by Candace Sams
“Were you worried about me?”
“Of course I was.”
She smiled and shrugged. “I couldn’t just buy from one person. Someone might think the coins I had were in excess of what’s usually spent. I had to go from one street to the next, spending just a tiny bit in different places. But I got very good deals by doing so, and more than enough to keep us fed and warm for another two weeks. That should give you time to recover enough to go with me. If you’re able.”
“I’ll be able; there’s no worry on that account,” he assertively promised. “But I still don’t understand. You only had one small bag of coins. There aren’t that many places you could shop.”
“I’ll talk when I get the rest of our supplies in the cave.”
“There’s more?” Marcos stared at the bags she’d already brought in and shook his head in wonder. When he opened them and saw all the goods within, he got angry all over again.
Nova pushed the blanket aside and dragged in two more bags to place beside those already delivered. “There, that’s the lot.”
Marcos stared at her.
Nova briefly paused in her efforts to unpack and arrange everything she’d purchased. “All right … now what are you angry about? You look as though someone just spit on you.”
“I told you not to steal anything.”
“I didn’t.”
He waved a hand to encompass all the goods. “Then where did all this come from?”
She tilted her head and returned his stare. “You gave me twenty-two credits.”
He shifted his stance and waited for an explanation.
“I don’t know what the prices are like on Avalon, but things can be bargained for here.”
“Such a small amount bought all this?”
“Yes. You just have to know how—” She stopped in mid-sentence and stared at the cave. “Why did you do all this?” She motioned toward all the laundry and all the supplies he’d already organized.
“I got bored and just started rearranging things.
She laughed outright. “What a good maid you’re going to make someone.”
“Very amusing,” he dryly replied. “But you shouldn’t have been gone so long.”
She stopped unpacking, walked forward, and stood before him. “It took me a long time to carry all this here and make sure no one was following. I had to backtrack several times and be certain I wasn’t leaving a trail.”
“Carrying all that?” he asked as he pointed to the mountainous supply of goods.
“I’m stronger than I look.”
Marcos expelled a long breath and began to help her unpack. “Luckily, you won’t be going alone next time.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
“I won’t argue, Nova. We made a deal, and you’re going to stick to it.”
“Tell you what. Since you’ve cleaned and done all the laundry, and are arranging things so nicely, I’ll start our meal. And it’ll be a good one, too. Wait and see.”
Marcos stopped in his efforts long enough to watch her scoop up Una and cuddle her. He was unpacking the last bag when a wonderful aroma floated from the small fire. “Something smells good.”
“Hot leek soup. It’ll do wonders for you. And I’ll add in some herbs that will help you heal even faster. We even have some lemongrass tea.”
“And no one noticed you with all these goods? The guards and Limaxians weren’t alerted by all you carried?”
She shook her head and sighed heavily in frustration. “I know what I’m doing, Marcos! I’ve done it for several years now, and I’m good at it. That should be obvious since I’m still here. Besides, I don’t go into town in the daylight if I can help it. This was the first time in quite a while. I kept my hood up, my movements subtle, and bought very little from each vendor. Just as I’ve explained. If anyone noticed me, there was no sign. But then, most of Forrell’s guards are usually drunk or too distracted by whores, just as they were today.”
He raised one brow, nodded at her explanation, then held up the men’s clothing she’d bought and checked the items for size. “Looks like everything will fit. But I’ll put it on tomorrow. Right now, I want to sit by the fire and watch the highly stealthy woman of the household cook.”
She snorted. “Someone used to cooking had better. Something tells me you don’t do it often.”
“I’ll have you know I’m a very good chef. When I’m in the mood to use my imagination.”
Nova stirred her ingredients in a sparkling clean pot and watched as he sat near her. “Do they have leeks on Avalon?”
“Every conceivable vegetable you can every think of. And all fresh, too.”
She pulled out a dry loaf of bread, broke it apart, and handed him a chunk. Then she sat closer to him and waited for the soup to cook. “Tell me more.”
She had that immeasurably curious look on her face again. Marcos couldn’t bring himself to tell her that she’d spent the exact amount on two weeks of food and supplies that he’d have spent on one drink in any Lusterian tavern. Yet she believed the small amount he’d brought into their relationship was a windfall. He slowly chewed on the bread and thought a moment before speaking.
“We have a marketplace that stretches as far as the eye can see. It’s in the middle of the city proper, and all kinds of goods are sold there.”
“Go on,” she encouraged. “What kinds of things?”
“Cloth of all different kinds, from every port in the nearby sectors. Some of it is handwoven, but some is produced by mixing certain chemicals with natural fibers.”
“And can the people sell their goods anytime? Is there a curfew?”
He reached out and touched her cheek. “No, little thief. There’s no curfew. You can walk around the city streets on any night and find a plethora of shops open. Then, you can take a flying disc to the countryside, sit on a hill, and watch the stars all night if you want.”
“Really?”
The expression on her face was both appealing and poignant. She should know such freedom, and he was determined she should. “You know, when my brother comes and I take you to my home world, I’ll help you find an occupation and a place to live.”
