Page 89 of The Thief and the Traitor Bride

Nore shrugged. “I’m working on leads: the trade minister is one, and possibly the Hand commander.” She did not speak of the other plans materializing in her brain, nor of other hunches.

Gail sighed. “I’m going to need more than that, Nore,” he said, exasperated. “The minister of trade isn’t going to whisper into your ear who Locke likes.”

Which showed just how little Gail knew. “Don’t you worry,” Nore said. “I’m working on it.” They both knew that wasn’t the full truth.

And oh, how she grew tired of half-spoken honesty.

It would have to wait, though, because a clerk came close to notify Nore that her ship had arrived. She and Gail followed the sailor to sign the last of the paperwork and watch as the crates of wine were unloaded.

“Is this at a great cost to your business?” Gail asked, watching the cases. Perhaps, since she’d broken the barrier of questioning, he saw it fit to prod her now, too. He knew, of course, that most of the wine was donated.

“It is important to the crown that we build this connection,” Nore said, putting on her gloves. It was colder today than the day before. “It is a loss, but I will be compensated for it in other ways.”

“Very well, then.”

“And you? Are you compensated for your time?”

Gail looked at her, a smile in his eyes. He looked her over, and seemed to come to some decision. “Nore, if we are successful in all we are trying to do, we will be richer than kings.”

Nore raised an eyebrow. In all we are trying to do. “Well then,” she said, worrying at the seam of her glove. “I hope we achieve what we must.”

Once the wine was unloaded, Nore went down to the dock to speak with the captain. She was surprised to find Tern waiting for her.

“Finch,” he said. “It’s good to see you alive.”

“You’re back from the Straits,” she said before she could think better of it.

“That I am,” he said. “And made good time to get here, for you.”

“Are you staying?” Nore asked. She wasn’t fully sure why—the sight of Tern was familiar, but annoyingly, he knew her. He would know there was something to worry about with Caspian; he knew that Nore spent her life in Nettlepool as an unmarried woman.

“I can’t,” Tern said. He nodded back to the ship. “One more trade run to make before I come back here for you.” His eyes flicked to something behind Nore, and she read confusion in his gaze for only a moment.

Nore turned. Terlo and Caspian had returned and reunited with Gail. They all loitered now by the cases of wine still being loaded into the wagons. Garna was there, too—she must’ve seen Caspian and stopped to say hello—along with another woman, wearing armor.

“Can I buy you dinner at least?” Nore asked, turning back to Tern.

“Perhaps,” Tern said, but Nore recognized the surrender there. “And I have these for you.”

He handed her a thick ream of letters, tied together. “Thank you,” Nore said. She looped her arm through Tern’s and steered him back toward the group. Caspian and the armored woman had left, but Garna was still there.

“You just missed my partner,” Garna said as she leaned in to kiss Nore on both cheeks. It was a familiar greeting—perhaps overfamiliar—but Nore had suffered worse. “But I’m glad I caught you. There’s a party tomorrow in the old dockyards hall—I was just telling your husband that you should join.”

Nore pasted a smile on her face. Tern stiffened imperceptibly on her arm. “Of course,” she said. “And this is my dear friend from Lindan. I was just about to take him for a meal.”

“A shame to miss you, Captain…?” Garna said. Tern did not take the bait. He only nodded, and managed half a smile.

“Well, I will see the rest of you back. Garna, please do let me know if you need me to arrange anything.”

The other woman nodded, and Nore let Tern steer her back toward the harbor front, where vendors sold food and ale to sailors at a reduced price.

“I did not realize you were working with Starling,” Tern said, voice pitched low.

“He’s a well,” Nore said. “I’ve been told he’s necessary.”

“Mm.” Tern sighed, shaking something off, and looked at Nore sideways. “A husband, eh?”

She elbowed him. “Can’t believe everything you hear in the harbor. Surely, you’ve had to pretend worse.”