The clerk shrugged. “Not a one as yet. No one wants to go anywhere near there. The closest you might get is one of those desert countries.”
Losing his usual control, Silas slammed a fist down on the counter in frustration, causing the passive clerk to nearly jump out of his seat. Reining in his anger, he apologized as sincerely as he could. “Sorry, not your fault. Thank you for your assistance. Er, merci.”
Completely frustrated by his lack of luck, Silas considered the Australian prison ship one last time before shaking it from his mind. It was a slower way to go, but he might be able to find a train bound for the Orient. An overland route would take considerably longer. This would not sit well with the Brotherhood, as they were impatient to see the task completed. He took a last look at the notice board and rubbed at his neck, feeling as though a noose were tightening around it.
He wandered out of the office, and tried to think of what his next move was when he felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he found himself face to face with a pair of the darkest eyes he had ever seen, surrounded by silky black curls. The woman was strikingly beautiful, although this affected him much less now than it would have before he met Rachel. In sharp contrast to Rachel’s slightly tanned skin, this woman’s was a bronzed caramel color. Her nose had the broad shape as was common in India, but it fit well on her face. She was an exotic orchid amongst the white lilies of Europe.
“I beg your pardon if this is a bit presumptuous of me,” she began with a dip of her head, “but I couldn’t help overhearing your little problem.”
It dawned on Silas that this was the female he had heard behind him at the news of the travel suspension. “Yes.” He sighed. “I don’t suppose you know where the nearest train station is, do you?”
She shook her head and gave a half smile. “I do not, but I may have another option for you, if you do not object to bending the Port Control’s rules a little.”
“You have my attention, my lady. I’m in a bit of a rush to finish this journey and return home. You know of a ship that might take me as far as India?”
She laughed lightly. “I can do one better. My captain has a mind to go your direction, and when my captain has a mind to do anything, rest assured it will be done.”
He was struck dumb at this stroke of good fortune. Perhaps he was not so unlucky after all. “That… that is indeed good news to hear. Would your captain be willing to take on two passengers? My apprentice and I require very little, and the lad may actually be of use on board. He’s a bit obsessed with ships.”
“We do take on passengers from time to time…” She trailed off and gave him a meaningful look. “If the price is right.”
“To get to a place no other vessels are going anywhere near, I can understand the fee might be more than what I might pay under normal circumstances, but you should know that I am not a rich man.” Silas wanted to be clear on this, lest the woman think she could get an outrageous amount of money from him. “Having said that, I must also tell you that I would be willing to donate some of my own talents for the captain’s use if he’ll have me. I’m quite skilled in repairing machines and upgrading equipment. I don’t have many tools at my disposal while I’m traveling, but I’m fair with a bit of improvisation when I need to be.”
“This is good,” she replied. “The captain appreciates hard work. I will need approval before I can give you a guarantee on passage though. Are you available later today? I should have an answer for you no later than four o’clock.”
He held out his upturned palms helplessly. “Good lady, I have nothing but time until I procure a means of conveyance.”
“So you have.” She nodded and smiled. “Wait for me at Aux Vieilles Armes, near dock eighty-five. If I’m a little late, do not worry. The captain isn’t always the most punctual of people. If I’ve not arrived by six this evening, consider yourself in need of other means of transportation. I trust I do not need to add that a certain amount of discretion is required in this situation?”
“You do not.”
“Very well then. Perhaps I shall see you this evening.” She dipped her head again, and her curls bounced around her face. Without further ado, she turned and went about her other business.
Silas smiled to himself. The last twenty-four hours certainly had been kind to him. He checked his pocket watch to make sure he wasn’t late. Eleven-thirty. He’d be just in time to fetch Eddie.
Chapter Six
The Arrangements
Rachel was talking with Danton outside the cargo bay doors when she saw Iris coming up the pier. The first mate wasn’t carrying any paperwork from Port Control, and this perturbed Rachel. There must be a good reason for it, although she doubted it would be good for her.
Iris saw the question on Rachel’s face before reaching her. “They aren’t approving passage beyond India’s western coast. I believe Yong Wu may have declared another war on the Empire.”
Rachel sighed. “So that means two things. One, we’ll be breaking embargo lines, again. And two, we’ll make a hell of a lot of money if we can get cargo through.”
“This brings me to another point I’d like to discuss.” Iris smiled. “Is there any chance you’d be willing to take on a few passengers?”
Rachel set her jaw and leveled her gaze at the first mate. “Explain.”
Iris held up her hands in a defensive gesture. “There was a man ahead of me at the Port Control looking for passage to Singapore for himself and his apprentice. After speaking with him discreetly, he not only offered to pay his way, but is willing to work as well.”
“What sort of work did he have in mind?” She kept her face unreadable as she considered.
“He wasn’t specific, but I believe he’s a machinist. His apprentice is also more than willing to lend a hand. The boy is enamored with vessels of this sort.”
Having two extra sets of skilled hands on board, or at least one with the other eager to learn, might help on the journey they had in mind. “Did he say what his purpose in going to Singapore was?”
