment, given the constant boredom. Certainly not the food itself was the entertainment; dried jerky and stale bread made up the bulk of all three meals. Once in a while Najus would ration out handfuls of nuts and raisins just so the men had something to look forward to. Watching the men fight amongst themselves proved to be most amusing. The four companions watched from their private table as the constant arguments almost always erupted into violence. Predictably, Najus was there in a flash before it got