Alcingeria Volume Three

Chapter Thirteen: Double Agent

Chapter Thirteen Double Agent:

Wednesday June 20th 1724

"Darien Black," Mathus said in his typical drawl, "so this is where you're staying."

"Mr. Marley," Patrick said with a start.

He was at the bar on the first floor of the inn he and Elzabit were staying in. She had sent for more reporters the previous night to cover what was happening, but they would be coming on the train that would take them back to Treigner's Point. The chief of Taq R'lal had a small army ready to go in the event the portal acted up again, so that left little for Patrick and Elzabit to do.

"Mind if I join you?"

"Sure."

Patrick's heart was racing. He inclined his head toward the seat next to him but didn't look him head on. Mathus slowly sat down, the stool creaking a little under his weight.

"What brings you here?" Patrick asked, sipping his drink and trying to stop his hand from shaking.

"I wanted to check on you, I already ran into Elzabit in the marketplace. I expected she'd be fine, but I had my doubts about you, no offense intended, of course."

"Your concern is ill placed, though appreciated," Patrick said almost distantly, his heart beating in his throat.

"You don't need to hide your fear. I can tell you're still a bit shaken up."

Patrick nodded slowly, taking this as an opportunity to show a little of his true fear. Partly because he couldn't contain it much longer, and partly to get Mathus to ease off.

"You're right. I'll be fine, though. Elzabit and I are returning to Treigner's Point in a few days anyhow."

"Treigner's Point, huh? I say, I haven't been back there in a while. Been tied up with company business here for the last few weeks."

"Just trading?" Patrick asked, realizing he could get some information on Tanner-Marley.

"Mostly building good relations with the locals. We can't get a ship out here too often without the competition getting suspicious, but we're working on it."

"The competition?"

"New Horizons for the most part," he said with a little venom. "Whenever we think we're ahead, that Monty MacGuire seems to be waiting for us at every turn. I have to say I'm a little impressed. Rather, I would be if he didn't resort to criminal acts in order to hinder our business."

"I don't think those allegations have ever been proven, and rumor has it that your company has been doing the same thing. No offense intended, of course."

"Hm," Mathus shot him a quick look before his expression softened and returned to an amicable one once more. "You seem knowledgeable in this regard."

"Just rumors. You know how word gets around the settlement about the most trivial things, a feud between the country's two wealthiest trading companies is no exception."

"Fair enough," Mathus withdrew a case of cigars and offered one to Patrick, who accepted.

Mathus lit a match off his boot and extended it first to Patrick before lighting his own.

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

They both ordered another round, on Patrick, and talked some more.