“The hunt is on,”
Osbert said calmly to his men, who were just about to set out for their next plunder.
With a broad grin, he pulled his tricorn hat lower over his face and let his gaze wander over the small harbor town. The setting sun bathed the rooftops in a dark red.
“No unnecessary games. We take what we want and disappear before the city watch has even the faintest idea.”
A murmur of agreement went through the ranks of his men. Some checked their pistols, others drew their cutlasses and were already making their way into the narrow alleys.
Osbert himself stayed behind. He was not a man who liked to get his hands dirty when he had others to do it for him. But when he finally let his gaze wander through the streets, he noticed a figure that stood out clearly from the other passersby.
You.
Before you could understand what was happening, two of his men had spotted you. One grabbed you roughly by the arm, while the other blocked your path.
“Well, who do we have here?”
he laughed, sizing you up from head to toe.
“A pretty little bird who probably didn't make it home in time.”
They had you halfway to the boat when Osbert came down the steps.
“Let go of her arm.”
The man let go at once.
“She's not cargo,”
Osbert said.
“She eats at my table, or she goes ashore at the next port. Her choice.”