Tangled webs - Elaine Cunningham [62]
A quick, searing pain slashed across the sea elf's shoulders. Xzorsh arched backward, teeth gritted against the sudden agony. One of the merrow had managed to get within talon's reach. The sea elf whirled and stabbed out with the trident, but his attacker had already retreated beyond range. Xzorsh's fighter's instinct kicked in, and he looked back over his shoulder to find himself nearly faceto-fang with the second merrow. The elf pushed back hard with the butt of the trident and caught the merrow in the gut. The silver handle thudded against the creature's scaled abdomen, pushing the merrow away and buying Xzorsh a moment's time.
The sea elf reached for one of the drow's magic crabs and tore it free from the braided reed that secured it to his belt. He darted under the merrow's grasping hands, twisting around to swim up behind it. With a quick one-two move, he placed the crab-shaped object between the merrow's shoulder blades with one hand, and with the other hand punched down hard. The barbed legs sank deep into scales and flesh, then began to move as the enchanted weapon dug its way through.
The merrow spun to face the sea elf, its hideous face contorted with astonishment. Its fanged mouth opened again and again in grating, bubbling screams as the magic crab tore through its chest. The crab burst free in a spray of blood, a still-beating heart clinging to one of the barbed legs. When it met no further resistance, the weapon became inanimate metal once again.
Xzorsh snatched up the fearsome thing, brandishing it in the face of the last merrow. The creature halted its attack, regarding the unexpectedly resourceful sea elf cautiously. Then it turned and fled.
The ranger watched the merrow go, relishing thoughts of the report that the creature would give to its unknown commander. Let them know, Xzorsh exulted silently, that magic has come once again into the hands of the sea folk!
Patience was not among Liriel's strengths, and she had a good deal to say about Hrolf's insistence that she stay abed until moonrise. The captain merely laughed at her diatribes, promising her that the price of waiting would be paid in full.
At last the twilight colors beyond the cabin's portal gave way to darkness. Liriel leaped from her cot and quickly dressed and armed herself: Although Hrolf clearly thought the surprise would be a good thing, Liriel could not forget that not all the pirates had intentions that mirrored those of their captain.
Fyodor was waiting for her at the top of the ladder. He met her with a smile, but his eyes were deeply shadowed. She gave him a quick, cautious hug-for he moved stiffiy and was bandaged in a dozen places-and an inquisitive look.
"it is nothing," he said softly. "A dream."
"Something about ibn tossing me overboard in a tuna net?" she whispered back. She'd wondered if anyone had seen the attack, but Hrolf had said nothing to her of ibn's treachery, and the first mate stood at the rudder, his redbearded face as inscrutable as usual.
Fyodor recoiled. "it is true, then. I promise you, little raven, the traitor will not live out the day!" he said with grim earnest.
The drow smiled and claimed her friend's arm. "Oh, yes he will, and many days to follow! There's an old drow saying, 'Revenge is a dish best served cold.' That usually means revenge is more fun if you take the time to cool down, to plan and savor the act, but it works in other ways, too. Let ibn wonder and worry. That will serve him better than