The pirates were a jolly bunch, but I knew that they'd slit my throat as soon as look at me if they smelled a profit. It was refreshing that they didn't even hide that from me, though. There was something reassuring to the straightforward greed of these men and women, out alone on the dangerous ocean.

I don't need to worry as long as I'm offering a bigger reward than they'll get elsewhere for me, I told myself. And while the Rohar might have their problems at the moment, we didn't lack for wealth. Captain Orshak wasn't a good man, but he was a shrewd one.

To help matters as best I could, I threw myself into the work of the ship beside the crew. I wasn't trained in ship handling, but my strength was useful and no one wanted to turn down my help. After a few days, I felt a wary respect, even friendship, growing between me and the crew of the Halloran. It was an odd feeling, but it was there.

"You're a lucky man to have such a mate," one of the crew said as I hauled on a line beside her. "Wish I had one so brave."

Her name was Prisha, one of the pirates who'd taken the time to show me how to help on the ship. I nodded to her seriously, suppressing a shudder at the memory of the fight on the beach. I'd been too engaged in my own battle to pay attention to Gemma and hers, and it was only when the captain lay unconscious in the surf that I'd seen her injury. Gemma should never have to fight. I should have protected her, kept her safe.

"She is amazing," I agreed, pulling my mind back to the present. "That's why I'm going to make sure she's safe and send her back to her homeworld. Here, she's going to get herself killed."

"Idiot," the woman said. There was no malice behind the word, which somehow made it sting more. "How would you feel if she tried to keep you out of harm's way like that?"

"I am a Protector, a warrior. I have to face these dangers. She does not, and she's not ready for them."

"I don't have to face the dangers of the open sea, either, but I chose it," she said. "Why not let her choose to stay with you, if she will? Come on, she stood in the path of a spear for you. That's got to be worth something."

I tied off the line, stepping back to look at the woman. She looked back at me, eyes narrowed and appraising.

"It's not your place to judge my decision," I said slowly. "Gemma is in danger here, and I can send her back to safety. That's what I'm going to do."

It wasn't easy to ignore her words, though. Part of me couldn't help remembering just how whole I'd felt with Gemma in my arms, and imagining how empty my life would be without her. Perhaps I should give in to my selfish temptation and keep her at my side.

No. That's weakness, I told myself. Gemma's safety matters more than my happiness.

"Idiot," the pirate said again. She snorted with laughter and wiped sweat off her brow. "If you don't want her, Protector, we'll take her instead. The captain would be happy to have her aboard, and so would I."

I growled, my hands balling into fists, and the woman laughed again, raising her hands. "Hey, no offense meant. It's you she wants to be with, remember? None of us are a threat to you unless you push her away."

With an effort I unclenched my fists, and the pirate lowered hers. From her belt she pulled out a flask and passed it to me as a peace offering. Whatever it was she drank, it smelled horrible and tasted worse. The only saving grace was the burning of alcohol numbing my tongue.

"What is this?" I gasped, passing the flask back.

"Doesn't really have a name," she replied, taking her own swig. "Makes for a good wound cleaner, though. Cheers!"

I shook my head. These pirates were a strange bunch, but I couldn't help liking them just a little. If only this one would keep from prying into my love life.

Before I could say anything more, a cry went up from the lookout at the prow of the ship. Instantly my companion's mood changed, becoming all business.

"You'd better get below with your mate," she said. "We're going to be busy up here with a zhak."

"I'll earn my keep," I told her, shaking my head. The sea serpents were dangerous foes, and I wasn't going to let the crew see me shy from a fight.

"Suit yourself," she told me, grabbing a bundle of throwing spears and tossing it to me. "Pass those to me when I ask."

For a moment I wanted to object, but I stopped myself. I was a stranger here and the crew was acting like a well-oiled machine. As much as I might want to contribute, there was too much chance I'd get in the way. Looking at the spear, I admired the design. The tip was a long, sharp blade packed with explosives — detonating that inside something's flesh and whatever it was would have a bad day.

Staying carefully back I watched the pirates work. For the undisciplined gang that they appeared to be they weren't shabby at all, and soon everyone was in position. Not a moment too soon, either. The ship rocked and groaned as something huge hit it below the water.

Prisha grinned back at me, readying her spear with one hand and gripping the railing with the other. I recognized that smile, the expression of a warrior covering nerves on the eve of battle.

"It's a big one," she whispered. As though her words had summoned it, a great head broke the water beside the Halloran, sending a wave cascading over the side. For a moment I was stunned. I knew that the beasts grew bigger out in the deep waters of the ocean, but I'd never seen anything like this before. The creatures that came close to Rohar were half the size if that, and the idea of fighting something like this with spears seemed ludicrous.

Prisha flung out her spear, a perfect cast that simply bounced off the monster's scales and exploded harmlessly in the water. Without needing to be asked I handed her a second spear. Others were throwing too, their spears glancing off the great sea serpent with no more effect than Prisha's. Then it lunged with a deafening roar, slamming into the Halloran's hull with a crash that made my ears ring.

The whole ship skidded sideways in the water at the impact and I barely kept my feet. All around me, chaos reigned. Water washed over the decks, sailors cried out incomprehensible orders, more spears glanced off the creature. Somewhere someone screamed in pain and my heart froze for a moment. But no, it wasn't Gemma, she was safe at the captain's side.

Safe as anyone aboard the Halloran could be, anyway. The idea of the ship making it back to Rohar in one piece seemed like a foolish dream now.

