Free Ship of the Dead by James Jennewein Page A

Leverage. Before, you had gold to pay men. And you had the threat of death over them if they failed to perform to their ruthless best.”
    â€œOf course, the undead have less desire for riches. And since they’re not living—”
    â€œYou have no leverage over their souls,” Grelf said.
    â€œYou have summed up the problem quite nicely, my friend,” Thidrek said, placing his hand on Grelf’s shoulder. “What would I ever do without you?”
    â€œYou are most kind, my lord.” Now go lie in a ditch. I’ll cover you with dirt and be on my way.
    â€œIn all the years you have served me, do you know what I appreciate most about you, Grelf? When times are at their toughest, you always show me how to find the light behind the darkest cloud.”
    â€œLight, sire?”
    â€œYou know—the times I wanted to give up, but you always managed to talk me out of it?”
    â€œUh . . . I don’t think this is one of those times. In fact, I’m sure of it.”
    â€œYou’re . . . sure of it?” Thidrek’s grip tightened on Grelf’s shoulder blade, bony fingers digging deeper into his flesh, and Grelf felt the hot gush of his blood under his shirt.
    â€œMy lord—please! What are you doing?” Grelf wailed.
    â€œApplying leverage, my dear man. We will find a way to prevail, won’t we?”
    â€œYes!” Grelf cried through the excruciating pain. “We will prevail, my liege!”
    Thidrek released him and the whimpering Grelf fell to the ground. “I’m so grateful for your support, Grelfie. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Chapter 7
A Young Stranger
    R unning alongside the rain-swollen creek, Dane heard Klint, his raven, call to him as the bird flew overhead, searching for any traces of Lut. Dane knew the plateau was soon to end, plunging to the valley floor—which meant that if they didn’t find Lut soon, chances were he had been swept over.
    He heard a loud crawk! ahead and rushed forward. The rain had stopped and a trace of moonlight shone through the thinning clouds. There! Just before the plateau ended he spotted Lut the Bent lying still, Klint hopping up and down on a rock beside the body. “He’s here!” Dane called to the others, who were on foot behind him upstream. Dane scrambled over the rocks to where Lut lay motionless, his body so thin and frail he looked like little more than a pile of wet rags. Fearing him dead, Dane drew near and tentatively touched Lut’s cheek. It was warm! “He’s alive!” he cried.
    Lut snapped open his watery blue eyes and scowled at Dane as if he’d been awakened from a blissful dream. “What’re you doing in my hut?”
    â€œYou’re not exactly in your hut, Lut.”
    The old man raised his head and saw his predicament. “I was dreaming that my roof was leaking.” Drott and Fulnir arrived in a rush, happy to see Lut among the living.
    â€œReally cut it close, Lut,” said Drott. “Another blink and you’d have gone over.”
    â€œIt was Death who blinked,” Lut croaked as Fulnir and Drott helped him up. “Just when he was cocksure he had me, I slipped from his grasp like a wise old trout.”
    â€œGood we still have your wisdom to guide us. It seems to be in short supply.” As Fulnir said this, Dane caught a sharp look from him. Fulnir and Drott took Lut away and Dane did not move to help. It was clear they did not want his assistance and blamed him for everything that had gone wrong.
    The storm having now passed and the skies cleared, a bright moon lit the way as they rejoined the others and continued down the main trail across the plateau. Dane rode in the lead, feeling the growing animosity at his back. The notion of apologizing to them crept into his thoughts. Perhaps he was wrong about pressing on across the plateau. But then again, was it really his fault they had been