Page 114 of Take No Prisoners
"They go when they choose." She patted his cheek. "Now leave me. You'll only have a few hours before Vadim demands to set sail."
"It's not his ship." The familiar voice made Niall's body tense with anticipation. Efren was no longer leaning against the palm tree. He hovered over Niall, creating a spot of shade to block the sun from his eyes as he gazed up. His silhouette in the sunlight again reminded Niall of an angel.
"You'd deny him?" Niall's grandmother asked.
"Not a chance. We'll leave before dawn."
She chuckled. "May the winds be with you when you sail."
Efren helped them both to their feet and led them to the dock, where Stan and Tovey were loading the skiff.
Niall longed to set sail again. Even though he'd been captured twice and taken onto naval ships against his will, he looked forward to it. With Efren by his side, he would be content anywhere.
Chapter 28
Efren
Efren shivered, more from the sheer look of desperation on Martiz's face than the cool breeze Stan and Tovey created as they pushed the skiff to her limits. Yes, Martiz deserved every scrap of his power gone, but Efren vowed to stay on the council's good side from now on, lest he receive their worst form of punishment.
"I'm taking these two once we have Hugo." Vadim pointed to Stan and Tovey. "If we swing by Landale, we can pick up two more."
"We don't have time," Efren said.
Martiz stilled. They'd caught his attention. Efren would owe Vadim a gold piece if their rehearsed conversation worked.
"We'll be risking a frozen harbor as it is," he said.
"You'll be a sitting duck," Vadim countered.
"We'll have Milton and Niall."
"Niall will want to keep to your schedule."
Efren grinned. "I'll stick to daylight, then. Let Olivia take the overnight hours." He reached across the small skiff and patted Vadim's shoulder. "Don't worry, old friend. We'll swing by Landale on the way back and pick up your wind weavers."
"You won't," Vadim insisted. "They won't recognize you."
"Are they loyalists?"
"To me, yes."
Efren snorted at the audacity of that statement. "Loyal to you, and no one else?"
"Emperor Hugo."
"Maybe you should swing by Landale on your way and leave Stan and Tovey with me."
"Taking the southern route this time of year with nothing but sails would be suicide, and you know it. Coryn would have us in a heartbeat."
"Taking the northern pass to Glamiere is just as foolish," Efren countered.
"Gah, talking to you is foolish." Vadim rolled his eyes. "We'll have two weeks on the water to hash it out. Just promise me Stan and Tovey."
The wind weavers in question were both avoiding their gazes. Voices traveled too well over the narrow stretch between the two islands.
"Oy, winders." The way they cut eyes at each other before turning to glare at Efren, he knew they'd already sussed out his request. "Vadim wants you for a secret mission once we have Hugo. Are you game?"
"As ever," Tovey said.