With a loud thrum that I felt in my bones, one of the great harpoon guns fired. Propelled by a coiled steel spring, the harpoon managed to penetrate the beast's hide and red blood sprayed from the wound. With a muffled bang the harpoon's explosive warhead detonated, spraying chunks of serpent out of the wound. The crew cheered, and for a moment I thought that was the end of it.

But no. Even that wound was only superficial for a serpent this big. The creature roared in pain, a deafening noise, and smashed into the ship again, gripping the vessel in its coils.

This time there were more screams, and the loud crack told me something internal had given. Orders flew fast, and more spears glanced off the scales of the beast. Some were aiming for its eyes, but despite the creature's size it swayed swiftly and the eyes were too small a target.

It lunged, teeth snapping shut, and a scream shut off abruptly as it snatched up two of the crew in one mouthful. Blood sprayed everywhere.

"Cut the engines," the captain cried. For a moment I thought he'd gone mad, but it was clear that we had no chance of outrunning the monster snake. Its coils wrapped around the ship now, squeezing the heavily armored frame, and we would have to dislodge it before we could go anywhere.

Another thrum and a harpoon sprouted from its side. Another roar, and the beast thrashed sending me tumbling to the deck as the ship shook in its grasp. Pirates hacked at its flank, angling their blades between the scales, but they couldn't be doing more than annoying the huge creature. Prisha and I staggered to our feet, looking up at it.

"Never seen one this big," she said, and I could hear the fatalism in her voice. She was resigned to losing this fight.

I don't have that option. Gemma's here with me, and I will not let her die. Even if no one else gets to safety, she has to.

Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed one of the spears and charged. Not at the nearest coil of the monster — there was no chance that I could do better than the pirates were. I set my sights higher, on the head of the serpent.

"Come back," Prisha shouted after me. Then she swore and ran after me. At least I'd have some backup, I thought. Not that it would likely do any good.

I'd only have one chance at this. If it failed, I'd be too dead to try anything else. It was the only way I could think of to get Gemma home safely, though. I risked a glance back at her, seeing her wide-eyed terror as I ran towards the most dangerous part of the battle.

I'm sorry, my love. I wish I could tell you that I love you. Hopefully I will be able to after this.

If not, though, at least I'd have died saving her. As long as my plan worked, I'd be satisfied that this was a good death.

The second harpoon detonated and the serpent roared in pain again. Convulsing, it shook the Halloran badly, sending the crew flying this way and that. I barely kept my balance on the blood-slick deck, but I couldn't fall now. This was my chance, and I might not have another.

Bracing myself, I leaped. The monster's maw loomed large, and as I passed its bloody teeth I wondered if this was suicide. If I can take the creature with me, that's all that matters. Gemma will just have to forgive me.

The mouth closed fast, almost too fast. But I had just enough time to brace my spear against the roof of its mouth, angling to where I thought the brain must be. The force of the creature's jaw closing forced the blade through the softer flesh and as the world went dark my thumb struck the button.

For a moment, nothing happened and I thought I'd given my life for nothing. Then light and noise filled my world as the explosive detonated deep in the monster's skull.

The entire world hurt, an ache that wouldn't end, and I decided that was good news. It meant I was alive — being dead couldn't possibly be this bad. Groaning, I forced open my eyes winced at the stabbing pain the light brought.

At once there was noise around me, movement. Hands helped me up, pushed cushions under me, and slowly the room came into focus around me. I was inside, in a cabin, and Gemma was there. A wave of relief washed over me. She was safe, and that meant that everything was alright.

"You idiot," Gemma said, her eyes bright with tears. "You could have died! I thought you did die. If Prisha hadn't been right there to drag you out of that thing's mouth, you would have."

Prisha stood behind her, smiling and cleaning her nails with a knife. "Yeah, well, I had to do something. Couldn't let your idiot hog all the heroism for himself."

I managed a laugh at that, though it hurt my ribs. Even breathing hurt, and speaking was a gamble.

"I take it the beast's dead, then?" I asked, taking Gemma's hand in mine.

"Dead as can be," Prisha confirmed. "Lucky hit, too. You know a zhak's brains are smaller than your fist, right?"

I suppressed a shiver at that, not wanting Gemma to see it. I'd come very close to dying for nothing, then — but I'd won, and saved her. That was what mattered, I reminded myself. Better yet, I was alive too. As it turned out, we would be going home together. That was cause for celebration.

"Help me up," I said, struggling to sit. Gemma put her hand on my chest and pushed me down firmly.

"Don't be silly," she said, worry in her voice. "You've got to rest, you're hurt."

That was when I realized just how much pain I was in. I'd been able to ignore it while we talked, but now that Gemma pointed it out, it all came rushing back. My arms burned, all my muscles ached, and a myriad of small pains mixed together. I winced and lay against the cushions.

Gemma sat beside me, lifting a bowl from the bedside table. "Let me clean those wounds up and you relax. We'll be home soon enough."

"I can't show weakness," I said, trying to gather my strength. The two women shared a glance and laughed.

"Idiot," Prisha said with a shake of her head. "You saved us. The Halloran wouldn't have made it if you hadn't pulled off your stupid stunt. No one's going to think you're weak just because you need a lie down afterward — you've earned it."

She pushed off the wall and walked to the door. At the threshold she turned back to wink at me. "Anyway, no one'd blame you for taking it easy when you've got Gemma to look after you. We'll be jealous, maybe."

Gemma didn't look like she'd understood all of that, but enough of it to blush and glare at Prisha. The pirate woman laughed and closed the door behind her.

I lay back, taking a deep breath. She was right. I could afford a little time to relax and tend to my wounds. Or, even better, let Gemma tend to them for me.