In hindsight, jumping on the first ship leaving town might not have been the best idea.
Sure, the government might have been after her for robbery, assault, and murder (he’d tripped and fallen on his own sword while chasing after her – actually tripped – it wasn’t even a metaphor and it was hardly her fault), but lying low for a few more hours couldn’t have hurt that much, could it?
The sword at her throat said she’d never have a chance to find out.
“What exactly did you expect to accomplish here, magician,” Captain Kali spat, flashing red eyes at Julia. This was really not how she’d imagined meeting the captain. Actually, she’d been hoping to avoid that captain altogether.
“Um…” Julia squeaked, trying to shuffle away from the sword, even though she knew it was pointless. The sword was the least of her worries when she was surrounded by the crew – pack – that ran the ship.
“Stop,” Kali growled, fangs extending as she curled back her lips. “Your kind isn’t welcome here, but I will have an answer from you.”
“Running away from the law?” Julia said, wincing slightly when it came out as more of a question than a statement.
“The law that prohibits the use of spells,” the captain said, her voice dripping with condemnation.
And no, that wasn’t fair. Julia was not going to be judged and found guilty by someone who had no idea what she’d been through.
“The law that defends thieves and murderers so long as they have enough money,” she said, anger coursing through her at the thought of her parents killers. Those bureaucrats might not have pulled the trigger, but they condemned her family to suffering and starvation when they stole their land. At least she had the satisfaction of knowing they wouldn’t sit quite as comfortably in their fancy cottages after they received her messages.
“Really now,” the alpha said, her voice turning curious. She jerked her head at Julia to stand, dropping her sword as Julia rose to her feet.
The smile the captain gave Julia was all teeth. “Then you’d be interested in taking compensation.”
Julia nodded, barely believing her luck.
The captain must have seen something she liked in Julia’s eyes, because she sheathed her sword and held out her hand, a feral smile on her face. “Welcome aboard the Bagha, Miss Blake. I hope your stay is a long and pleasant one.”
Julia returned the smile. She was going to love it here.
Zynn's Exodus 