Tivi's Dagger Read Online Free PDF Page B

nibbled on my thumb, contemplating the situation. Perhaps
I would manage to have some fun on this cursed pilgrimage after
all. The risk of discovery was certainly something to ponder —
bound by the Rite as I was — but it would certainly give me
something besides my blistered feet to think about. We were no
longer in Lis, and Brin was no longer a Protector. And I knew in my
heart that my brother would prefer to die than wield a sword
against me.
    Like most brothers, I mused, we loved each
other — but not often.
    It would not be the first time I had
considered lying with another man, but since such liaisons were
punishable by execution under the Divine Laws of Lis, I had never
dared to take the chance, even among my tight circle of friends.
They mostly hailed from similar noble backgrounds and preferred, as
I did, to fall to their knees before a lover, not a priest. Among
them I knew there were a few who were definitely curious about such
activities, but we had all heard the whispered laments about that
well-known friend of a friend who had fallen into temptation only
to find out later (usually after the wretch had taken his pleasure)
that the handsome youth who had infiltrated the group was one of
the Protectors’ paid tell-tales. It was also a tried and tested
method for one noble to besmirch the character of a rival, and as
sole heir with but two jobs to do in life — marry and father a son
— I could ill afford to have such rumors in circulation. Much as I
loved my homeland, I was well aware of the sad fact that its
capital was a place where no one could truly be trusted.
    With a great deal of regret I recalled once
more the burly pirate who had presented himself to Lana and myself
some years previously, as we lazed in our shack by the white sandy
beach on one of the Pirates’ Isles. We’d just awakened to a
pleasingly plump pouch of extra coin under our pillow after a night
of rum and pin-finger with a local bar owner and his bunch of merry
companions, and the sun was already high in the sky. With time to
kill before our ship returned to deposit its booty, the days
stretched long and lazy. Having taken some time to recover from the
blood sickness that was rife in that part of the world, the fellow
clearly felt himself restored by rest and a diet of fresh fish and
fruit, and was ready for action. He was a fine example of a man,
muscles like whipcords tapering toward a taut waist; huge shoulders
and thick thighs and a prick to match. He had leaned against the
doorframe, unashamedly naked, while Lana and I gaped at the
glorious sight.
    His voice was deep and melodic, his accent
tinged with the many languages he’d acquired in his travels. “So,
which one of you first?” he’d said with a lazy, white-toothed
smile.
    Lana had looked at me with a wicked smile.
“Shall we?”
    Even so far from Lis’s shores I’d found
myself hesitating, to some cost.
    Lana had no such qualms. “Well then, Ned, if
you are not in the mood for a donkey ride then you can make
yourself useful and fetch some food for dinner,” she'd cried and
sprung out of bed, rubbing her hands with glee.
    The shrieks of uninhibited joy which had
emanated from the captain’s creaking shack some minutes later made
me sick with jealousy, but I could not bring myself to enter that
hut. When Lana finally returned, smiling beatifically, I listened
to her excited tales of the pirate’s prowess with his sword with
much regret, and vowed that should such an opportunity present
itself again in the future I would certainly strive to take
advantage of it. He was already packing his things to leave, much
to Lana’s sorrow, so there would be no second chance.
    With renewed energy I quickened my step and
caught up with Kari and Brin, giving our guide my most winning
smile, which he returned happily. My heart began to thump with
excitement and the backs of our hands brushed as we walked, once,
twice, and a third time. He did not increase the distance between
us