The Return of Kavin Read Online Free PDF Page A

with cold as he worked. Zamor, arriving, dropped the girl and aided Hugon’s search until they had a small pile.
    Hugon squatted beside the wood, and coaxed the dragonet down, holding it in his blue hands near the wood.
    “Ah, now, Fraak, try hard,” he murmured, through chattering teeth. “You can do it, handsome laddo that you are, just one puff… ah!” Fraak had emitted a tiny orange flame, and a stick of wood caught. As the flames crackled up, Fraak crowed softly with pride, and Hugon stroked his scales, complimenting him.
    “Eh, what a useful wee creature it is!” Zamor grunted, and hunched over the blaze, his cloak steaming. Hugon stood up, and went to pull the girl closer to the fire; he sat her up, chafing her arms and face till she began to return to consciousness.
    Behind them, a hoarse voice called out, and the two other men came hobbling up to the grateful warmth.
    “Any more get ashore?” Hugon asked, squatting back on his heels as warmth returned.
    “Nah, not a one but us,” one of the men said. “I’m Gorash. You’d be the smart lad that had the queer knife, wouldn’t you?”
    Hugon nodded. Gwynna was sitting up now, staring about dazedly. The other man stared at her, interestedly.
    “Ye’ve saved one of the wenches, too, haven’t you?” he said. “Come in handy, may be, for one thing or t’other.” He chuckled hoarsely. “Good tender meat’s got more than one use, it has. This looks like a hungry place we’ve hit…”
    “She’s not for cooking,” Hugon said, with a cold grin. “Hands off the one, bucko.”
    “Ah, now…” the man said, apologetically. “I didn’t mean no harm… my name’s Hazarsh, by the way. Two years in that stinkin’ sea-sty I was, and as innocent as a child, too, at least as far as what they said I did…” He was staring at Gwynna, and licking his salt-crusted lips. “And never no sight of a handy trollop… missed out on what there was aboard last night, because I was too drunk. Not being used to drinkin’ either, after all that time, you understand…” His eyes were still on the girl. “ Be we goin’ to share her around, likely?”
    “Not likely at all, Hazarsh lad,” Hugon told him, and laid a hand meaningfully on his sword hilt. “Get the thought out of your head, or I’ll bleed you for your health.”
    Hazarsh grunted and fell silent, looking carefully away from the girl.
    She was huddling close to the fire, and she looked sideward at Hugon, with a strange expression for a moment. Then she said, hoarsely but with a note of mockery, “Ah, still a gentleman at heart, good Hugon.”
    “It’s not your honor I’m worried about, Gwynna girl,” he told her. “That’s gone long since. But I’d like to offer you for sale in at least as good a condition as I got you in.”
    Zamor, listening, chuckled, and Gwynna glared silently.
    Hugon stood up, drier now, and stretched, staring at the sky.
    “It’s possible the sun may yet decide to come out,” he said thoughtfully. “And the wind’s lessening, at least. Has anyone any idea where we might be?” He looked around, but the others were silent.
    After a moment, Gwynna said, coldly, “I think I know.”
    “Ah?” Hugon turned. “Where, then?”
    “An island,” she said, indifferently. “I recall a map that shows a few such in the southern sea. Mere rocks, of no value and impossible to land on…”
    “As we’ve already discovered,” Hugon said, “Are there any folk here, do you know?”
    “Who knows?” she said, with a shrug.
    “Ah, well, girl, you’re no Laquellian Lexicon, but you tried,” Hugon told her with a shrug, squatting down again. “Another moment of warmth, and then I’ll see what can be done about food. Ha, Fraak, my winged beauty, I just remembered your skills.” He reached out and the dragonet climbed to his wrist, trilling. “Had you learned to hunt with the late Lord who owned you?” Hugon asked.
    The dragonet snorted. “Not hunt for that one. I not