Iris shook her head. “I did not ask, though he was desperate enough to attempt the journey over land if no other means were available. A man like that would not last ten minutes on the train to New Delhi. He seems far too…” she paused, searching for the right word, “kind. And he carried no weapons I could detect.”
“Perhaps he simply hid them well,” Rachel said.
Iris shook her head. “No. The only thing this man possesses that could be used as a weapon is his intellect.”
Rachel decided not to pursue that further. Iris had ways of knowing things that Rachel preferred not to understand. She sighed and looked over the list of things she had to do before the ship would be ready to leave. “I don’t know Iris. I simply don’t have the time to meet him myself and see if he’s… you know. One of them.”
“Not to worry, Captaine.” Danton clapped her on the shoulder. “I am an expert in that subject, so if you would like, I shall accompany Miss Singh and see what I can find out.”
Her first reaction to allowing unfamiliar faces aboard was a resounding no, but the thought of the extra money it would bring in, plus the offer of free labor during the trip, gave her pause. Danton had considerable experience in seeking out Brotherhood men, something she couldn’t boast of herself.
She nodded in acquiescence. “All right. If Danton doesn’t slit his throat, you may tell him we have a place for him, but only one way. I cannot guarantee him safe passage back.”
Danton laughed. “You cannot guarantee him safe passage there.”
“You think Yong Wu will attempt to stop us?” Iris asked.
Rachel shrugged. “It would be unlike him not to try even were he not currently at war with the rest of the world. However, it is possible his ships will be too busy with Royal Navy and Air Transport Authority to even notice us. There’s really no way to know what we’ll encounter until we get there.”
“Bon. So it is settled then.” Danton rubbed his hands together exc
itedly, though Rachel wasn’t sure if this was at the prospect of finding more Brotherhood or at having someone new to talk to. “I shall acquire cargo to take to, er, India, and return in time to meet your mystery passengers at…?” He left the question hanging in the air.
“We’re to meet at four o’clock at Aux Vieilles Armes.” She motioned southward down the docks.
“Four o’clock then.” He nodded and walked backwards down the pier. “I shall see you ladies in a few hours,” he called back over his shoulder.
Silas whistled happily as he strode down the docks to meet Eddie and collect his crate. What he had thought might be an insurmountable obstacle, turned out not to be one at all. He considered for a moment that he should have asked for more information on the captain and the ship itself, but reasoned that he couldn’t afford to be picky right now. The trains across western Europe might be perfectly comfortable, but he had heard some unsettling tales about the trains running across eastern countries, and downright frightening ones about traveling over land in India. He didn’t think he was prepared to handle that sort of trip.
There would be time to ask questions of his mysterious savior when he met with her at four, pending permission to board, of course. For the moment, he didn’t even know which ship she represented. His main concern was what sort of vessel would be carrying him and his young apprentice into an extremely hostile area. Was it fast? Was it airborne, or would they be sailing again? What sort of defenses did it have? Did they plan to make additional stops along the way? How many? And who on Earth was the captain and how raving mad was he to attempt such a journey?
Silas stopped and took a breath. There would be time to write all of these things down as they waited in the tavern for the woman’s appearance. She gave him a two-hour window in which he may or may not get an answer at all. It was a bit frustrating, but he understood her position. She could not speak for her captain.
When he arrived at the correct pier, Eddie was waiting for him, legs dangling over the edge of the wooden walkway and staring at the water below him. The small wooden crate was next to him, completely unscathed for having been left behind.
“Did you enjoy yourself?” Silas asked from a few steps away.
The boy jumped in surprise. “What? Oh, yes, I suppose.”
Silas lifted an eyebrow. “You don’t sound as though you had a very good time.”
He shrugged. “All the sailors wanted to do was get off the boat and find a pub. They didn’t want to be stuck with some child.” He huffed. “I’m not a child. I can do most of what they do, if they’d just show me.”
He crouched down next to Eddie. “Sorry for that, my boy. I probably should have seen that coming.”
“So what did you do last night?” Eddie flicked a pebble into the water.
Silas was grateful the boy wasn’t looking at him because he turned ten shades of scarlet at the thought. “Oh, not much, really. Got lost trying to find the place Captain Kidham recommended and ended up staying somewhere else entirely. Nothing very exciting.”
“Did you find a ship to take us to Singapore?”
Silas stood and stretched. “Possibly. There’s a ban on all travel past India right now, but I’ve got a lead on one that might take us, Port Control be damned.”
“Which one?”
He grinned and shrugged his shoulders as Eddie looked up at him. “I’ve no idea. She wasn’t very forthcoming with details, and her captain might not even allow us on board.”
“That doesn’t sound very promising, or even very safe. Isn’t it breaking the law to leave without permission? How do you know she’s not a Port Control agent looking for people acting against the ban?”
“How does she know I’m not?”
Eddie got up with an exasperated sigh. “You know, for someone with all this experience, you would think you’d be more suspicious of people. You don’t know anything about this woman but trust her completely?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you didn’t deny it either.”
