Lochlan says nothing to that, and we keep walking in silence. Eventually the narrow roads spill into a brightly lit span of cobblestones that lead to the docks, and we stop near the corner of a building.
“The docks at Artis are usually deserted this late,” Lochlan says. “I expected it to be the same.”
“Me too,” I say. But the docks here are bustling with activity. Lanterns are strung up along posts at regular intervals, and street vendors are selling fried fish and sugared rolls and roasted root vegetables. Workers are everywhere, sweeping cobblestones, gutting fish, mending nets and sails. I can’t decide if all this activity is better or worse. Enough rumors have spread about our identity that I don’t want to be overheard down here. Not when we’re this close.
I scan the shadows along the docks until I come to a wide three-story building in the center. Most of the windows are dark, but three on the second level are flickering with candlelight, shadows moving within. On the street, four armed men in red-and-black livery are stationed near the door. A large faded sign is affixed to the top of the building:
SILVESSE HARBOR STATION
UPON DOCKING, ALL VESSELS
MUST DECLARE GOODS WITHIN.
I glance at Lochlan, who’s followed my gaze, but his expression gives no indication of awareness. A twist in my gut reminds me that he can’t read. I nod toward the building. “He’ll be in there,” I say to him. “That’s the Harbor Station. The girl at the tavern said Cheeke does the receipts and ledgers, and that he works late into the night.”
Lochlan whistles low through his teeth. “Only four armed guards on a crowded street?” He scoffs, the sarcasm heavy. “I thought this was going to becomplicated.”
“Oh, please. You took on the entire Royal Sector. Surely this is child’s play for a revolutionary like yourself.”
He gives me a look. “What else did the barkeep tell you?”
“She said that Cheeke accepts messages for secret passage, but Oren Crane has eyes all over the harbor, and sometimes those messages are intercepted before people can get through.”
He looks back at the guards. “Do you think those men are on Crane’s payroll?”
I think of the guards in the palace back in Kandala. Before we left, Rocco was worried about Captain Huxley working against the king. On the ship, Rian talked about my country being overrun by sedition and sabotage—but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s similar here. He said the royal court was still shaky, and we’re not even on the same island. “At least one of them, I’m sure,” I say. “And they’ve probably already been warned to look out for us.”
“So we can’t walk right up and bribe them to let us past.”
“Thatwas going to be your plan?”
“Not very revolutionary, I admit. But at least I didn’t drink the last of my silver.”
I ignore him and study the building. There’s a lot of light from the street, but the back is to the water and is likely pitch-black. Likely unguarded, too, because the building is set right along the dock.
“Lord, I wish I had a treble hook,” I say.
“Why?”
“I’d swim to the back and scale the rear wall.”
He looks at me like I said I could build a ladder to the clouds. “You can’t row a boat, but you can dothat?”
“Weston Lark never had cause to row a boat. I hadlotsof practice sneaking in and out of the Royal Sector.” I study the buildingagain. “Let’s move down to the next alley. I want to see what’s on the other side.”
We do, weaving among the crowds of people, remaining silent so no one has a chance to pick up our accent. I try to see if anyone notices us, but there are just too many people, too many voices, too many eyes. When we stop at the next alley, we pull into the shadows more deeply.
“There’s an escape ladder from the third floor,” Lochlan says. “But it’s tethered up.”
He’s right. But there are also several windows with decorative brick framework, especially close to the back, where it’s darkest. “I can climb to it from the windows.”
“Are you insane?”
“There are ledges around the frames. I can see from here.”
“That’s barely excess mortar, you idiot.”
“I’m good at climbing, Lochlan. I’ll untie the ladder for you.”
