“Barda.”
“Ha. That’s the one. We are, Barda. I have secured a voyage.” Captain Glendor puffed out his chest and looked to the sea, hands on hips.
The illustrious captain. “When do we leave?”
Captain Glendor scratched at his chin and looked around as if trying to find something. “Well… I… err. Not sure I’ll have the space after all. Busy ship, you see.”
“Favian is dead. You no longer need fear him.”
“Wha’?” Captain Glendor whispered. “Dead?”
“Yes. Nasty case of the Wane.”
“Bloody hell. I’d heard they’d chased someone out. I only saw him a couple days ago. He looked fine. Who’s gonna pay us then? If he’s dead, we’re all fucked, ain’t we?”
“What’s the job?”
Captain Glendor looked around aimlessly once again. “Well… I…”
“Red Mist?”
Captain Glendor squinted and scratched his neck. “How d’you know so much? And what is it exactly you’re running away from?”
“Listen, I care not for the purpose of the voyage, especially the return leg. I want passage. I will pay, and well.”
“Three hundred gold then.”
Extortion, is it? How about I don’t cut your throat in your sleep? “Very well. A boy will join me.”
“Whoa whoa whoa, hang on a minute. That ain’t happening. This ship ain’t no place for children.”
“Five hundred. When do we depart?”
Captain Glendor chewed on a fingernail. “Who the fuck are you?”
“The man that pays for that new deck.”
Captain Glendor smiled. “Alright then, Mr Mystery, you can tell me at sea. One week and she’ll be ready. Got some alterations to make down below. Feel free to help out if you like.”
“If it means leaving before a week, I’ll work through the night. You provide the ale.”
“You know, I think you’re my kinda man.” Captain Glendor spat on his hand and held it out to shake.
It was dark when Silas returned to the tavern. He’d started to relax. All being well, it’d be less than a week, and they’d be on their way. No more Shadows and no more killing. The boy and I should be able to get work on a farm. Accommodation included with all being well. Might even meet a farm girl to settle down with, a mother for the boy. A boy needs a mother. Silas was about to ask for an ale, then stopped himself. No. No more ale. New beginnings.
Silas slipped the key in the lock and turned. It was already unlocked. Shit. Favian’s boys? He put a hand on his blade and slowly pushed the door open.
A Shadow sat in the chair in the corner, one leg crossed over the other. Fuck. It beckoned him in with a finger. Silas entered, and the door was shut behind him by another Shadow standing by the wall. Mara sat on the bed, looking at the floor, a blank expression on his face.
“I would like to thank you for your help in returning Mara to the city,” the Shadow Master said. “It truly astounds me how coincidences such as these come about.”
“I happened upon the crowd that wished Favian to be expelled from the city –”
“Not only did you bring the boy to us in the beginning, but we were about to lose him, and you bring him back. Fate. Do you not think?”
Silas’s skin crawled. He wanted nothing more than to kill the two Shadows and flee. Take Mara to safety. “Of course, Master.”
The Master stood, placed a hand on Mara’s shoulder, and led him to the other Shadow. Mara didn’t look up as he was escorted out of the room. The Master indicated to the bed with a hand. “Please.”