Taking Flight [Silver Talon Saga, Part 2]
âIâm having trouble understanding exactly what you mean. Youâre saying thereâs no way you can grant us passage?â
âWell, maybe yer ought ter clean the damn dirt from yer ears, âcause that ainât what I said at all.â The burly, red-maned Nord glowered down at her with obvious contempt. Apparently he was tiring of these negotiations as much as she. âI ainât sayinâ we canât, Iâm sayinâ that we wonât. And yer damn lucky I ainât already called the guard down here ter keep you away from me anâ mine.â
She did her best to look utterly appalled. âAnd why ever would you do a thing like that?â
âPah,â the man spat. âYer think I donât know the evil eye when I see it? The captain what takes a cursed thing like that aboard âis vesselâs either a bloody fool er a man with a deathwish.â
That was that, then. They were going to have to find another ship.
She was truly beginning to disdain having to lay low, but it really was for the best. Her uncle knew she was coming, but not when, and she had some things to see to in Redshore before making herself known to him. Rumors of a Bretic noblewoman traveling to Wayrest by boat would be a dead giveaway, which was why today she was not a nobelwoman at all, but a humble birdkeeper. The massive eagle owl upon her shoulder bristled as the old sea dog stormed off.
âOh, donât be so glum,â Narcisse cooed pleasantly. âYouâve been nothing but good luck to me.âÂ
Oghmaâs new body suited him quite well, she thought. She had similar designs in mind for her other four, once she returned to her laboratory at home. For now, however, his imposing size and rather foreboding appearance was making this difficult. She couldnât exactly flaunt her status when she was attempting to go in cognito, and using a charm spell was impractical for such a long voyage. She was forced to do this the old fashioned way, and it was not going in her favor.Â
She was about to call it a day and return to her old manse for some much needed libations when a voice that seemed to ring like the clattering of coins caught her attention. âThird time youâve been turned down this afternoon by my count.â
Narcisseâs eyes narrowed with scrutiny, a barely perceptible shift. Sheâd assumed that someone was watching her, but hadnât presumed that he would just come out and announce it. That meant he wanted something. Very well. Sheâd play, for now. âIâm sorry?â
âDonât look so discouraged, gorgeous,â the man smiled as if he expected her to melt for him then and there. She didnât doubt many young girls did just that. âYouâre lookinâ for a ship, Iâm lookinâ for an opportunity, and I see one standinâ right here in front of me.â
This was certainly unexpected. Either he was desperate, mad, or trying to lure her into assassination or worse. âAnd what opportunity do you imagine I might have to offer, might I ask?â
âThe only kind of opportunity Iâm interested in, gorgeous. The kind that you can take to the bank. Oh, donât look so confused. You and I both know youâre more than just some crazy bird keeper.â This time when he smiled, the games were gone from his eyes. âWhat do you say we move this conversation below decks? A lot less prying eyes aboard the Gambit.â
âThe Gambit?â she asked as she began to follow. âIâve never heard of her.â
âI suppose not,â the man replied, sounding a shade disappointed. âThe Foolâs Gambit, one of the finest smuggling vessels youâll find from here to Elsweyr, and exactly what you need if I had to guess. Iâm her captain. Rez Trebax.â
She nodded politely as they made their way across the deck. âIâm called Euria.â
âSure you are,â he grinned back over his shoulder. âWell, Euria, can I offer you a drink?â
âWine if you have it,â she replied, a bit more authoritative as they found themselves on the other side of the captainâs cabin door. âYou could also tell me what it is youâre actually after.â
The captain snorted as he poured her glass, still irritatingly unflappable. âExactly what I told you, gorgeous. See, Iâm a bit of a gambler, and Iâve got a feeling you might be my next big payout.â He slid the glass across the table with a wink. âCall it a hunch.â
Narcisse crossed her legs, picking up the glass with an elegant hand. Perhaps she shouldnât have been making herself so obvious, but this little man was beginning to annoy her. âAs if I would believe something so puerile.â
âBelieve what you want,â Rez Trebax replied coolly, moving to pour himself something a bit stronger. âI go with my gut, and my gut says youâve got plenty of coin.â
Well, if it was out in the open, then. âThat depends on how much you want.â
âTwo thousand now,â he said immediately, as if heâd over-rehearsed. âAnd another when we reach Wayrest. That is where you told that old Nord you were going, right?â
He really was a gambler, and this was a textbook bluff. Three thousand from a woman whose true identity he couldnât even be sure of? No doubt he expected her to whittle that down a bit. Well, maybe it was his lucky day after all.
âYou said you were a smuggler?â Her jade eyes met with the challenge in his gaze. âI can give you four thousand now, and upon reaching Wayrest you will turn back and move all of my more... sensitive belongings from my manse in this city to your ship. You will return to Wayrest, where I will be waiting with an additional eleven-thousand septims.â
Now it was his turn to look at her as if sheâd gone mad. âSo I guessed right, then? Merchant queen in disguise? Whatâs the cargo? Jewels? Spices?â
âHardly anything so interesting,â she assured him, finger idly tracing the rim of her glass. âDusty old books, mostly. And birds. Theyâll be hungry. Iâll make sure you have instructions and supplies to keep them fed.â
He folded his hands. âAlright,â he replied after a beat. âMy first mate hates birds, but alright. What else?â
âYouâll need to be sure you donât take any new crew members aboard until this task is completed. I have some enemies who could pose a threat to my person as well as yours.â
She had to admit, his ability to keep his composure was rather commendable. âAssassins, then. Fair enough. What are we dealing with, here? Brotherhood? Morag Tong?â
âDaedric cultists. Close enough. Thereâs also the possibility the Dominion might be after me. Or vampires. Oh, and I couldnât forget my dear family.â
And there, his unshakable demeanor slipped. âWho in Oblivion are you?â
This time, she was the one to wink. âJust a girl whoâs never been particularly good at making friends. Oh, that reminds me, call me âgorgeousâ again and Iâll put a quarrel through your windpipe, dearest. The flattery is nice, but I could do without the excessive salivation.â
He chuckled. âFeisty, huh? I like that.â
âMy partner wouldnât,â she responded evenly. âOh, yes, sheâll be joining us as well. The Dominionâs actually after her, not me, but you know how it is. Play your cards right, gambler, and she might have some lucrative work for you as well. We can always sort that out later, of course.â
In five minutes, Rez Trebax had gone from looking like an arrogant prick to looking like a prick whoâd just been hit by a tornado. She rather approved of the change.
Narcisse Bossuet smiled, and extended a hand with all the poise of a proper Lord of Wayrest. âI donât suppose we have a deal, then?â
She saw him hesitate for the first time, but he took her hand. âYeah. We got a deal. Iâll have my first mate help you with your cargo. I reckon you two will get along just fine; heâs always talkinâ about shooting me in the neck, too.â
âOh, delightful,â Narcisse beamed. âIâm sure weâll have plenty to talk about, then.â
âI doubt it,â the Imperial groaned, rising from his seat. âThe big guy isnât exactly a great conversationalist.â
















