Chapter 11 #3
I was left with a loaded gun and locked inside the cabin.
All I could do was watch other boats come and go.
Driftend’s dock was small, but plenty of vessels were on the move.
Most came from the River Renard, where the end of the canal connected to the sea, linking all the waterways on the Continent.
Max returned first, a few hours later.
“You need to change your clothes,” he said as he entered the cabin.
He tossed two bags on the bed, both full of purchases.
I noticed he’d changed his own attire as well.
His new trousers were more tapered around laced-up boots.
His shirt was a striking black, pressed and cut to meet the lean angles of his body.
I noticed he’d grabbed a new coat, and this one was rigid across his broad shoulders, collar high and stiff, hem hanging just below his knees, and all of it cut to accent the entire length of him.
Velvet lined the lapels, cut sharp like the angles of his face.
Unlike the men in Valveron, who dressed up with vests and chains with monocles and ornate pocket watches, he was simpler.
No tie or cuff links or vest; there was nothing flashy about his appearance besides the striking color of his eyes.
Yet he still was put together in a way that was breathtaking—particularly for someone as unrefined as he was.
“We should at least try not to look like we crawled out the Fissures,” he explained as I assessed his new dress code. “And you need to change your appearance before we run into suspicious guards.”
“You didn’t have to buy me anything. I have my own money,” I told him even as I made toward the bed. Though my clothes were clean, I still longed to get out of them. My shirt had been torn from the cell floor, and my pants were pilling all over from wear and tear.
“I’m not worried about it. I just hope I guessed your size right.”
“You got me a coat? And new shoes?” He was visibly uncomfortable as I went through his choices.
Weighing down the bag was a trench coat, similar to the one Max wore.
I pulled it out and tried it on. The black fabric hung to my knees, and it was cinched at the waist with a satin sash.
The lapels were decorated in black filigree stitching, adding a subtle elegance.
“I’ve seen ladies pop the collar to shield their necks in the winter. Thought it might help hide your face.” He cleared his throat.
“Thank you,” I told him, and I meant it.
It was shockingly sensitive of him, and he’d clearly put actual thought into the choice of outfit.
The rest of the items had been carefully picked out for me, too—a lace blouse that buttoned at the wrist and high-waisted trousers, along with a pair of boots that laced as his did but had a small heel to add a feminine appeal.
“Are we supposed to be matching?” I asked, noting the coordinating color scheme.
“The shop lady assumed the worst,” he muttered.
Maurice arrived shortly after, carrying a crate of supplies to restock what we’d depleted, and tossed me a bag of crowns. “The rest of your payment, darling.”
“Are you sure I can’t compensate you after all you’ve done for us? It was no small thing, getting us out of the city. You could’ve faced serious charges.” I offered him one last chance to take a share of my earnings, but he vehemently refused.
“Did you let your corrupt import inspector know you’d be at the docks tonight?” Max asked from the corner, lurking like a shadow.
The captain grunted. Each loose line in his face hardened into a more severe expression.
“They’ll be here tonight to pick up whatever body you fished from the river.
” His glare slid to me, clearly displeased I’d shared the identity of his contact with Max.
“I thought you’d have enough money by now, Nina. ”
I hadn’t mentioned to Maurice that I was the one we’d be smuggling tonight. I wasn’t sure he’d allow it if I did, so it was better to keep him unaware of our plan.
“We’re not looking for money this time, Maurice.” I stuffed the coins in a concealed pocket of my new coat, the weight of them pulling down one side.
He shook his head for what must have been the thousandth time since I’d given him the first body. “I want no part of this. I’ll make the trade tonight, then I’m done with this business. I just want to go back to being an ordinary fisherman, even if that means I’ll be broke again.”
“You deserve an absolutely boring, uneventful life after this, Captain.” I smiled, and it shattered his scowl.
Maurice gave us a key to the ship and left to have dinner at the local tavern, turning a blind eye to our activities. He told us to wait until nightfall to move the box onto the main deck and to make sure we were out of sight by midnight.
Once the sun was swallowed by the horizon, Max turned to me.
“Ready to find your buyer?”
I was ready to find my mother, but he seemed to forget all about that detail. I was doing this for her, not for anyone else. That was the only thing convincing me to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I just hoped I wasn’t walking straight to my grave.