Chapter 9 #2
The matron came in, bringing with her a young, broad-shouldered man with a cut across his forehead who was doubled over in pain, holding his stomach. “I need to double up patients in this room,” she explained, easing the man onto the empty bed and efficiently wrapping him in bandages.
“There’s nothing seriously wrong, but we’ll need to keep you for observation for at least a few hours while we check out the rest of your companions.
This is Gil. Gil, this is Marco. Keep each other company for a bit, okay?
I need to run.” She hurried out to handle the other patients, several of whom were crying out in pain.
“Hey,” Marco groaned, wincing as he put a hand up to his tanned face. He looked to be in his mid to late twenties, with a shock of brown hair that was more tangled than curly.
“What happened to you?” Lochlan asked, sounding much more concerned than normal. “Are you okay?”
“No.” Marco ran his hands through his hair so it was even more tangled than before. “That was an important shipment and I’m in charge of the company now, so it’s going to look bad on me.”
“What were you importing?” Lochlan asked.
Marco wearily shook his head. “Honestly, I have no idea. They labeled it porridge; that’s all I know. Now it’s gone.” He sighed and shook his head again. “This is going to cost the company a fortune.”
“Where did your shipment come from?” Lochlan pressed.
Marco stiffened. “Why the interest?”
Lochlan’s face knotted in concern and he shot me a worried expression. “Just trying to make conversation to keep everyone’s minds off their struggles.” He lowered his voice. “My cousin needs a distraction. He isn’t feeling well, and talking helps keep his mind off the pain.”
Marco’s face cleared a little. “I was hired by someone in Ebora to travel to one of the northernmost islands around Berkway. He said he’d pay quadruple. When I’m offered that much, I know not to ask too many questions. They said it was porridge and I didn’t challenge it.”
“Porridge?” I asked curiously.
Marco raised his hands. “Look, I’m just a merchant. When I’m asked to move goods for a fair price, I do it. End of story.”
“Who hired you?” Lochlan asked, his tone becoming more aggressive.
“That’s enough questions. If you haven’t noticed, I’m injured too.” Marco gently touched his head. “And I keep my business ventures private.”
“Let me rephrase.” In a moment, Lochlan had flipped out a knife and crossed to press the blade against Marco’s throat. “Tell me who hired you or I’ll kill you.”
Marco went pale and my stomach dropped. So much for the kind man who had helped Mable.
Lochlan grinned. “Not expecting an attack from inside the hospital, were you? That’s the first rule of defending yourself. Always expect an attack.” He pressed the blade closer. “Now, who hired you?”
“His name was Curdy,” Marco whispered. “Maybe in his mid-twenties, sandy blond hair.” He tried to pull away from the blade but Lochlan followed him so the knife stayed pressed against his throat.
“He’s living on an island in Rumrunner’s Bay.
That’s all I know, I swear. He told me where to pick up the shipment and that he’d pay me upon delivery.
” He’d nearly gone cross-eyed trying to keep the knife in focus.
Lochlan’s face lit up. “Thank you, Marco. You’ve been very helpful. Now, you won’t go telling anyone about this little incident, will you?”
Marco’s head quivered the tiniest amount from side to side.
“Liar,” Lochlan said with a grin, then he jerked his head at me. “This was all Gil’s idea, you know.”
In a few bounds, Lochlan was across the floor and out the window, along with whatever feelings I thought might be simmering for him.
The second Lochlan was out the window, Marco shouted for help and turned his furious gaze onto me. I scrambled out of bed. “I had no idea he was going to do that!” I said, hands up in defense.
Through the window, I saw Lochlan running full tilt toward Knorrwood Forest. He’d left me to take the fall for him.
Running footsteps came and nurses streamed into the room. Marco jumped to his feet, pointing at me and through the open window. If I waited any longer, I’d get held up in questioning, and even if I managed to convince them of my innocence, I’d still be subjected to doctors poking and prodding me.
Without any more hesitation, I ran to the window and jumped as well.
I landed in a crouch, knees bent to absorb the blow, and began running toward the forest as well.
Lochlan had already disappeared into the trees, but I wasn’t sure I was even intended to follow.
Once I’d delved deep enough into the forest to feel confident that no one from the hospital was following me, I slowed to a walk, thinking hard.
Had Lochlan expected his little stunt to get me arrested? He’d made it no secret that he didn’t want me there. I wanted to kick myself for having ever found him attractive. This was why romance was such a waste of time and energy. Trust always got people betrayed or killed.
I shook my head. Naturally they would use me until it was convenient to dispose of me. I knew the type of person Peter was and I’d read Roderick’s file; I should’ve expected the same sort of behavior from Lochlan. How many other people had he deceived or tricked?
The back of my tunic snagged against the nearest tree’s bark as I slowly slid down to sit.
If Lochlan had intended for me to be caught and never come back, what was I supposed to do now?
Getting in with Roderick’s ring had seemed like the perfect way to get information, but I’d been abandoned.
If I went back now, what would they do? If I didn’t go back, would they worry about me, or would they all be having a great laugh at my expense?
I stayed sitting for almost an hour, trying to think through what to do next.
“Gil!” The shout came from the trees ahead. “Gil, where are you?”
Peter’s red hair stood out against the greens and browns of the forest as he came into view. He spotted me and waved, but I didn’t wave back. Had he known what Lochlan was planning? Were they all in on it?
“We’ve been waiting for you,” Peter called. “What’s taking so long?”
“Lochlan left me,” I said stiffly. “He said it was my idea to threaten Marco, then he ran off and left me.”
“Did they question you?” Peter asked, much too casually.
“No, I got away, but—”
“I told Lochlan you’d get away,” Peter said, his easy grin firmly back in place. “You’ve always been quick.”
That didn’t do anything to ease the betrayal still simmering in my chest. Peter gave my shoulder a playful shove. “Oh, lighten up! It was a joke. I thought you were easy-going.”
Fine. They wanted to pretend it was all just a joke. I would pretend to joke right along with whoever I had to if it helped me find my sister.
I sagged my shoulders. “Oh. I wondered if Lochlan left me on purpose.” Then I stood straighter and brightened. “That was a good joke. You really had me going!”
Peter held out a hand to pull me to my feet and walked with me back to the cottage. On the way, he told me all about some of the pranks and jokes he used to play with some of his old friends, whom he had nicknamed “The Lost Boys.”
When we finally arrived back at the cabin, we found Roderick and Lochlan prying open the crate with thoroughly satisfied expressions on their faces.
“Then what did he say?” Roderick was asking Lochlan.
“That he’s just the middle man. There’s someone in Ebora who hired him to deliver it—Curdy, he said.”
Roderick shrugged. “Don’t know him. But as long as we have the goods, that’s enough. Too bad for Curdy.”
Lochlan looked up at me. “I wondered if you’d be back,” he said. “Ready to see the reward?”
“I’m ready. Open it, quick,” Peter urged before I could say a word. “I have to see this.”
With a creaking, splintering sound, the crate’s lid broke away to reveal a thick padding of straw inside. Peter plunged his hands in, searching, and finally came out with a large leather bag and reverently opened it.
A golden light shone out and I leaned forward to see not porridge but…pixie dust.
Shipment number one had arrived.