Triton's Destiny

Part Eleven

It was becoming a singular mission, Tristan decided as he continued his trek about town, delivering the day's messages. He was determined to find out something about Maki before they met that afternoon, so he'd put his most charming persuasive skills on display, asking all of his clients if they'd met the blue-eyed, dark-haired man with the intoxicating smile. So far, none had either seen or heard of him, and Tristan was becoming quite discouraged. It was like Maki had walked right out of the sea and situated himself smack in the middle of Tristan's life, a beacon of happiness that he was powerless to deny. The mystique of Maki's uncertain origin was intriguing, but he didn't think it meant that anything nefarious was going on. Tristan had spoken to him, spent time with him, touched him. He knew Maki was real, and that meant that he must have a home that was just as real. He just needed to figure out where it was.

The bell above the door to the cobbler's shop rang brightly as he pushed his way inside. Lifting a hand in greeting as the cobbler's assistant raised his head from the project he was working on at the counter, Tristan offered up a friendly smile. "Morning, Adrian."

"Hi, Tristan!" Adrian glanced at Tristan's hand as he came to the counter with a stack of messages. "More orders, I assume?"

"You know I don't read people's mail, mate." Tristan set the stack down between them.

"Well, for the heavens' sake, why not?"

Leaning on the counter, Tristan smirked at him. "For one thing, it's highly unprofessional. And for another, what on earth makes you think anyone in this town has anything worth reading?"

"Ooh..." Adrian grabbed the messages and quickly sorted through them, setting them aside a minute later. "That's a brutal assessment, but by the gods, you're right. Nothing but demands from the insatiable customers. Thanks, mate."

"No problem."

Adrian lifted on his toes and looked over the counter at Tristan's feet. "How're those new boots treating you?"

"They're great," Tristan said with a smile. "Very comfortable."

"Try not to take a swim in these ones, all right? Leather and salt water are mortal enemies, you know."

"I do know. And it's not like I intended to dunk my last pair in the ocean."

"Hey, I'm not complaining." Adrian spread his hands with a smirk. "More business for us."

"Yeah, yeah." Tristan rolled his eyes. "Say, I wanted to ask you something."

"Sure thing."

"I met someone yesterday and I was wondering if you could tell me anything about him."

"What's his name?"

"Maki Kirseren. Or Makaio. That's his given name."

Adrian shook his head. "The name doesn't ring a bell. What's he look like?"

"Black hair, blue eyes, a little shorter than I am. Wears sailor's gear and a beat-up tricorn hat."

With a snorting laugh, Adrian crossed his arms over his chest. "Tristan, you just described half the men in town."

Tristan gave him a withering look. "Have you sold anything to anyone matching that description lately?"

"Might have done." Adrian rubbed his callused fingers over his chin. "What did this Maki have on his feet? I might be able to tell you if we sold them."

"Oh!" Tristan's eyebrows lifted with hopeful surprise. He hadn't thought of that. Squeezing his eyes shut, he pictured Maki's boots sitting next to his inside his front door. "Brown leather, knee-length, kinda slouchy. With red, buckled straps around the ankles and folded, split cuffs with weathered brass doubloon medallions on the points." Opening his eyes again, he looked at Adrian expectantly.