The ship swayed as Shade narrowed his eyes at the Captain across the table.
"You cheated. After I announced my answer, you moved the tattoo."
"No, I merely made use of the rules. That did not violate the rules I stated."
The pirate ship captain, whose hideous face was enough to frighten an adult unconscious, pointed at the white bread.
"Now, eat them, and we'll continue with the second round. If you don't, I'll assume that you and your companion wish to remain aboard. She will become food for My Lord, while you will stay with us forever. Don't worry, the food isn't poisoned. I'm not trying to poison you to death; that would be far too boring!"
The evil spirit pirates burst into laughter. The one nearest the plate of white bread even eagerly pushed it toward Shade.
The soft white bread looked exceptionally tempting, but in this damp cabin where human bones and jewelry covered the floor and the walls were coated in fungal mats and filthy blood, anyone could tell it was no ordinary food.
Shade drew a deep breath. Gambling against someone like this, he should have expected the other side to cheat. Since that was the case, he would not abide by these so-called rules afterward either. He would eat this bread, then see what the second round entailed. If the other side cheated in the second round as well, Shade would have no choice but to flip the table. Of course, if there was another way, he would try to avoid doing that. Losing his divinity meant God's Radiance would vanish, and that loss was simply too great.
"What is this food?"
Shade asked. He had thought the other side would refuse to answer, but unexpectedly, the Captain gave him one.
"This is desire.