"Lord Nicholas, of course," Paien said with a slight smile. "He sent a message to me as well. Didn't you know?"
Morgan wasn't sure if she should have been furious or relieved. What she knew, quite suddenly, was that Nicholas considered the blade to be quite a dangerous thing if he had entrusted it to her but then enlisted three of the most deadly men she knew to accompany her. She felt a little weak in the knees, and she never felt weak in the knees.
Of course, that could have had something to do with the ship in front of her.
Camid rubbed his hands together enthusiastically. "I understand you're taking this ship today."
Morgan nodded confidently, far more confidently than she felt.
"Where to?" Camid asked. "Or do we discuss it in a more private setting? "
"Best to do that," Morgan agreed, thinking that discussing it at all was a bad idea.
"Then let us find somewhere to eat and make our plans," Glines said. "Somewhere comfortable, of course, for His?"
Morgan watched Adhémar stumble into Glines. Clumsy oaf. He seemed to have quite a bit to say to Glines?in a low whisper?and Glines seemed to somehow know him. Either Adhémar was consorting with minor nobility, which she couldn't imagine, or he had encountered Glines in some tavern, already lost a goodly sum to him, and wanted it back, which she could readily believe. It was a mystery she would have to discover later. For now, it was best that she keep herself on her feet and not think overmuch on what she would be doing after the sun had set.
She followed the men into a tavern, only slightly surprised when Adhémar held the door open for her. "Are you still here?"
"Morgan!" Glines gasped.
Morgan pushed past Adhémar and took Glines by the arm. "Why are you so friendly with him?" she whispered fiercely. "I know he is fair to look upon, but I warn you, Glines, that his bad manners more than make up for it. Do not encourage him."
"Ah, uh, I thought I recognized him," Glines said, looking unaccountably nervous.
"And I thought he was a mark you intended to fleece at cards," she said. "I will admit that he would make a good one."
"Well," Glines said, sounding more himself, "that would pass the afternoon quite nicely, wouldn't it?" He looked over her head. "Cards, my?"
"Certainly," Adhémar interrupted. "Of course, the wench here will have to give me back the rest of my gold before I can wager anything."
Morgan looked up at him, clear-eyed. "Why would I have any or your gold. "
"You're wearing my socks."
"I keep telling you, lad," Paien said with a laugh, "to be grateful the damage was limited to that. Camid, I think we've finally found a lad to turn her head. Can you believe she left him alive? "
"But robbed," Adhémar said distinctly.
Paien only smiled over his shoulder. "It could have been worse."
Morgan agreed, but she didn't bother to say as much. She allowed Glines to pull out her chair. After two years of trying to convince him she did not need such courtesies, she had given up. She did scowl at him, though.
"You will never make a true mercenary," she said.
"So you say," he said, sitting down next to her, "and yet I manage to brandish my sword and do damage with it."
"You do more damage with your gaming. "
"I game, you fight." He smiled at her. "I think we should wed and live our lives happily on our strengths."
Morgan was grateful there was no cup of ale in her hand, for then she would have already drunk and she would have wasted a mouthful by spewing it out. To her surprise, Adhémar was making the same sound of disbelief.
"Wed with her?" Adhémar said. "A man wouldn't dare! "
Camid's look would have felled a lesser man. "Careful, lad," he said quietly. "An insult would need to be repaid. "
"By me," Morgan put in pointedly.
