me.” Renaldo thought for a minute as he scratched his chin. “Let's talk business before we go down there. Just how much do you get for recruiting me?"
Surprise lit the man's one eye and he stuck the saber in the sand and leaned on it. “Well now, a pragmatic prisoner. That's a nice change. I get two gold coins per recruit, and each talent he possesses gets me another gold coin."
"Not bad.” Renaldo lifted his eyebrows. “I'll tell you what. I'll tell the Captain I can sail and navigate, if you give me one gold coin. After all, you're making a handsome profit on me and my modest talents."
"You're not serious!"
"If you agree, you'll get three gold coins. If not, you'll only get two."
"Two?” the man sputtered. “But you told me you could sail and navigate, that's two talents more!"
"Only if I agree. Otherwise I'll deny knowing anything and you'll only get two coins."
The man pulled his saber from the sand and shook it in front of Renaldo's face. “That's not fair! I'll kill you, how does that sound?"
Renaldo shook his head. “I don't think the army will pay you for a dead sailor, do you? I'm helping you earn another gold coin.” He gave him his most charming grin and said in a wheedling voice. “I've no wish to end up skewered on your saber, and you wouldn't mind earning three gold coins now, would you?"
"Well, if you put it that way.” The man pointed to the ship with the tip of his saber. “Go on now, I'm right behind you, and no funny business."
Renaldo sighed deeply. “You have to give me the gold coin now. I don't suppose you'll be inclined to give it to me later, and if you don't give it to me now, I'll tell the Captain I get sea-sick."
"You don't, do you?” The man looked horrified.
Renaldo stuck out his hand. “The coin, please."
After he pocketed the gold coin, he walked with a jaunty stride down to the edge of the water where a rowboat lay beached on the sand. “I suppose you'll be wanting me to row?"
"You are a smart fellow. I've a feeling you'll be working your way up in the ranks in no time. Why, t'wouldn't surprise me to hear you'd been made chief navigator, or even first mate this time next year."
Renaldo tried to look both thrilled and modest. “You're too kind,” he said, pushing the boat into the water. “After you?"
"I'll push off.” The man kept his saber in his hand as he leapt into the boat and settled in the stern. “Go on, put yer back to it, boy."
Obviously he trusted no one, thought Renaldo with some amusement. But despite his easy grin and bantering, he trembled with impatience to be off toward his kingdom and to Leonie. He would get her back, and find some way to reduce Sir Wulfe to a pile of smoking ashes.
The man cleared his throat. “You've just about broken that oar, lad. Take it easy now. No one's going to hurt you if you behave."
Renaldo looked up, surprised. “Sorry, I was just thinking about someone."
There was a moment of silence, broken only by the steady splashing of Renaldo's oars, then the man said with a serious tone. “Take my advice, lad. Forget your thirst for revenge. Whatever happened to you, put it behind you. I've seen the look in your eyes before, and it leads to nowhere but sorrow."
Renaldo paused, then resumed rowing. “I can't. He's taken my true love and I won't rest until I get her back."
The man nodded. “Oh, aye, I didn't think you'd agree just like that.” He snapped his fingers. “But when you do find yourself face to face with your enemy, remember what I said. The lust for vengeance poisons a man's soul."
"A recruiter and a philosopher.” Renaldo grinned, but his heart wasn't in it. The ship loomed near and the gold coin in his pocket was all he possessed. Still, he knew how to sail, and navigation came easily to him. And he would find Leonie. He would return to her, whatever road he had to follow ... or whatever sea he had to sail.
He stowed the oars and grabbed the rope ladder dangling from the side of the boat.
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