Re: The Dark Amazon
Hornsby offered up a sly smile to Marianne. "A parlous man, Milady, with a plan of his own. He and I were as brothers, time ago; and now, enemies most bitter. See ye the shell of poor Billie ? Twas a good man, who did not deserve a death."
The other two, Hornsby and Hawksmoore, were ignoring the other exchange by and large and having one of their own. Hornsby was bossing Hawksmoore around in jovial manner, and oddly enough, the surly youth was accepting this as perfectly all right, and actually joking back. "Yarely, Master Hawksmoore, and what make ye for our time, wi' that poxy pig's brake-fast ahead, d'ye reckon ?"
"Look'ee, twas not I lost the map, Captain !" But Hawksmoore gave the engine more fuel, sending the boat along faster.
"A handsome slog twill be, wi'lasses in tow, Hell's bells and Hailstones !"
"Tis not with them I shalt go !" Hawksmoore insisted.
"Rot 'ee for a harsh heart, Bastian, wilt never give over thy gall ? Twas years ago ! You shall stride over the man's grave a dozen times !"
"Bedamned to him, and you, for ever saying aught !" snapped Sebastian Hawksmoore. "Bloody Hook ! Bloody childer ! Bloody Pan !"
Hornsby rolled his eye and sighed, then directed his attention - with a rakehelly grin - to Marianne and Liza. "Ladies, m'dears, and gentlemen," he said. "Dost wish a story ?"
"Hist !" growled Sebastian Hawksmoore, again in an ill temper, but Hornsby held up a hand and the youth subsided.
"Tis a good story, though the end is not known. It has been told oncet upon a doublet-score years."
"Captain, say't not; then we shall never be shut of the pestiferous hens !" Hawksmoore snapped, with a wave at Marianne and Liza.
"Stay thy bile, boy !" Hornsby raised his voice, and Hawksmoore backed down immediately. The ring of authority in Hornsby's tone was notable; this man had been in command. "We've our demon-hunter in yon Preacher; the Way can be made. Tis time they knew what waits."