Silas crossed his arms and studied the fifteen-year-old carefully. “You think you know so much, hm? What do you know of land travel across India?”
“Uh, nothing, Mr. Jensen.”
“Well, I do. And I would do anything to avoid it.” He gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “Our options are limited. Even if it’s risky, I would rather chance this than put my bets on the overland route.”
Eddie shook his head. “Where are you supposed to meet her?”
“A public house down the way.” He made a general sweeping motion with his hand. “But not for several hours. I thought perhaps we’d get the luggage stowed somewhere and see a bit of the city before then. Are you hungry? There are some delicious smelling cafes not too far away.”
A well-timed rumble from Eddie’s stomach gave him his answer, and he laughed loudly. “Looks like lunch it is.” Silas clapped him on the back. “Let’s have our belongings taken care of, shall we?”
Danton frowned at the paper in his hand. “Non. This won’t do at all. There’s considerable risk involved here, and this would barely cover normal transport costs.” He was irritated. This merchant acted as though a shipment to Singapore from La Rochelle should cost the same as if it were going to Egypt. “You’ve wasted my time. Go find yourself a fool to take your offer seriously.”
He left the man there, mouth agape at the way he’d been treated. Danton grew more and more agitated as the day wore on. This was the third person that tried this nonsense with him. His sources from the black market were apparently having an off day. They hadn’t recommended a single useful thing to him. He decided he would try one more time, and if that fell through, he would give up and let Iris work her end of it. He had no idea how she managed it, but that woman could get a full cargo bay at one hundred and fifty percent the normal going rate whenever he was unable to find half that.
Danton was certain she was using some sort of Aether Manipulation to do so, but could never prove such a thing. Nor would he want to. The penalty for being caught using magic was steep, and he had no desire to bring that on her, Rachel, or anyone else aboard Antigone’s Wrath. And he did genuinely like Iris, but he thought that, from time to time, she was a bit too involved in her “hobbies.” If she continued as she was, it would only be a matter of time before groups like the Brotherhood or government agencies looking for illegal magical activities noticed her and took action. For the most part, she was discreet and he found no need to intervene.
He turned his attention back to the matter of cargo. They needed something to take to Singapore. Apparently, the blockade was new and most were only now learning of it. The demand for transporting goods hadn’t caught up with reality yet. They might have to postpone their trip until there was more panic about the travel suspension. It always took the merchant community a stupidly long time to comprehend the impact this would have on their business. Rachel wouldn’t settle for less than top dollar, however, so he continued his search.
In the pawnshop on Rue Charlemagne, Danton drummed his fingers noisily on the glass case that served as a counter, waiting for the proprietor to return from assisting a customer. Max was a dependable resource for all things off the books, but Danton’s success with tips today wasn’t stellar. As a last resort he went to this source. While he was reliable, his information did not come cheap.
Maximillien Bernard was short and balding, with thick, round spectacles enlarging his eyes to the size of apples. He was very unassuming in appearance, but Danton knew underneath that mild exterior lurked a snake, and not one of the quick strike-and-kill types. He was more the kind to squeeze the life out of you slowly, extracting every last bit of suffering he could before devouring you whole. As the pawnshop owner approached, Danton shuddered. He detested this man’s very presence.
“Monsieur DuSalle,” Max said, oozing politeness. “To what do I owe the honor of your presence in my humble establishment today?”
Danton repressed his shi
ver. The man even hissed his S’s like a snake. “You’ve heard about the Singapore ban, I take it?”
His massive eyes blinked rapidly. “Indeed I have. Terrible thing, that. I’m acquainted with several people who find this development to be…” he paused, “restrictive to their financial interests.”
Danton nodded. “I empathize with their situation. It’s a shame you can’t point them in the direction of someone who could assist them in their endeavors.”
Max smiled greedily. “Indeed.” He slid a small slip of paper across the glass. Danton glanced down at the figure and narrowed his eyes. Five hundred francs was an exorbitant amount of money to pay for a name, even coming from Max.
“Expecting me to pay the merchant’s finder’s fee as well, are we?” After his unproductive afternoon, Danton was in no mood to trifle with this reptilian con artist. “You know better than to take advantage of my kindness.”
“Kindness?” Max looked stricken. “Surely you don’t think you’re the only one offering this kindness?”
Danton rolled his eyes. “My offerings are far more valuable than most, of which you are aware. If you don’t wish to acknowledge this, you are a fool and I’ll not suffer you.” He turned to leave. This was normally a bargaining ploy for him, but in this case, he really did prefer to be elsewhere.
“Half then!” Max hissed as Danton’s fingers touched the doorknob.
He smiled. Not only was this a reasonable offer, but, coming from Max, it was quite the fortunate turn. He’d have settled for four hundred. Whoever wanted cargo shipped must have promised him quite the sum if he found transport. On the down side, this also meant they were desperate and he would have a lot of questions about the type of goods that needed shipping.
“One-twenty-five now, the other half after I meet them,” Danton turned and fixed Max with a look. “Our usual arrangement.”
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