Read A Dance of Death for Free Online

and sighed.
    “Didn’t they tell you I was busy?” he asked.
    “Perhaps.” Ulrich glared at the woman, who slipped to the side and grabbed her clothes. “Leave us.”
    “Don’t go far, girl,” Darrel said as the whore hurried half-naked past Ulrich and out the door. With only a blanket keeping him decent, Darrel leaned against the bedpost and scratched his neck. He was a burly man, with skin darkened from months spent in the sun. A long scar ran from his lip to his chin, leaving a gap in his brown beard.
    “Shouldn’t you be helping them unload?” Ulrich asked.
    “My men know what they’re doing.”
    “It’s not your men I’m worried about. It’s my cargo.”
    Darrel stepped off the bed and pulled on his trousers.
    “Your damn wine is safe and dry,” he said, buttoning them. “Not that I give two shits. I could piss in every one and the scum here in Angelport would consider it fine vintage.”
    “I would still prefer it if you oversee things, in case such a respectable crew as yours decides to help themselves.”
    “You telling me how to run my ship?”
    “My ship,” Ulrich said, glaring. “You may captain it, but this is my boat, my cargo, and my reputation on the line. Besides, I don’t give a damn about the wine. You’ll be carrying something worth a thousand times more soon, and I need to be certain it is kept safe and untouched.”
    The captain pulled a white shirt over his head; it was hopelessly stained with sweat.
    “What could you possibly have worth more?” he asked.
    In answer, Ulrich taking out a small pouch from his pocket and opened the drawstrings. From within he drew a single leaf, tore off a small piece, and handed it over. It was green with strange purple veins, and Darrel grunted as he examined it.
    “What is this shit?” he asked.
    “Bite, but don’t chew. Keep it crushed between your teeth, and focus on breathing steady. Oh, and I suggest you sit down first.”
    Darrel shrugged. No stranger to various drugs and drinks, he seemed unimpressed with the simple leaf. Ignoring Ulrich’s advice, he popped the leaf into his mouth and chewed. Within seconds his expression changed, and his chewing slowed. Ulrich watched as Darrel’s pupils dilated and his hands started to twitch. Taking a seat at the captain’s desk, he patiently waited for the drug’s effects to pass so he could continue their conversation. After about five minutes, Darrel’s legs wobbled, and he fell hard onto his elbow. Even though the jolt caused him to bite his tongue, he barely reacted. Blood dribbled down his chin and into his beard.
    “Unbelievable,” Darrel said, his voice strangely dreamlike.
    Ulrich found the captain’s private stash of alcohol and poured himself a drink. Behind him, the captain remained oddly quiet, other than for the occasional grunt of pleasure. After Ulrich had finished his third drink, Darrel finally came around.
    “How long?” he asked, spitting blood to the floor.
    “About fifteen minutes,” Ulrich said.
    “Damn. That was better than fucking.” His eyes were bloodshot, and he stared at the pocket where the rest of the leaf remained in its pouch.
    “That was just a piece,” Ulrich said, holding in his grin. “Imagine a whole leaf. You’d be out for hours.”
    “If I could just have…”
    “No,” Ulrich said, standing. “No more, not while you are captain of my ship. In a day or two, it’ll be gone from your blood, and you’ll be able to control your desire for it. But while you sail for me, I can’t risk it. I’m sure you understand.”
    For a moment, Darrel looked ready to strike him, then regained his composure.
    “Gods damn it,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “Give me that bottle.”
    “It has several names, but the one most seem to use is Violet,” said Ulrich as the captain downed half the bottle in a series of gulps.
    “Never felt so good in my life,” he said, wiping his chin. He looked down at his pants, realizing they were stained with semen.