Master of Myth (The Antigone's Wrath Series Book 1) (7 page)

When he found nothing but blankets and pillows beside him, he sat up, confused. This did little to help his headache and he flopped back down again. Where on Earth would she have gone? And, for that matter, why? He considered all his moves the previous evening and could think of nothing he’d done to warrant utter abandonment. Rachel was a very strange woman to say the least. Perhaps, much like her manner of dress and other odd behaviors, she treated these sorts of encounters as a man would as well. Although he’d never done it himself, he certainly knew other men who behaved as such from time to time. He was sad she was gone, though. Perhaps he would run into her again before he left La Rochelle, but he doubted it.

With a sigh, he managed to extract himself from bed. It was then he saw the note on the nightstand.

“Silas-

Do pardon my absence this morning. I’m afraid I don’t do well with awkward goodbyes. It was truly wonderful meeting you last night, so please take no offense in my early departure. I doubt we shall meet again during your stay here, but I would not be adverse to another night of your exhilarating company on the off chance we do cross paths.

It occurred to me that you are out a shirt for today, so I’ve left you a package at the main desk downstairs. I think you’ll find your replacement satisfactory.

Thank you for a superb evening.

Rachel
”

He put the letter to the side and ran his fingers through his messy hair. That was one hell of a woman. It was kind of her to offer a replacement to the garment that was forgivably destroyed.
 

Silas picked up his trousers and fastened his belt once he found it behind the chair. Socks and shoes preceded his hasty trip downstairs to fetch the item left for him. Where she found a shirt at the hour she left was a total mystery.

As a small blessing, there wasn’t anyone in the public house yet, and Silas guessed it was about nine in the morning. He heard the scuffling of a chair as he made his way down the stairs and looked around to see the big, blond bartender shuffling about, straightening things for the day’s business. He looked up when he saw Silas and gave him a knowing smile.

“Some night, eh
monsieur
?” He chuckled. “She is a handful, that one.”

Silas looked away from the man’s amused gaze. “Quite so. It seems I’ve a package waiting for me.”

“You do, indeed,” the man said as he made his way to the front counter. “She has excellent taste, in case you were concerned.” He tossed a brown paper parcel to Silas.

“I wouldn’t have thought otherwise.” He gave a small, nervous laugh, still troubled that this statuesque specimen had such intimate knowledge of Rachel. There was no kinship in being part of an all-male harem, which perhaps he now was. He nodded and went back to his room to finish dressing.

The shirt she left for him was far finer than the one he lost. The material was the softest fabric he had ever owned, and the pearl buttons were more indulgent and expensive than anything he’d think to purchase for himself. He wished the rest of his clothes for the day weren’t quite so mundane. It was almost painful to hide such a fine shirt beneath his plain tweed coat, but there was nothing to be done for it. While the Brotherhood had been generous enough in its allotment to him, he would spend no more of their money than he absolutely had to, and certainly not for luxuries he wouldn’t buy otherwise.

The simple, superficial thoughts of his wardrobe were obliterated as the Brotherhood muscled its way in to replace them. He managed to forget them for a whole night, for which he was very grateful to Rachel. Without her companionship, he doubted his evening would have been quite as relaxing, or as much fun. Today held other things, though, and he’d best get on with them, aching head or no.

Silas gathered up the remainder of his belongings, including his satchel with the heavy book in it. He didn’t dare leave it aboard the ship, despite his comfort level with Captain Kidham. He did leave his crate aboard, though, and would retrieve it when he collected Eddie. The first thing he intended to do, after finding a good, strong cup of coffee, was find another transport ship— hopefully one that would take him and his apprentice all the way to Singapore.

Since the bartender downstairs was so amiable this morning, Silas asked him for directions back to the dock and the Port Control office. Instead of verbal directions, this time he asked for a map. Again, the man was very accommodating, and Silas was soon on his way with what turned out to be strikingly accurate instructions. In under a half an hour, he was standing in front of the door to the Port Control office. His first choice would be a passenger boat bound for that exact destination, but Silas was willing to sacrifice comfort for speed. If he had to, he’d take a hammock in the hold of a frigate if it meant getting there quickly. At this thought, he took hold of the doorknob and pulled open the door.

Inside were a handful of dockhands and crew from various ships in port. Glancing about, he found the notice board and went straight there to check for any immediate offerings of portage in the direction he needed to go. The only thing he found was a prison ship bound for Australia looking for a few extra hands to help oversee the inmates, but he discounted that right away. He had no desire to take on such responsibilities.

Somewhat discouraged by this first foray, he placed himself in line behind a foul-smelling bald man with strange tribal tattoos spreading up his neck and over his bare scalp. Likely muscle for hire, he was probably looking for work aboard an unsavory type of vessel. From time to time, he would grumble incoherently about the wait, but Silas knew better than to try and assuage the man, as that would only anger him.

For the better part of an hour he stood in that line, but at last the bald mercenary came and went, and it was Silas’s turn. A weary-looking, beak-nosed man gazed at him over the tops of his thick spectacles. “
Oui
?” He didn’t sound as though he had any desire to help anyone at all.

“I’m looking for a ship bound for Singapore. I’m in need of transport there, with one other person. Do you know of anyone bound that direction?” Silas asked hopefully.

The clerk gave a tired sigh. “All travel past the western shores of India has been suspended on account of hostile actions to foreign ships,
monsieur
.”

Silas’s mouth dropped open. “Are you joking? How long will this suspension last?”

“
Monsieur
, I do not joke about travel suspensions.” The clerk’s face soured further. “The suspension will be in place until the Air Transport Authority and Royal Navy can apprehend those responsible, or the aggression subsides. No travel passes will be authorized for further than India.”

A woman’s voice grumbling angrily in another language distracted him, but he pressed on. “Very well then, I’ll travel by land from India if I need to. Which ships are going that far?”

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.

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.