Read Online Mad Ship by Hobb Robin - Free Book Online Page B

“A wager I am pleased to lose,” he called back over his shoulder.
    Jani smiled after him.

CHAPTER FOUR
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
BONDS
    BRIG’S HANDS RESTED ON THE SPOKES OF
VIVACIA
’S wheel, casually competent. The pirate’s face had the distant look of a man completely aware of the ship as his larger body. Wintrow paused a moment to size him up before approaching. He was a young man, no more than twenty-five. His chestnut hair was confined under a yellow kerchief marked with the Raven insignia. His eyes were gray, and the old slave tattoo on his face had been over-needled with a dark blue raven that almost obscured it. Despite his youth, Brig had a decisive air that made even older men jump to his orders. Kennit had chosen well in putting him in charge of the
Vivacia
until he recovered.
    Wintrow took a deep breath. He approached the older man with respect but dignity. He needed Brig to recognize him as a man. Wintrow waited until the man’s eyes swung to meet his own. Brig looked at him silently. Wintrow spoke softly but clearly. “I need to ask you some questions.”
    “Do you?” Brig challenged. His eyes flicked away, up to his lookout man.
    “I do,” Wintrow replied firmly. “Your captain’s leg gets no better. How much longer will it take us to get to Bull Creek?”
    “Day and a half,” Brig told him, after brief consideration. “Maybe two.” The expression on his face never seemed to change.
    Wintrow nodded to himself. “I think we can wait that long. There are supplies I’d like to have before I try to cut. I hope we can get them there. In the meantime, I could keep him stronger if I had better supplies. When the slaves rose up against the crew, they ransacked much of the ship. The medical chest has been missing since then. It would be very useful to me now.”
    “No one’s owned up to taking it?”
    Wintrow gave a small shrug. “I’ve asked but no one has answered. Many of the freed slaves are reluctant to talk to me. I think Sa’Adar is turning them against me.” He hesitated. That sounded self-pitying. He would not gain Brig’s respect by whining. He went on more judiciously. “Maybe they do not realize what they have. Or in the confusion of the storm and the uprising, someone may have taken it, discarded it, and it may have gone overboard.” Wintrow took a breath and got back to his intent. “There were things in it that could make your captain more comfortable.”
    Brig tossed him a brief glance. He looked unconcerned, but he suddenly bellowed, “Caj!”
    Wintrow braced himself to be seized and hustled along. Instead, when the man appeared, Brig ordered, “Shake down everyone on board. The medical chest is missing. If someone has it, I want it found. At the very least, I want to know who touched it last. Do it.”
    “Aye,” Caj replied, and hastened away.
    When Wintrow did not leave, Brig sighed out through his nose. “Something else?” he demanded.
    “My father is—”
    “SHIP!” the lookout suddenly sang out. An instant later, he called out, “Chalcedean galley, but flying the flag of the Satrap’s Patrol. They’re coming up fast with oars and sail. They must have been laying back in that inlet.”
    “Damn,” Brig spat. “He did it! The son of a whore brought in Chalcedean