“The person specifically? No.” She shook her head. “It was someone with five eyes and black skin. But I only have, like, a quick, brief memory of them. Tanin says that he found us in a chest owned by a client of his who hired him to transport it. He says we were jettisoned when pirates nearly caught up to the guys who took us. He found us while he was inspecting the goods.”
“Did you see the chest?”
“Yeah, it was this big thing. Like a giant sarcophagus. I don’t remember being in it. When I woke up, Tanin was lifting me out. I kind of freaked. I punched him in the nose.”
“And did he retaliate against you for that?”
“Oh, no!” She laughed, waving her hands quickly. “Not at all. He took it really well, actually. He’s been super nice.”
“You understand that you are not in danger of him here? He has no power over you and any threats he might have levied against you can be solved by myself and my warriors. No problem.”
Garnet giggled. “You’re sweet. But no. Really. He’s been great. He didn’t even really want us to stay. He said his job is too dangerous. But I wanted to. This is such a great opportunity for me and my sister! We’re excited. And grateful. No threats. No coercion. Promise.”
“Your sister said the same.”
“Great minds think alike.”
“So do frightened ones.”
“Do I look frightened?” She countered with a grin.
“You look naïve,” he said, three red eyes staring her down. They were dark red, more maroon than crimson. Not at all as pretty as Tanin’s.
“I’m not naïve,” she frowned, sitting back, away from him.
“He told you it was dangerous.”
“I don’t mind danger.”
“You should. You’re human. You are a vulnerability in this universe. His company, they specialize in deliveries to the most remote, dangerous, and difficult places. They make their credz by doing what no one else is willing to do. Pirates are probably the least among their hazards. And that ship they’re on is, at least, a hundred-fifty years out of date.”
“That is way more years than I thought you would say,” she admitted with a shocked laugh. If she was riding on a hundred-fifty-year-old boat, she’d expect it to be locked in place in a dock, not actually functional. Or, if it was, a ton of special care had to be taken with it. Or a hundred-fifty-year-old car? The very concept of a modern car wasn’t a hundred-fifty years old! And that’s how old that spaceship was. If she considered that, she felt even safer.
Tanin clearly took care of it. Everyone was still alive. It survived a pirate attack! Old didn’t mean useless, after all.
“This is why you’re naïve,” Ikvar said disapprovingly.
“Have you considered that it could also just be confidence?” She countered, smirking.
“Bravado. Confidence without something to base it on.”
She shrugged, crossing her arms, liking this guy less and less with each short statement. “I will grant you, staying with him might be a mistake, but it’smymistake to make.”
“I don’t think you appreciate exactly what you’re choosing.”
Garnet’s eyes narrowed on him. “What I don’t appreciate is you treating me like a child. I can make my own decisions, no matter how dangerous you think they are. And if I get in trouble, it’s my fault, and I will rely on Tanin to help me. That’s what his job is as my sponsor, isn’t it?”
Captain Ikvar stared at her for a long moment. Garnet stared right back. Glared. She appreciated he was doing his job and, in his own way, was concerned. But his concern felt an awful lot like a patronizing parent judging her for being a dumb teenager. Something she didn’t appreciate from even her own parents, much less a stranger.
Ikvar let out a sigh, sitting back in the chair. “I suppose I should be grateful you didn’t lecture me like your sister.”
Garnet grinned. Not at all surprised. People often looked at them – her, loud and brash, and Goldie, soft and sweet – and just assumed thatGarnetwould be the brave and sassy one. But when Goldie went off, she tore people down quite ruthlessly. If anything, the cute dress made it worse.
“What do you know about the crew that works for him?”
“Who?”
His eyes narrowed at the question. She knew who, she was buying time to think of an answer, and it was obvious to both of them.
