The Black Teeth

XIV - Jasmine

With the grasp of of Wes's hand her hers, she gave the last look at Bliskam. She had no idea where they were going. All she knew is that a boat was reserved for them and that they were headed overseas. She expected they could be heading to Dirk or Polim, which were both suggested areas Hardam could be. She though best to ask the captain.

"Sir, may I ask where we are headed?"

"I'm sorry I am unable to tell you that. Direct orders." He was an older man with a bushy white beard that sure if not bunched up, could likely reach one end of the ship to the other.

"Direct orders from who?" The man didn't reply and Jasmine gave a breath of annoyance. She walked back over to Wes.

"I'm going to look around below deck." She stated. Wes joined without an invitation, yet she didn't mind.

After few minutes they each found their rooms, engraved with their initials on the door. They wished each other bye before unpacking things in their room. Their rooms were directly across after coming down the stairs and they each had a window in which to look out from. It wasn't much of a scene, so Jasmine closed her curtain and began unpacking things on the shelves, and collapsing on the uncomfortable bed.

Knocking boomed on the door roughly awaking Jasmine. She groaned, then pulled open the door, rubbing her eyes. Before her stood a man, the least expected person they thought they would see.

"Hardam!" She exclaimed.

"Jasmine. How are you?" He was dressed in his usual clothes. A simple pair of dark pants, a white shirt with a long black fashionable coat.

"I- What are you doing here?" She asked, still recovering the shock.

"I've decided to join you on our journey. I assume you know where we're going and what we're doing?" Hardam asked.

"No actually. The caption wouldn't tell." She explained. She gestured to a small chair on her bed in which Hardam gratefully declined and stood at the door.

"Oh. That bastard. I don't know why I am still keeping him. I'll explain with you and Wes. Come with me."

"You've seen him already?"

"Oh yes." She followed Hardam to a room close by and entered. It was a lounge filled with beautiful furniture which she was surprised wasn't scattered around for the shaking of the boat. But most importantly, she noticed Wes sitting cross legged on the couch, and gave her a simple wave. They seated beside him on separate chairs.

"I would like to apologize for the scattered letters and riddles. Grimace have been lately checking mail like crazy." He made himself comfortable before continuing. "At least you were able to find us. I have a bigger bounty in my head and couldn't come and get you. Unfortunately, there were some accidents."

Awkward way to bring up Clyde's death. She looked Hardam suspiciously in the eyes.

"I'm sorry to hear about the death of Clyde. He was one of the best. Leadership has been transferred back to me. We have a huge job coming up and I am afraid you can't work together. Any contact with each other may break our plan entirely. I do apologize and hope you understand." He was nearly interrupted but Wes waited till the end.

"What, why? What the hell are we doing to recall that action?" She practically shouted, but somehow he maintained in a polite tone. The words however probably could have been worded differently.

"I'm afraid that's the way it may have to be for the next while. You each have a part in which we will begin today. I will allow for an occasional visit." He said awkwardly.

Somethings up with him. He's got a plan, but why would he do that?

They nodded in a weird rhythm and Hardam politely left the room for them to discuss for a few moments. They stood close by the door and looked away from the glass window.

"I don't understand. Why do this? We've never done anything like this before." Jasmine exclaimed.

"We've also never been sailing on a ship to who-knows-where." Wes added.

"What is Hardam doing? He can't expect us to board a boat, surprise us, then shed the news that we can't work together in a job." Jasmine was listing thing after thing trying to connect each of the never ending dots.

"Actually, I think he can expect us to do that, cause if you look we seem to be sailing on 'said
boat' and it looks like our only option- Jasmine slapped Wes lightly across the check. Or just enough to point out obvious facts that Jasmine didn't want to hear at the moment. Still, it left a red mark in which Wes threw his hand to and gave a scowled look at Jasmine. She gave a "sorry not sorry" face back and and Wes turned with a major roll of the eyes. Their amazing two minute talk and slap ended there, when Hardam re-entered the room, his boots clacking against the wood flooring, making an obviously loud entrance.

"Alright, Jasmine, I'll need to discuss his part for a little bit so if you don't mind going to your room for a while. I'll be with you later tomorrow ."

"Alright." She said slowly, raising herself an exiting the room. She turned back, "See you Wes. Good luck with your part."

She left awkwardly and went to her fair sized room and sat on a nearby chair. On the table was a small book with her name initialed on it.
Amule ni Magik. Or as common tongue, "Amulets and Magic". She cracked the spine before opening the book. It was filled with random text in other languages. She closed it and looked at the clock, it was nearly midnight. She tucked the book in her bag, and fell on her bed once again, exhausted. She tucked herself  within the comfortable silk sheets and tried to fall asleep with the waves of the boat knocking her around.