Ithion was a city with a lot of shadows because it was on the northern side of the continent, and thus, farther from the sun’s path as it orbited the world. Even at noon there was a great deal of shade to walk through on the northern side of buildings, which Mira liked a lot. With her skillset, she always felt safer when there were shadows about. She was just passing the harbormaster’s house on her way to meeting Jamor for dinner when the harbormaster called out to her.

  “Mira! Just the captain I was looking for!” the harbormaster said jovially. Mira still didn’t know his name, as he had never offered it.

  “I’m all paid up, aren’t I?” Mira asked.

  “Yes, yes,” the harbormaster said. “Quillic asked me if you were still in port earlier today. He has a cargo that will be ready to ship tomorrow. You should seek him out.”

  “Oh, thanks! I certainly will,” Mira said.

  She waved and walked past. Quillic’s wool shop was only one street away from the Storm’s Haven, so she went to see Quillic before going to the tavern. His shop was very nice, with bright white painted walls and a large display window with bolts of woolen cloth in many stylish colors. Mira opened the door and stepped inside. There were several racks with bolts of cloth rolled up on horizontal poles along an aisle towards the back of the shop where she saw Quillic stooped over a ledger.

  “Ah, Mira,” Quillic said happily as he rubbed his hands together in front of him. “I was just going to go looking for you.”

  “The harbormaster said you inquired of me earlier. Do you have something for me to transport, by chance?” Mira asked.

  “Indeed, I do. My weavers and spinners are finished with part of the wool you brought me, and it just came back from Mr. Dyer yesterday. I’d like you to take this load to my brother in Carseton at your earliest convenience.”

  “Be happy to,” Mira said. “Standard fare?”

  “Standard fare,” Quillic said. They shook hands.

  “Very well, sir. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

  Mira left the shop in high spirits and made her way to the Storm’s Haven a block away. When she entered, she immediately saw Jamor at what had become their favorite table. He smiled and waved when he saw her, then stood up to give Mira a proper hug. She really liked the perfume he wore. It was a very manly but clean scent, and she paused in the embrace to savor it. They took their seats.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Glinna’s bringing our favorites,” Jamor said, gesturing at a pair of mugs already on the table. “How was your day?”

  “Pretty good. I just booked a cargo to take to Carseton tomorrow,” Mira said. She took a sip of the beer and sighed. It was very good.

  “Oh,” Jamor looked crestfallen. “How long will you be gone?”

  “It’s just a few days south and then back,” Mira said. “In fact, I thought that if you, Shawna and Tibek were still looking for work, I could hire you as hands. I could really use a good crew.”

  “That would work out great. We’ve served as crew on a trading cog before. I’m sure we can be a big help,” Jamor said with an easy smile. “I didn’t think you needed help with your ship, though.”

  Glinna came over and set a plate of food in front of each of them. Seeing that they had everything they needed and that they were having a private conversation, Glinna went to check on her other customers.

  “You heard about my ship, then,” Mira said, nodding. “Golems can’t pilot the ship, you know. In deep water it’s safe to lock my course and get some sleep, but not near the coast. It would be a crime to run my ship aground.”

  “Terrible waste,” Jamor said. “Everybody’s heard of the Unseen Blade, you know. I’ve been hoping you’d give me a tour sometime, but I didn’t want to be too forward. Is it true that it’s really the same vessel that the Pirate King used to torment King Ithion so much?”

  “I’m afraid so,” Mira said, taking a large bite of her fish.

  “How’d you come to acquire it?” Jamor asked. He was so charming and easy-going that Mira thought she would tell him anything he asked, just to see him smile.

  “Well, I… I had help,” Mira began. Over the course of the meal she told him just enough to keep him wanting more. Mira had to be very inventive with her narrative to keep from giving away all her secrets. She was especially determined not to tell Jamor about me. That wound was still fresh.

  -----

  Later that evening Jamor entered the flat he shared with Shawna and Tibek. They were sitting on the sofa, Shawna languidly stretching across Tibek’s lap. He absently ran his hands over the thin shift covering her body as she made a soft moan.

  “Make room, you louts,” Jamor said as he crossed the room. He roughly moved Shawna’s bare feet aside as he threw himself onto the threadbare sofa. It creaked alarmingly, but no one cared.

  “That grin gives you away,” Shawna said as she slowly drew herself upright. Bracing herself with her left arm on the back of the sofa, she slowly straddled Jamor.

  “Please tell me she’s hooked,” Tibek said with a grin.

  “Oh, she’s hooked all right, my friend,” Jamor said as he absent-mindedly fondled Shawna. He lightly pinched a couple of sensitive parts of her anatomy as he announced, “We’ve been hired to be her crew tomorrow morning on a voyage to Carseton, in fact.” Jamor tried not to look too smug, but he failed.

  “Yes!” Shawna exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air. She gave her hips a thrust or two and rubbed against Jamor provocatively.

  Tibek laughed. “She’s a tough nut to crack. I wasn’t sure you had it in you, my friend.”

  “You doubted me? I’m hurt,” Jamor said with a false wounded expression.

  “This is going even better than I planned,” Shawna said as she removed her shift.

  “Right as our money ran out, too,” Tibek said.

  “Soon we’ll have everything we dreamed of,” Jamor said as he turned his full attention to Shawna. “Leave it to me.”