A lady of Resilience

Chapter 20: Secrets at the Docks

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The early morning fog hung low over the docks, thick and impenetrable. The smell of saltwater and the sound of creaking wood filled the air as ships, both small and large, swayed gently in their moorings. Seraphina and Ashford had arrived under the cover of darkness, their plain clothes once again serving to help them blend into the bustling, chaotic environment.

The docks were alive with activity. Smugglers, sailors, and dockworkers moved about with purpose, their faces hardened by the toil of their trade. Seraphina could feel the energy—nervous, tense. Something big was about to happen.

"This is it," Ashford muttered, glancing around, his eyes scanning the figures moving in and out of the warehouses along the waterfront. "Tobias said the shipment should arrive soon. We need to be in position before Montrose's men get here."

Seraphina nodded, her gaze sweeping across the dark water, searching for any sign of the incoming ship. They had taken every precaution, keeping their movements discreet and their identities concealed. But she knew the risks they were taking. One wrong step, and Montrose's men would find them. Worse, Montrose himself might already be watching from the shadows.

"I don't like this," Seraphina said quietly, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a group of rough-looking men gathered near one of the warehouses. "There are too many people. Too many eyes."

Ashford followed her gaze, frowning. "We'll have to be careful. But we need to get closer. We can't stop the shipment if we don't know where it's coming in."

Seraphina took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm the rising tide of anxiety. She had always been adept at hiding in plain sight, blending in when necessary, using her wits to navigate dangerous situations. But this was different. They weren't just gathering information—they were about to step into a battle, one they couldn't afford to lose.

They made their way toward the warehouses, sticking to the shadows, careful not to draw attention. The closer they got, the more Seraphina's instincts screamed at her to turn back. But she pushed the fear down. There was no turning back now. Not with everything at stake.

As they approached one of the larger warehouses, Ashford grabbed her arm, pulling her into the shadow of a stack of crates. "Look," he whispered, nodding toward a figure standing near the entrance of the building. "That's one of Montrose's men."

Seraphina recognized him immediately. He was a hulking brute, a man she had seen once at one of Montrose's gatherings. His name escaped her, but his reputation didn't—he was known for his brutality, for doing Montrose's dirty work without question.

"He's guarding something," Seraphina said quietly, her eyes narrowing. "The shipment might already be here."

Ashford's jaw tightened. "If that's the case, we need to move fast. We can't let Montrose arm his men. This is our only chance to stop him."

Seraphina nodded, her mind racing as she tried to formulate a plan. They were outnumbered, and they couldn't take on Montrose's men head-on. They would have to be smart, strategic.

"We need to create a distraction," Seraphina said, glancing around the docks. "Something that will draw the attention of the guards away from the warehouse. Then we can get inside and see if the shipment is here."

Ashford hesitated for a moment, his gaze flicking between Seraphina and the guards. "It's risky," he said, his voice low. "But you're right. We don't have another option."

Seraphina's mind worked quickly. "There's a fishing boat docked a few piers down," she said. "If we can set it adrift, it will cause enough chaos to distract the guards. They'll have to leave their posts to deal with it."