She looped one hand around his bicep and cuddled close to him.
Now the look on her face was absolutely endearing. He was overcome with the urge to help this woman see something better than what life presently offered.
“You’d do that for me?” she quietly whispered.
“Of course I would. You’ve not only saved my life, but you’re my friend. I’d do anything for you.”
She blinked back tears, fed him a small portion of her own bread, and smiled up at him. “Don’t stop talking. Tell me more.”
“How would you like a small plot of land all your own? You could grow your own herbs and sell them in the marketplace.”
“H-how would I come by this miracle?”
“I have some land, little thief. And you could live there without anyone bothering you. Do as you please, and go where you will.”
“Oh, Marcos … if you’d do that, I’d find a way to pay you any amount of rent. All I’d need is a small plot.”
“And what if I gave the land to you?”
She pulled away from him slightly and stared into the fire. “I-I want nothing I can’t work for. I only steal because I’ve had to. I’ll owe nothing to anyone. Besides, you couldn’t afford such a thing, I’m sure of it.”
He put his arm around her. “Nova, never mind about whether I can afford it. It would be a gift from one grateful friend to another.”
“I don’t care,” she insisted. “I’d only take it if I could give you something in return. And I have nothing of value to trade.”
He thought for a moment and gently nudged her. “What if I could have some fresh herbs for my family’s table? Or you could occasionally treat one of my rapidly growing brood of nieces and nephews when they fall down and scrape themselves? Most of them hate going to the physicians and getting into
an incubation chamber. They’re frightened of the confined space in the units.”
She turned to him in relief. “I can do that. And I could help others, too.” She chewed some more bread and leaned her head against his broad shoulder. “I can’t wait.” Then she frowned and turned to face him. “Marcos, you should know how dangerous it is for a merchant ship to approach this planet. Prometheus has a fleet of war vessels hidden behind Delta Seven’s moons. Whores in the town have sometimes spoken about tactics gleaned from guards and Limaxian brawlers when they’ve been drinking too much. So I’m fairly certain the information is correct. Your brother and his crew could come under attack if they don’t approach carefully. I wish there were a way to warn him.”
Marcos put one finger under her chin and smiled down at her. “Don’t you worry one whit about that. My brother will come armed with a full complement of artillery. He never goes anywhere without defenses.”
“He must carry very precious cargo,” she softly uttered.
“The most important thing to him is his crew. And he’ll protect them at all costs. And he will find me. When he does, Prometheus and Forrell are going to wish they’d never been born.”
That remark sent Nova back to tending the soup.
“Is it ready? I’m starving.” He scooted forward and held up a bowl in readiness.
Nova nodded. “It’s ready. We’ll have a wonderful feast. And there’s even some tinned meat for Una.”
The little fluff ball waddled toward them and bounced up and down, anxious for its meal.
Marcos stared at the creature for a moment. “Are you sure she’s a dog?”
“What else could she be?”
“I don’t know, but something tells me that’s the wrong species.”
Nova handed Marcos a bowl of the soup, then opened a small tin of meat and gave it to Una before posing another question. “Marcos?”
“Hmmm?” he asked as he ladled the hot soup into his mouth.
“Can … can Una come with us, too? Please?”
The pleading look in her pretty eyes almost did him in. She wanted nothing more than a small plot of earth and her pet. How many women of his acquaintance would be happy with so little? “I promise; we won’t leave her behind. No matter what.”
She shot him a brilliant smile. “Thank you.”
For a moment, he gazed into her amethyst eyes and wondered what she’d look like without all the scars.
Then the truth hit him.
For the first time in his life, he really didn’t care. But that was because the woman was his little thief. She was worth a million self-centered debutantes his parents’ friends pushed his way. A man could have a wonderful life with such a companion.
• • •
Prometheus threw open the chamber doors, stalked toward Adaman, and slammed his fists down on the table where the governor was eating. “So you thought you could outwit me, human?”
Adaman quickly scooted his chair back, intending to remove himself from the ugly slug’s immediate proximity as well as keep his ale from spilling on his robes. “Wh-what the blazes is this about, Prometheus? Can’t a man enjoy an evening meal in peace?”
“Did you think you could hide information from me? That you could find any clue about the Lusterian’s whereabouts that I wouldn’t know?”
Adaman swallowed hard and stood so he wouldn’t be at such a disadvantaged posture. “You’ll have to explain, my friend. I’m at a loss as to what this is about,” he lied. He knew full well his men’s covert activities in looking for the burned merchant had now come to full light, and the slug leader was outraged with the underhandedness.
Prometheus growled and leaned over the table. “You’ve been accessing the old computer database. Did you think my crew wasn’t monitoring retrieval of information? They told me you’ve recently been into the old census records, and your search seems to have stopped with the family of Bellos Drayton. He had a daughter. But you’d remember that, wouldn’t you?”
“I-I can explain.”
“There’s no need. I know what you were trying to do, fool. You meant to get to the prince first.”
