look at me like that,’ he added, seeing the surprise on Einar’s face. ‘It wasn’t hard to guess. Especially since the gods… Hmmm, they’ve blessed me with very keen hearing. Sometimes even too keen,’ explained the beastman. ‘Standing close to you, I can clearly hear the rhythm of two hearts.’
‘Really?’ Einar instinctively looked down at his chest, as if he might see his hearts.
‘Yes.’ Tahon wagged his tail. ‘But don’t worry. My gift is very rare, and few are... hmm... blessed with senses as keen as mine. Even amongst knights.’
‘Permission to go ashore, please.’ Einar jumped as he heard the First Officer’s raised voice again. At the same time, the boy felt his friend nudge him in the ribs. Toinen looked first at Ceet, then glanced around. All the Ytrens were watching him, waiting for some sort of reaction. Einar swallowed the swear words that were on the tip of his tongue and spoke with practised grace.
‘On behalf of my father, Jarl of Stairon, I grant you permission to leave your ship.’ Einar had hoped that once his father and brothers returned, he would finally be able to stop standing in for them, even if only in appearance, but it seemed that this was a vain hope.
Hex, Pleinselin and the boatswain, their faces grim, descended the gangway and stood over the fallen legionaries. Tahon stood slightly ahead of Einar and wagged his tail gloomily. The tension in the air was palpable, and that alone did not bode well. The awkward silence seemed to drag on indefinitely.
‘Ahem,’ Ceet cleared his throat, casting a meaningful glance at the battered legionaries.
‘They were thrown into the punishment cell yesterday,’ the sergeant said, looking at the knight. ‘The legate was due to decide today what to do with them.’
‘I ordered them to be kept under guard in their cell,’ added the First Officer, and the lanky fellow nodded vigorously in agreement.
‘So what are they doing here?’ The beastman gestured towards the attackers.
‘That’s exactly what I’d like to know,’ Pleinselin said, glancing at the boatswain.
