“You made these yourself?” The dark-haired woman, clearly the leader of the pack, admired the new rings on her hand.
“No, my sisters did. But I like to help them out, you know.” Smee winked.
“You have such talent,” the woman exclaimed, turning to Tink. Smee was about to speak when she said, “I’ll take the lot of these.”
“Ah…all of them? Yes, oh, that’s perfect, and they fit you so well.” He took payment from the woman and kissed the back of her hand.
“If your sister doesn’t mind, perhaps you can escort me home? I’d love to commission a piece to match a dress…” She trailed off, glancing down the street with a wry grin.
“I…as my lady wishes.” Smee didn’t spare so much as a backward glance at Tink, who waved and promised to see him at home.
Ridiculous flirt.A solid gold piece said there was no commission waiting for him, but a different sort of special request—one he’d happily oblige. Either way, at least she was free of him and her obligation to his sisters.
Now to backtrack to the tailor she’d spotted a few blocks ago.
Or…make a run for it. This was her chance, probably her only one. The coin Hook had given her was enough to buy passage. She could hop on a ship and go…
A humorless laugh rose up in her chest. Where, exactly? On to the Shrouded Isles to hunt for a hidden treasure in a place known to swallow people up without so much as a footprint left behind? She’d inquired about passage there after her visit to the merfolk. Only took two short conversations to know that no sane sailor would take her near there without a whole sack of gold for payment. Where else could she go? Back to Tortuga and the kids who’d taken over her home? They’d probably wrecked it by now.Little scamps.
Tink stumbled as someone knocked into her.
“Sorry, miss!” the boy called, waving behind him as he rushed down the street.
She felt frantically at her pockets, then sighed. Not a pickpocket. Just a clumsy little—
That red hair. His voice. Tink took off after the boy. What was the brat’s name? Peter? His skinny form wove between bodies on the street, then turned left. When she rounded the corner herself, he was nowhere to be found—lost in the mess of horse carts, merchant stalls, and noisy humans.
It couldn’t have been him, though, could it? She squinted at the people nearby. He looked so similar, and just for a brief moment she was sure, impossible as it was. It wasn’t far to Tortuga. But what would an orphan boy be doing hopping from port to port, especially since he’d robbed her of a perfectly nice home?
Robbed her with Hook’s help. She scowled. That man drove her mad. As often as she thought of their kisses—and Durin’s beard, that was often—she couldn’t forget that he’d adult-napped her too. Though now that he was helping her get the scale of Leviathan, albeit for his own purposes, his past transgressions didn’t sting so badly. The token he wore didn’t belong to someone here, or it didn’t seem so. Would it be so wrong to indulge in whatever pleasure he had to offer?
“Excuse me, miss?”
Tink gasped and whirled around at the voice just over her shoulder. She’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t heard anyone approach. Curiosity twinkled in eyes painted with green and gold over their lids. Breath caught in her throat.
The witch’s shopkeep.
“You...” she gasped.
He wore a hood pulled tight over his head and clothes. Hiding his appearance, but from whom?
“Executus,” he accentuated his name, as if he were a great king reigning over all the people of Rochland. “The witch would meet with you, Miss…?” He canted his head.
“Tink will do,” she replied.
“Tink.” He tasted her name and pursed his lips in distaste. “Well, Miss Tink, the witch will meet with you. Now, if you please.”
Now? Her nose wrinkled. Something didn’t smell right. “I’ll have to find the others. It may take some time.”
A soft shake of his head accompanied a tight smile. “Only you.”
Meet the witch on her own? She swallowed. Okay, yes, she knew vaguely what Hook planned to ask: how to find the scale of Leviathan or its exact location in the Shrouded Isles. Supposedly, the witch could divine such things with whatever twisted power she possessed. But was there a trick to it? Something else he hadn’t told her?
“I’m not sure I can afford it,” she hedged. Hook had given her some gold, but not near what he’d offered the witch.
“This meeting is free. If you come now. Alone.” He tipped his open palms up. “Her request, not mine.”
Tink glanced up and down the street, hoping, praying to spot a member of the crew, but none were to be found. Her bound wings twitched as a shiver slid down her spine.Blast it all.
