The long boat bumped the side of Haven. Ropes were lowered, and fastened to hoist the boat up. When Cousin stood on the deck she looked back at the Hunter’s ship. The leaching orb was fading away. No power signatures came from the ship, and people, no longer slaves, swarmed the decks.
“That orb was a nasty piece of work,” Gabb said.
Cousin leaned on his arm. “They started it.”
“Who is left over there,” Kraken asked, looking through his spyglass. “It looks like a full crew left. Surprised you didn’t sink it.”
“I freed the slaves. Let them have the ship. All the wielders are dead or worse.” Cousin looked at Kraken. “He wants a slave, blind loyalty. A dog at heel.”
“No different than the Masters.”
Cousin looked around at the faces of her family. Tears came from her fathomless eyes. She couldn’t stop the heartache that crushed her chest no more than she could control the sobs. She didn’t know why she hurt, only that the name Curtis Lee ran through her head over and over.
Kraken gathered Cousin up in his arm, and took her to her cabin.
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