"Another word," Joshua growled, "and I'll. . ."
"You'll what?" Karn laughed, suddenly turning on him. "Take this obnoxious fool from my sight, and let's see how this wench performs on her back."
I heard Joshua cry out as he struggled in the grip of too many men. They began to drag him across the deck, one hitting him heavily in the belly to quiet him.
But I hardly noticed. I clenched my teeth, and my entire body trembled. From the corner of my eyes I could see the men moving in toward me, with leering grins on their faces and lust in their eyes. In front of me, Karn smiled and gave a little shrug as if this were all pleasantly inevitable.
My eyes fell to the handle of a blade worn on the belt of the nearest man. The wire-wrapped hilt beckoned, and just as I felt the man's hands upon my shoulder, I tore free of their grip with a cry and grabbed the handle of the long, curved sabre, ripping it from its sheathe.
All around me cries went up and men scattered back. Viciously I cut out at the closest one, the blade cutting down to shatter his collarbone as his eyes went wide.
I didn't cease, but leapt toward Karn, cutting out as he drew forth his own blade. The sharp tip of the sabre bit into his shoulder as he stumbled back, and then men were all about me, and the sound of swords being drawn filled the air.
Somewhere in the tumult was Joshua's voice, and the sound of it fueled me. I pounced toward the nearest sailor, who had drawn a thick, curved cutlass. I feinted in, and he raised his blade to parry, but I pulled back and then jabbed forward, sinking the tip into the muscle of his chest. I could sense them closing in from all sides, reluctant to use their blades and yet wary of my steel. With a vicious motion I dropped low and spun, striking out in a wide, low cut.
The blade sliced with a satisfying tear along the side of a man's knee, and he toppled over with a shout.
I rose back up and cut out in a wide arc to scatter my attackers.
"Karn!" came a voice from the raven's nest where a lookout was still posted. "Three ships bearing from the south! Red flags!"
"What in Lorenai is this?!" he cried, clutching his shoulder where red was staining his flesh. "Get that damn wench! Can't anybody take a blade away from a girl?!"