Corun shivered. "Are you—Pardon. It's no concern of mine."
"No, no, that's all right. He put no such binding on me—I knew better than to accept his offer of a luck-bringing spell. But he has other ways. He lent me a slave-girl from Umlotu for my pleasure—but she is lovely, wonderful, kind, all that a woman should be. She has borne me sons, and made homecoming ever a joy. But you see, she is still Shorzon's and he will not sell her to me or free her—moreover, he did put his geas on her. If ever I rebelled, she would suffer for it." Imazu spat over the rail. "So I am Shorzon's creature too."
"It must be a strange service."
"It is. Mostly all I have to do is captain his bodyguard. But I've seen and helped in some dark things. He's a fiend from the lowest hell, Shorzon is. And his granddaughter—" Imazu stopped.
"Yes?" asked Corun roughly. His hand closed bruisingly on the other's arm. "Go on. What of her?"
"Nothing. Nothing. I really have had little to do with her." Imazu's face was lost in the gloom, but Corun felt the one eye hard on him. "Only—be careful, pirate. Don't let her lay her own sort of geas on you. You've been a free man till now. Don't become anyone's blind slave."
"I've no such intention," said Corun frostily.
"Then no more need be said." Imazu sighed heavily and got up. "I think I'll go to bed, then. What of you?"
"Not yet. I'm not sleepy. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."