of the other mates take note of the conversation.
“What does it matter?”
“It matters to me. It should matter to you, because
we’re going to get off this ship.” If the helmsman over-
heard he gave no sign.
The girl laughed sharply. “And you thought I’d gone
mad.” She glanced at Roseroar. “The man is crazy, isn’t
he?” Roseroar made no reply, bending to her work.
“And you’ll come with us,” he went on. “I wouldn’t
leave you here.”
“Why not? You’ve got your own business to attend to.
Why not leave me here? You don’t know me, you don’t
owe me.” She spat at the deck. “This is a stupid conversa-
tion. You’re not going anywhere.”
“What happened?” he prodded gently.
A tiny bit of the hardness seemed to go out of her, and
she looked away from him. “My family and I were on a
trading packet bound from Jorsta to the Isles of Durl when
we ran afoul of these bastards. They killed my father along
with the rest of the males and later, my mother. Since my
little sister was too young to be of any use to them, they
threw her overboard. They killed everyone, except for me.
For some reason that unmentionable thing they call their
captain took a fancy to me. I imagine he saw ftiture profit
in me.” She shrugged. “I’ve taken care to give them
nothing but trouble since. Hence my name, a gift of the
crew.”
“Been less troublesome lately,” grunted the helmsman
significantly.
“Have you tried to escape?”
“Escape to where? Yes, I tried anyway. Better drowning
or sharks than this. At least, I tried before they put this
chain on me. I only tried once. There are worse things than