Perilous Seas Read Online Free PDF Page B

dispute, then? Both of you call me a liar, but he also calls
you one, Son-of-Brual? Do we settle it in some sort of order, or in one big
free-for-all?”
    “You
answer it to me.” Gathmor had not taken his eyes off Kalkor. He was
ignoring the crazy faun beside him, but Rap leaned close to his ear, as if
whispering something important.
    Ogi
tore his attention from the main action and looked seaward. About fifty of the
half-naked giants had come ashore now and were standing, watching. Firelight
gleamed on their beards and flashed from their helmets. They were shifting,
though, gradually edging in around the two hogsheads, and Ogi was suddenly
frantic to know what really was in those barrels. Rap would know, and that must
have been what he had just whispered to Gathmor, but Gathmor might already have
guessed what Ogi was starting to fear.
    He
thought of Uala and the children and realized that he had never been more
terrified in his life. Women and children could not run fast enough.
    “I
will take the thrall and consider the debt paid,” Kalkor said. Even at
that distance, Ogi somehow sensed the arrogant smile on the killer’s
face.
    Trust
me?
    “What
brings you to Durthing, Thane?” Gathmor demanded. His father seemed to be
leaving it to him.
    Kalkor
cocked his head. “You repeat the challenge? I come for many reasons. My
business is varied. I am mostly anxious to see how the summer sailors fare. “
    A
low noise like a groan swept through the watching crowd. The jotnar of Nordland
despised those who dwelt in the gentle southern lands. Their jotunn blood would
bring them no better treatment from a Nordland raider than an imp could expect,
or a faun, or anybody. The bloodlust might even burn hotter against them,
fanned by contempt.
    Ogi
started praying-for a squadron of the Imperial navy, or a couple of cohorts
from the XXIIIrd Legion.
    “You
have seen. Now go in peace.” Gathmor’s voice held none of the
bottled anger that Ogi had heard many times in the past, just before some
errant sailor was beaten bloody. Something was keeping it in check. Gathmor had
a wife and children, also.
    “But
I came for that faun. And I will also enlist a pilot who knows the Nogids, as
my course lies westward.”
    Again
the watchers seemed to breathe in unison, and this time the sound was certainly
a sigh. The thane was offering terms. “He won’t dare sail tonight, “
whispered a voice near to Ogi’s shoulder. He glanced around and
recognized one of Petrel’s crew.
    “Why
not?” asked another whisper.
    “There’s
a mother-and-father of a blow brewing out there, or I’m no sailor. “
    Ogi
wiped his ribs where the sweat ran; now he recognized the urgent, muggy feel in
the air. He should have noticed sooner. But if Kalkor dared not leave, then
equally he could linger without worry that there might be Imperial ships out
hunting for any reported orca.
    Brual
reached out a hand to stay his son, and Gathmor struck it away.
    “I
know the Nogids as well as any man. “
    A
very long silence this time-Kalkor certainly had a sense of drama. Then he
gestured toward his ship.
    Gathmor
rammed his sword into the ground and released it. He said something to the faun
beside him and the two of them began to walk. Brual and Rathkrun stood where
they were.
    A
strange whimper rose from the watchers, a most unjotunnish sound. They were
ashamed. Their leaders had given up without a fight. And they were afraid!
Hundreds of jotnar, every one of them a terror, men who would kill in a blind
mad rage, or hurl themselves at fighters twice their size, men who would brave
the worst the sea could throw at them without hesitationthey were all chilled
to stony terror by that arrogant young thane. In the face of certain death they
were no better than imps, Ogi thought bitterly. But they knew what raiders did
to men, to children, to women, and they had no weapons. Kalkor did.
    Gathmor
and Rap reached the waiting raiders, and the line opened to let them