Hero for Hire by C B Pratt

Author:C B Pratt [Pratt, C B]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780990875444
Google: QdaSDAEACAAJ
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp Print Us
Published: 2016-05-21T01:22:44+00:00

Chapter Twelve

When I awoke, the eastern sky blushed with dawn and the sail had slipped off the cage. The harpy sat near the bars, her feathers bedraggled, her face paler than usual, thin gold instead of bronze. She watched me with the steady, fathomless gaze of a very young child.

Her water bowl was empty. I went aft to the cook’s area, taking a pitcher of water and a leg of lamb, the last one he said.

I poured the water through the bars into the bowl and then I poked the raw leg in between. She didn’t touch it, though soon she crawled over to dip her mouth in the water.

After watching her for a few minutes, I noticed the crew was stirring. I covered the cage and went back to the cook’s area to settle a dispute between him and Phandros over soup. Truthfully, Phandros had a gift for creating tasty dishes that the sullen cook lacked. Jori tried to soothe the chef's injured pride but it was evident he preferred Phandros' skill.

I did not leave the ship at Mykonos. The crew would talk, there was no way of stopping them. I didn’t want to be pointed at in the streets or questioned for anyone’s entertainment. I occupied my time by polishing the weapons stored onboard which had the added effect of keeping off the curious and the potentially violent. One man tried to bribe me with fifty obols for a single glance at the creature.

“There’s a minotaur coming in on the next ship,” I said, to get him to leave. “Talk to that captain, but you didn’t hear it from me. It’s supposed to be a big secret.”

I hoped the next captain would throw him overboard as a drunken fool when he insisted on seeing a non-existent monster.

Jori came back, full of plans to exhibit the harpy as a curiosity. "The king is coming in an hour, as soon as his wife is dressed. The whole court is thrilled at this chance. If you are wise, you will sell this beast here and now."

"I don't want to do that."

"I will negotiate a better price for you, minus my commission, of course." He pressed his hands together prayerfully. "We could make a fortune, you and I. You capture these beasts and we sell them to royalty. It could be most lucrative."

"I'm not interested in helping spoiled princes set up zoos."

"Who said anything about a zoo? The king here is interested in making a cloak of those pretty feathers. He has some mad idea it would make him fly," he added, chuckling.

"Because you gave him the idea?"

He rolled his eyes. "It was not very hard to do. So you agree?"

"No," I said again. "Get your supplies on board. We'll shove off as soon as we can. And before the king comes down from the palace."

"He has offered good coin." Jori sighed regretfully, knowing when I am unlikely to change my mind. "What can it harm just to look?"

I couldn't answer that. I only knew that I did not want the harpy exposed to prying eyes and gossiping tongues.

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