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whole thing wasn't about Doria, was it? You were just taking out a bit of
insurance."
"I thought you might take it wrong." Walter balanced himself lightly on his
feet, his eyes flicking from side to side. He moved away slowly, the soles of
his sandals whisking on the deck.
"Bad choice. Much better to keep bare feet on deck. This way, you're liable to
slip, fall overboard." He circled around, the traces of nausea vanishing. The
only weapons nearby were the stacked crossbows, the boltbins, and Barak's
sword, all lashed to the forward mast. And they were at Barak's back if Walter
didn't want to take him on barehanded, he'd have to go through him in order to
lay his hands on a weapon.
"I doubt it, Karl." Walter held out both palms. "Just take it easy, and we'll
talk about "
"Don't stall. She's gone. And if I hear anybody behind me, I'll break your
neck before I send you on your way. You don't have much of a chance at best.
Want to try for none?"
"No. I don't want to fight at all." Walter shifted to a fighting stance, his
body angled slightly away from
Barak, his hands held chest-high. "Because I'm under a handicap. I don't want
to hurt you "
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"That's too bad." Barak smiled, mirroring Walter's position, keeping his hands
open, relaxed, ready to form fists, or parry a kick with an openhanded block.
"Take your best shot."
He's liable to try a feint toward the head, then actually go for the body. Or
vice versa. But it's going to be something tricky
.
Walter smiled. "Fine. Then, think about this. If you "
"I meant to try to hit me, little man. Not talk."
"Doesn't the condemned man get a last speech? If you kill me now, it's because
you think I've violated your property rights. And that would mean that
Andrea's your property, Karl. You go around owning people, do you?"
Barak moved in, kicked out sideways. Walter blocked it with a forearm, but the
force of the kick sent him crashing up against the rail.
He sprang off the rail at Barak. The thief extended a hand, reaching for
Barak's throat
Barak clubbed it aside with a heavy fist, then brought both fists down on
Walter's rising knee. A
backhanded slap sent the thief skittering toward the bow, half stunned.
It would be easy, now. All he'd have to do is flip Walter up and over. He took
a step forward
You go around owning people, do you
?
Why not
? said Barak.
What's wrong with that
?
Of course not
, said Karl.
You don't own people. It's wrong
.
grabbed the thief s upper arms, lifted him
He slept with my woman. I have to kill him. Honor demands it
.
If she's ever going to be my woman, it's going to be in the same sense as my
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friend, not my dog
.
and set him on his feet. Karl Cullinane glared down at him. "You manipulating
bastard
."
"Karl?" Walter shook his head to clear it. "I'm sorry "
"Don't press your luck. I'm not going to kill you, but don't expect me to "
Footsteps thundered on the deck behind him. He turned, Andy-Andy, Aristobulus
Doria, and Ahira
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crowding the deck behind them.
Ahira hefted his axe. "
What the hell is going on here
?"
Walter rubbed at the side of his neck. "Can't a couple of people have a quiet
discussion without drawing a crowd?"
Karl sighed, letting his adrenaline high fade into a deep weariness. Ignoring
raised eyebrows and half-
voiced questions, he shouldered his way through the crowd, toward the forward
hatch. "Wake me when we get to Pandathaway. I've got some sleep to catch up
on."
Walter nodded, unfastening Karl's sword from the mast. He tossed it to him.
"Don't lose it."
"Thanks." He started down the ladder.
Andy-Andy grabbed at his arm. "Karl, wait I... I want to talk to you,
explain "
He pried her fingers from his sleeve. "There's nothing I want to hear from
you."
I am Karl Cullinane.
Karl, not Barak. I'll learn from my Barak-self, but I won't be him.
Ever
But damned if I'm going to be the same Karl Cullinane you've been leading on
as long as I've known you
.
"I don't want you to talk to me, except when it's in the line of duty. Is that
clear?" He didn't wait for an answer before turning to Doria. "I owe you an
apology, Dore. And I pay my debts do you want it long and flowery, or is the
intention good enough?"
Doria nodded gently, her face studiously blank, but her eyes smiling. "Long
and flowery, I think. Since I
have a choice."
A tightness in his chest grew, as though steel bands were being clamped on his
heart. He forced a chuckle. "Later, then. You deserve to have it when I'm
completely awake." He pursed his lips. "But for now you've always played fair
with me. I had no business passing judgment on you. I promise it won't ever
happen again." He exhaled deeply. "And now, goodnight."
Doria cocked her head to one side, her expression becoming infinitely tender.
"Are you sure you want to sleep alone? Just sleep."
If I accept the invitation, it'd hurt Andy just as much as she hurt
"I think I'd better be by myself."
No, it wouldn't
.
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Besides, playing people off against each other isn't the sort of thing that
Karl Cullinane is going to do
.
He gripped the pommel of his sword tightly, so tightly that his white knuckles
stood out m broad relief.
But I would have. Last week, last month even yesterday. What is happening to
me
?
He shrugged, and walked slowly to the nearest cabin, ignoring the rush of
sound on deck.
I guess I must be growing up.
It must be that
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