Free Into the Wind by Shira Anthony

Taren had seen few boys as beautiful. His delicate features called to mind a girl, but his forward manner was anything but feminine.
    “What do you do aboard the Phantom ?” Brynn asked after he’d settled back comfortably on the sand.
    “Rigger,” Taren answered.
    “Really? I’d’ve taken you for the sailing master.”
    Taren laughed. “Hardly.” Ian often spoke to him about taking a more powerful position aboard the Phantom , but Taren always refused. He’d happily served as a deckhand on the Sea Witch before he’d met Ian.
    The Sea Witch!How had he forgotten the name before? Taren felt profound relief to have remembered this. Fiall . The boy from the ship. He’d hit his head on a mast and the ship’s surgeon had tended to him. With this memory came several others: Rider, the Witch ’s captain, offering him his freedom in exchange for three years of servitude, and the first night he’d shared his body with Rider and Bastian.
    Brynn shook his head. “Don’t get many large ships around here. Mostly they stay away because of the pirates, but the town’s harbor is shallow, so most of the ships put into port on Cera.” He stared up at the sky, where a few stars were now visible in the deepening darkness. “Why did you leave your ship?”
    “I wanted a drink at the town tavern.”
    “You lie.” Brynn didn’t seem particularly concerned about this. “Did you fall overboard during the battle?”
    “You really do ask too many questions, boy.” Taren repressed a laugh. Brynn was charming. Irritating, but charming.
    “What do you want with Odhrán?”
    “Nothing you need be concerned with.” Taren was tempted to point out that this was yet another question, but he found himself enjoying the banter.
    Brynn smiled. “I hear he has a mountain of gold hidden in a cavern on one of these islands and a dragon who stands watch over it.”
    Taren knew Brynn was casting for answers. “I’m not interested in gold,” he replied. He watched for the boy’s reaction.
    “They all say that.”
    Clever boy. Taren was beginning to believe Brynn did know the pirate. Odhrán had a reputation for being wily—no doubt a sharp boy like Brynn would be the perfect set of eyes and ears for the reclusive pirate to keep abreast of happenings around the islands. “Believe what you wish. Our bargain did not include sharing my secrets.”
    Brynn kicked the sand with a slender foot. “Our bargain could include more than just information, you know.” The way he stroked his neck with the backs of his fingers was openly flirtatious.
    “You’re far too young,” Taren said with a chuckle. “Besides, my heart is already spoken for.”
    “Pity. I can see by the way you look at me that you think I’m pretty.” Brynn ran the tip of his tongue over his pink lips. “Who is he?”
    Whelp. “You’re far too clever for your own good, you know.” Taren yawned and lay down in the sand.
    “You admit it, then,” Brynn pressed. “You think I’m pretty?”
    “You’re pretty. Now can we get some sleep?” Taren had no intention of sleeping—even if he believed the boy would do him no harm, he didn’t fully trust him either.
    “Good night, Taren. If you should change your mind….”
    “Good night, Brynn.”

Seven

     
    “I SHEawake yet?” said a man’s voice, unfamiliar yet strangely comforting. Taren looked around to see where the voice had come from, but saw only the thatching of a roof. He inhaled the sweet scent of pine and incense and wondered if perhaps he was Treande once more, asleep beside his beloved Owyn.
    “He’s still tired after the consecration. Aren’t you, little one?”
    Taren gazed up into a pair of green eyes, then blinked and yawned in quick succession. He stretched his arms and marveled to see how smooth and pale they were. His hands were tiny, with chubby fingers he couldn’t quite control. When he tried to speak, the soft cooing sound that issued from his lips took him by surprise.
    I’m a