Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97188 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 486(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Stop what?”
“Last night meant something to me, the same way it meant something to you. We have to focus on business now, but that doesn’t mean I’m going back to dancing around each other, as skittish as maidens. I’ve gotten over my guilt. So have you. Let’s move on together.”
Just like that. Lizzie isn’t one to linger on things she finds uncomfortable. I swallow hard. “Okay.”
She gives me a look like she isn’t quite convinced, but she just takes my hand and leads me toward the lift to descend to the bay. “First, we need to check to see if the ship’s still there. The local taverns won’t be occupied by more than the hard-core locals at this time of day. We’ll find you some food and then figure out next steps from there.”
Down in the bay, I’m pleasantly surprised to discover that the Serpent’s Cry hasn’t sailed away without us. In fact, Alix stands on the docks, deep in conversation with two people, their hoods pulled forward on their faces. They look at us as we approach, and the strangers break away, headed in the opposite direction. I stomp down on the curiosity fluttering in my chest. It’s none of our business. The most important thing is that Alix is still here.
Alix crosses their wings over their chest and gives us a severe look. “So. You’re still alive.”
“Is there a reason we wouldn’t be?” Lizzie tenses as if she’s going to attack. I place my hand on the center of her back, urging her to patience.
They shrug. “A person came by asking questions. Pointed questions. The kind that make people like me nervous.”
Now it’s my turn to tense. No one should even know we’re here, let alone where to start asking questions. “Cŵn Annwn?”
“If they were, they were undercover. Not a crimson piece of clothing in sight. They also didn’t feel like those bastards.” Alix sighs. “Look, I have no issue with you—at least in theory. I’ve made some good trades already on Drash, enough that we’ll likely incorporate this into our route going forward. But that doesn’t change the fact that we’re not a vessel equipped to hunt in the way that you need.”
It’s nothing more than they’ve said from the moment we came aboard, but I respect them for saying it to our face instead of sneaking off in the dead of night. I tap my fingers on Lizzie’s back and move to step in front of her. “So this is goodbye.”
Alix’s gaze flicks over my shoulder to Lizzie. “That would be my preference. There are enough ships that come through Drash that you should be able to book passage once you know where you’re headed.”
I can actually feel Lizzie tense behind me, but she stays silent. There’s an element of trust there that I’m not sure I know what to do with, but there’s no time to examine it now. “We just need our things from your ship and then you can be on your way.” It will likely be days before we find any information—if there’s even information to be found. A ship like the Serpent’s Cry requires constant movement to be effective. Lingering too long in one place is a great way to have people asking questions that they don’t want to answer.
Alix and the rest of their crew didn’t kill us in our sleep. It’s the bare minimum, but they could’ve at least tried. They chose not to. “Good luck on your travels.”
Alix visibly relaxes, though they give Lizzie another nervous look. “I took the courtesy of grabbing your stuff before I came to shore.” They hold up their wings and take a quick step back. “I wasn’t going to toss it. I fully intended to wait until you came looking. It’s just my good luck that you didn’t make me wait long.”
Lizzie is still tense enough that she obviously wants to attack. She doesn’t, though. She keeps her silence as we collect our bag and head back toward the lift. Lizzie’s jaw is set in a tight line, and her strides are sharp with anger. “I hope you have a good reason for letting them leave without us. We need that ship.”
“There are other ships. And don’t pretend like the thought of taking over another one doesn’t make you a little bit excited.”
She shoots me a sharp look. “It would make me more excited if you weren’t so cagey about letting me murder the people who stand in our way.”
Despite everything, I laugh. “Let’s just see how it goes.”
We find an inn on the next level up and pay for a night’s stay. Then I give in to Lizzie’s pestering to eat until she’s satisfied I’m not going to pass out from lack of nourishment. By that point, the sun is once again sinking toward the horizon. The taverns will be bustling with the dinner crowd, and then the drinking will begin, which means people won’t be watching their tongues as closely.