Part 2 (1/2)
”I want to see the jewels, then,” the guard said.
”Stop damaging him first.” Sparrow stepped forward. ”As it is, I'm already paying for destroyed merchandise.”
The guard motioned for the flames to be doused and the torture to stop.
Sparrow approached the scaffold, unfastening the pouch on her hip. Though crime was uncommon in Blue Hollow, she'd always feared a random thief and the loss of the only ties left to her family, so when she ventured out for the day, she kept her jewels with her.
As she climbed the steps to the scaffold, she caught the reek of blood and smoke and nearly gagged. She glanced at the pirate. His eyes were unfocused with pain, his body slick with blood and sweat. She knew he'd committed terrible acts, but couldn't help feeling pity for his suffering. If they'd wanted him to pay for his crimes, why couldn't they have simply killed him and gotten it over with?
Sparrow turned her attention to the guard, extending her hand, her mother's ruby and sapphire necklace resting across her palm.
The guard s.n.a.t.c.hed the bauble, inspecting it closely.
”Nice,” he said. ”Very nice. Zaltana is willing to pay two thousand gold pieces for him. As beautiful as these jewels are, they're not worth quite that much. Nearly, but not quite.”
”If you don't bargain with me, you'll still have to travel to Zaltana to collect payment. That's quite a distance, and you know how dangerous it is for strangers to cross Zaltanian land.”
The guard pondered her words then nodded, his gloved hand closing over the necklace. ”He's yours. Where would you like us to take him?”
”My farm several miles north of here.”
He glanced at the group of guards. ”Do what she says.”
The guards unchained the pirate from the rack and hauled him to his feet. Disoriented, he took two unsteady steps before one of the bounty hunters kicked him down the scaffold stairs, dispersing the crowd. Lock landed with a grunt on his stomach. He braced his hands against the packed dirt, the muscles in his big arms straining as he attempted to raise himself. A second guard approached with a pail of water that had been heating beside the coals. He threw it on the pirate's mutilated back. The shriek of agony that sprang from Lock the White's throat made Sparrow s.h.i.+ver.
”So he is human after all,” the bartering guard muttered.
Sparrow flung the man a vicious look before walking from the scaffold. The guards dragged Lock to his feet, wary of the pirate though he was far too weak to fight them again. Beneath his dark skin, his face was as pale as the streaks in his hair and beard. His eyelids flickered rapidly, and she wondered if he was fighting for consciousness or oblivion.
”This is going to be a disaster,” Shea-Ann said from beside Sparrow. The small woman folded her arms across her chest and shook her head. ”I cannot believe what you've done.”
”Don't tell me you didn't feel a little sorry for him.”
”I feel sorry for the people he's hurt, too, but somehow I doubt he has any regrets. You, better than anyone, should know that.”
Sparrow's chest tightened. Shea-Ann was right. Sparrow knew first hand the damage a man like the pirate could visit on decent people, such as herself. By rights she should have reveled in his pain and destruction, but her fury was reserved for one man alone. Lock the White had nothing to do with her-until the moment his stubborn strength had touched an unexplored part of her spirit and driven her to this unthinkable deed.
”One more thing, Missy.” The guard Sparrow had paid approached her with a wicked smile. ”You are aware of Empress Daryn's law?”
”What law?” Sparrow lifted an eyebrow. In truth, she'd always avoided the slave trade and knew nothing of the laws surrounding it.
”Anyone who purchases a prisoner wanted for murder agrees that should he escape, she will take his punishment for him.”
”Death?” Sparrow felt a little sick.
The guard shook his head. ”No. It would never be death. Empress Daryn isn't unnecessarily cruel. You must take his lesser punishment, the one used during bartering.”
”Tortured until I faint?”
”That's the one, Missy.” The guard smiled brightly. ”Nice doing business with you.”
The bounty hunters cleared the remainder of prisoners back to the wagons, but Sparrow remained planted at the bottom of the scaffold.
Shea-Ann clicked her tongue. ”Now you've done it! That's what you get for having such a soft heart. Compa.s.sion has always been your worst fault.”
”You should talk! You're the healer. I'm just a farmer.”
”A farmer who has responsibility for Lock the White, the worst pirate to ever sail out of the Archipelago of SothSea!”
Chapter Three.
Sparrow opened the door of her farmhouse, a structure containing one s.p.a.cious room and a small loft above. Behind her, Shea-Ann muttered under her breath about the foolishness of young women, but Sparrow refused to argue with her until later. At the moment, she had other things to think about.
”Where do you want aem?” asked one of the guards who dragged Lock toward the house.
”Drop him against that trunk.” Shea-Ann pointed to the simple oak trunk at the foot of Sparrow's bed. She glanced at the former princess. ”We can see to his front side first, then lay him down. He certainly won't be on his back any time soon.”
The guards hurled Lock to his knees, his stomach slamming against the edge of the trunk. He uttered a soft moan and leaned against the wooden surface, his head buried in his arms.
”Good luck to you, girl,” one of the bounty hunters said to Sparrow. ”You'll be needing it.”
”Take my advice and never take these off,” the other guard motioned towards Lock's shackles, ”or else he'll be out of here like a shooting arrow and will most likely cut your throat before he goes.”
Sparrow offered a nervous giggle. ”Then I guess it will save me Empress Daryn's punishment.”
The first guard shook his head. ”I like your spirit, girl. I hope what you did for him today doesn't lash back in your pretty face.”
”Oh, it will.” Shea-Ann tossed a disgusted glance at her young friend as she gathered her healing supplies. ”The likes of him respect the whip more than kindness.”
”I thought you were against me keeping him?” Sparrow snapped at her friend. ”Why are you helping?”
”I'm a healer,” Shea-Ann retorted. ”I'm doing my job. Besides, someone has to watch out for you.”
The guards offered to install a base for Lock's manacles strong enough to keep him from escaping.
”We've had practice with this,” the guards told her. ”He's strong as a team of oxen. Nearly escaped twice before we got here, but we know what holds him now.”
”I'd be grateful for your help,” Sparrow said.
”Where would you like to keep him? The barn?”
Sparrow shook her head and pointed to an empty corner of the room. ”That will be fine for now.”
”In the house?”