The ocean rushed in to fill the space where the Al’Ri ship had been. The storm raging in the distance was observed only by Haven’s great black dragon figure head. All eyes were turned to Cousin as she settled onto Haven’s deck with three others.
A sharp cry cut off anything Kraken would have said as Raymond broke from the rest and rushed forward. He grab up a man of slight frame and spun with him. The black eyed man laughed, and flung his arms wide, long blue hair streaming. Raymond put him down, and they embraced.
“Something you want to share?” Kor’s voice cut through the startled silence.
Kraken laid a hand on Kor’s shoulder.
Raymond turned to face the crew. “This is T’Rin.” His smile spread wide. “He is my . . .” Raymond turned to T’Rin. “What would you call us, T?”
T’Rin tugged at the ornaments on Raymonds thick braids. “Lovers?”
Raymond frowned. “I thought . . .”
“Boyfriend,” Bry said into the tension. “The word is boyfriend.”
Kraken walked forward. He looked hard at Cousin. She frown, and nodded. He took a deep breath, and turned to the others Cousin had brought, a woman who shone like moonlight in mid-day, and a man who looked like a gardener in robes. Kraken looked around the crew, and saw the same hesitation that was his first instinct on most faces. Six new people was huge for Haven. Six new wielders was a different thing all together. Six Al’Ri? That would be hard.
“All new comers will be housed in the brig,” Kraken said, staring down Raymond’s protest. “Each to their own cell. Alone.”
Kor led the way under deck. The Al’Ri followed without resistance. Gabb, Ghost and Nickle brought up the rear. When cells were locked and warded, the crew met on deck.
Kraken turned to Cousin. “By your leave, my love.”
Cousin spoke so her voice carried. “The Al’Ri tracked us through T’Rin’s gift to Raymond. He didn’t tell Raymond it was enchanted. Just a token of his affection. T’Rin said he was afraid Raymond would go away and die, and he would never know why Raymond didn’t come back. I believe him. When Ash announced his intention to find us, T’Rin jumped at the chance to see Raymond again.” Cousin looked at Raymond. His brows were drawn, and his eyes closed. He fingered one of his ornaments.
“The other two I brought over,” Cousin met Kraken’s eyes, “are soul lost.”
“What does that mean, soul lost?” Matty asked, his normally crystal eyes cloudy.
“It means,” Kraken said, “that someone consumed enough of them to make them pliant. Enough to damage their souls without total destruction of the person.” Kraken looked at the storm pulling further away from Haven. “You sure?”
“Yes.”
Kraken looked around to every man. He met each set of eyes, and decided. “Haven will house six new individuals. Ash, Leach and Sar I have asked to be crew. The others I will decide in time. For now threat them all the same. As you would treat anyone.” Kraken paused. “Questions.”
“They’re Al’Ri,” Nickle said. “You sure they can be trusted?”
“I am sure they want a freedom they can only get here on Haven,” Kraken said.
“What about when they decide there is better reward to turn on us?” Harper said. “When they think they can take more power by consuming us, consuming Haven?”
“Do you think I will allow that,” Cousin said.
A hush covered the decks.
“It’s just that the Al’Ri are known for – grasping,” Stephen said.
“Then they should make great pirates,” Kraken said.
“I don’t like it,” Lancer said. “Not at all. You really think that little do-dad in Raymond’s hair led them to us?”
“You think Cousin can’t handle the treat of six stunted wielders,” Kor said.
Kraken cleared his throat. “I’ll be talking to each of them.” He looked at Kor. “I have a feeling we will have enough to do soon without worrying about who’s on ship. Hop to. Everyone back to work.”
Heading, Captain?” Tuggy asked from the helm.
“Y’Ahno.”
“Aya.”
Cousin looked at Kraken.
“We’re a week out, and we have more mouths to feed,” he said. “You have the ship.”
“Aye, Captain.
“Jak, there will be more for dinner.”
“Aye, Captain.” Jak’s tattoos stretched with his large smile.
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