“Really, Prometheus … y-you’re acting paranoid. The only thing I was doing was saving you work. You’ve taken on a great share of responsibility and I thought that I’d—”
“Enough!” Prometheus yelled as he waved one gloved appendage in the air. “You were trying to get to the prince first so you could either hold him for ransom and bargain your way out of the situation, or make a deal with him directly.”
“You accuse me?” Adaman placed on hand over his heart. “I swear to you, on my word as a gentleman, that I was going to come to you with whatever information I gleaned. But if nothing can be found … if this girl doesn’t exist … then why would I have bothered you with information that would have sent your people in the wrong direction? Besides, my men are better trusted by the population. This, you must admit.”
The slug leader slowly walked around the table and moved closer.
Adaman backed up until he was against the far wall.
“If I didn’t need you alive to make contact with whatever communication comes from deep space, I’d kill you on the spot.”
“But you do need me,” Adaman quickly pointed out. “Without my presence to respond to supply-ship captains and any unexpected messages from enforcers, this planet would be under siege by the Constellation League in months or even weeks. Aside from their scheduled visits, we don’t know how close they might be. They surely suspect something is going on, or the king would never have sent his second-born.”
Prometheus drew a long dagger from his belt and held it against Forrell’s neck. “If this Wiccan girl is alive, I’ll find her and kill her. And if the second-born son of the king still lives by her aid or anyone else’s, he will disappear without a trace. The king would never barter for his child’s return. That would make every member of his family a target. He knows this. But that won’t keep him from unleashing his wrath. That’s why this prince has to die, and his presence here eradicated. Any other action from you, and I’ll take what gems my fleet can carry, scorch this planet and all who live here, then set a course for open space.” He came even closer. “I’ll make sure you’re the last to die. It will be the most horrifying death you can imagine.”
Adaman gulped. “I-I wasn’t going to cross you, I swear.”
“Then give me all the information you have. From now on, I command not only my men, but also yours. Those who disagree will end up in the pit. Make this clear to your people, Governor. Tell your constables and guards that if they want to see their families survive, they’ll do exactly as I say. Do you understand?”
“Y-Yes. Completely.”
Prometheus slowly placed the dagger back in its sheath, turned, and stalked out of the room.
As soon as his surveillance equipment indicated the slug leader was gone, Adaman quickly called his most trusted assistants. When they were assembled before him, he issued his instructions.
“Do everything the slug leader and his brawlers tell you. He’s threatened to take all the gems and kill us if we don’t. And for the love of the Creator, don’t get into the old computer records anymore. That damnable, slimy worm is watching us at every turn. He’s a lunatic! I fear he’ll eventually kill us all anyway.”
The lead guard stepped forward. “Sir, what can we do? What chance do we have?”
“Only a slim one. But the next time any Constellation League ship is close enough for contact, I must get a message to them quickly, and hope they can respond before we’re all slaughtered. I was insane to make a deal with that beastly savage.”
Adaman put one finger to his lips, paced a few steps, then turned to his man again. “If … if you can find the man I’m after and keep him safely hidden, all may not be lost. By working together, there might be a way for me to redeem our actions before Luster’s king. Just keep looking for him and that girl.” When several of the men simultaneously shot off que
stions asking who he was talking about, Adaman realized he couldn’t keep the secret from them any longer. “Take your orders from my lead man.” He gestured toward his most trusted minion. “He knows the description of the woman you’ll be looking for. We’re talking about Marcos Starlaw if anyone hasn’t figured it out yet.” He waited for the general, excited hubbub of his employees to die down before continuing. “Only by finding the prince alive and safely hiding him will we have any chance. Now get out and search as though your lives depend upon it, because they do. Bribe members of the population, tradesmen, or any human you can. Let them know we’ll be destroyed if we can’t convince the slugs that the prince still lives and that other enforcers are coming for him. Go now. I have to think.”
Forrell watched the men hastily walk from his chambers even as they beleaguered his best guard with questions concerning the prince’s presence on Delta Seven. The guard couldn’t answer because no one, including himself or Prometheus, knew the real reason. The answers would only come with finding Marcos Starlaw.
He prayed the next communication from the Constellation League would come far ahead of schedule. If not, the only thing the enforcers would find on their next visit would be a charred chunk of rock. And his skewered, half-eaten body would be hanging in the village marketplace as Prometheus’s last act of defiance.
• • •
Marcos carefully hung a blanket in one corner of the cave where there was a small outcrop of rock. On the outcrop, he’d built a little fire and dragged a large metal tub near. This would serve as a private bathing area for Nova, and the fire would be close at hand so she could heat water from a kettle. “There, milady. Now, you’ll have your privacy without worries. And you’ll have all the hot water you want.”
She smiled at him, and glanced at the makeshift bathing area. “That’s very ingenious. But I haven’t worried about privacy so far. I’ve always bathed while you slept.”
“Now, you won’t have to. And you can have a full bath instead of using a small basin and a cloth. You can undress instead of bathing yourself underneath that large robe you sleep in.”
She gasped, picked up a cloth, and threw it at him. “You’ve been watching.”
