to Sorcererâs Isle.â
Sho Pi, a head taller than Nakor, and in possession of a full head of dark hair, otherwise looked like a much younger version of the wiry little man. He said, âWhatever you say, Master.â
âDonât call me master,â insisted Nakor, puttinghis own travel bag over his shoulder. Moving to the rail, he said, âErik, Roo! Where are you going?â
âTo get a drink, a whore, and new clothing, in that order,â said Roo.
âThen Iâm going home to see my mother and friends,â said Erik.
âWhat about you?â asked Roo.
âIâm going with you,â Nakor said, hoisting his bag, âuntil the âgoing homeâ part. Then I shall hire a boat to take me to Sorcererâs Isle.â He looked straight down the gangway, ignoring the younger countryman, a step behind.
Erik glanced at Sho Pi and said, âWeâve got to go below and get our kits. Then weâll join you on the dock.â
Roo was a step ahead of his friend as they hurried below, bade farewell to the sailors who had become friends, and found Jadow Shati, another of their company of âdesperate men,â just finishing gathering up his few possessions.
âWhat are you going to do?â asked Roo as he quickly grabbed his small kit.
âA drink, Iâm thinking.â
âJoin us,â said Erik.
âI think I will, as soon as I tell Mr. Robert de Loungville, the little swine, that Iâm taking up his offer of becoming his corporal.â
Erik blinked. âCorporal? He offered me the position.â
Before the two men could begin arguing, Roo said, âFrom what he said, heâs going to need more than one.â
The two large men exchanged glances, then both laughed. Jadowâs face settled into a grin, teeth dramaticallywhite against his ebony skin, an expression so happy that it always made Roo smile in response. Like the other desperate men, Jadow had been a killer and lifelong criminal, but in the brotherhood of Calisâs company he had found men for whom he was willing to die and who would die for him.
Roo hated to admit it, as one who flattered himself for being completely selfish, but he loved the survivors of that company almost as much as he loved Erik. Rough men all, dangerous by any standards, they had passed through a bloody trial together, and each knew he could depend on the others.
Roo thought about those lost on the journey: Biggo, the large, laughing thug with a strange streak of piety running through him: Jerome Handy, a giant of a man with a violent temper who could tell a tale like an actor and make shadow play on the wall that came alive; Billy Goodwin, an otherwise gentle youth with a violent temper, who had been cut down in a pointless accident before ever understanding anything of life; and Luis de Savona, the Rodezian cutthroat whose wit was as sharp as his dagger, who knew both court intrigue and dark-alley brawls; a man of temper and strange loyalties. Roo tied his bundle and turned to see both Erik and Jadow watching him.
âWhat is it?â
âYou were lost there a moment,â said Erik.
âI was thinking about Biggo and the others. . .â
Erik nodded. âI understand.â
âMaybe some of them will show up when Trenchardâs Revenge gets here,â ventured Jadow.
Roo said, âThat would be fine.â Slinging his pack over his shoulder, he added, âBut Billy and Biggowonât.â
Erik nodded. He and Roo had watched Biggo die in Maharta, and Erik had seen Billy fall from his horse, cracking his head on a rock.
The three men were silent as they climbed back on deck and hurried down the gangway to find Robert de Loungville chatting with Nakor and Sho Pi.
âHey now, you vile runt of a man!â said Jadow without ceremony to the man who for nearly three years had controlled his life.
De Loungville turned. âWho are you talking to like