Dragon Sacrifice (The First Realm Book 3) by Klay Testamark Page B

the hold.
     
    “You won’t escape me!” Serrato said, and leaped after me.
     
    It was cramped belowdecks. The footing was uneven. We fought on the crates and barrels, ducking under the half-deck to stab at each other. I gripped my blade in one hand and thrust it like a short spear. He parried with one sword and thrust out with the other. I tried to dodge but it was cramped.
     
    “Arrgh!” I said, as he carved an X into my ribs.
     
    “Enough of these close quarters!” he said. Tucking one sabre under his arm, he grabbed my wrist and teleported us both.
     
    We reappeared topside and toward the stern. Pirates and crew scattered as we fell to the afterdeck. I landed with a thump.
     
    I brought my sword up. We faced each other. I knew, in that moment, that I had met my death.
    With an opponent that good, there was no other outcome. I resolved to meet it like a Northlander, and to do as much damage as I could.
     
    “To the death!” I roared, and lunged.
     
    My rage was high, my form perfect. But Serrato had speed on his side. With one sword he turned my blade aside and with the other he punched me with the basket hilt. The deck shifted under me but I rallied. I slashed, trying to gut him but he parried left and right. We crossed swords and he broke the bind. We crossed swords again and he deflected my momentum and flicked at my head.
     
    It was only a small cut above the eye but the distraction was enough for him to step in close. His sabres came together like pincers and my sword clattered to the deck.
     
    I blinked. My hands were bleeding but intact. I was defenceless, however, and the elf had a sword at my throat.
     
    “I won’t beg for my life,” I said.
     
    Serrato smiled. “Dear boy, why would I kill you? You’ve given me an excellent bout, something that comes rarely to this old elf. I’m tempted to add you to my crew.”
     
    “The pirate’s life is not for me,”
     
    “Ah well. Now, I can’t have you interfering with my business…”
     
    He tackled me and dumped me over the side. I weighed fifteen stone, almost twice what the elf did, and for him to do that, it was a shocking display of strength. I barely noticed when I hit the water.
     
    I came up spluttering. Someone threw me a life preserver. I looked up and saw Serrato.
     
    “I mean no injury to your honour,” he said. “I’m just a simple pirate trying to make a living in a cold and callous world. My reputation is such that defeating you will not diminish your name.”
     
    “Fish me out. Let’s finish what we started!”
     
    “I think not, my callipygous combatant.” He laughed. “Perhaps we shall meet again. I look forward to it!”

Chapter 11: Angrod
    “Well, this explains a lot,” I said.
     
    I sat in the communal area with most of the crew. The ship had hove to for the night and was more or less parked in place. Heronimo and Serrato had already told their sides of the story.
    Rather, Heronimo had told his story and Serrato had laughed. Of course, I acted as soon as I had heard enough.
     
    “Can we avoid bloodshed on this trip, Captain?” I had asked. We were sitting on one of the wings
     
    He grinned. “But of course. You are my guests!”
     
    “We’re on a mission here,” I told Heronimo. “We can’t afford personal quarrels.”
     
    My friend took a deep breath. “I follow you, Angrod. It will be as you say.”
     
    “You can always get yourself killed later,” Cruix said.
     
    “What’s all this talk about killing and bloodshed?” Serrato said. “This is a fun ship, not a hardship! Come on, men, can’t any of you sing?”
     
    Someone brought out a harmonica. Another pulled out a fife. A short, skinny crewman produced a fiddle. He was very good. I noticed he was wearing a ball and chain.
     
    “Please help,” the fiddler said. “I’ve been kidnapped!”
     
    “Shut it, Alan,” Serrato said. “You get a share like the rest of us! Your wife thanks you for it.”
     
    “He can’t keep a