Water's Reflection or Hero's Guilt

Chapter Twenty

          Captain Kharos pulled the hatch shut above him; he stood on a steep stairs just below the ship deck, and looked down onto June, Terrance, Maya and Adam. All of them eyed him with a hint of confusion. He had given no explanation as to why they had to get down here, but the urgency in his voice had been more than apparent.

          As he slowly descended down the wooden stairs, he said, “Guards have been patrolling since this morning. I don't appreciate it, and fear they might react to seeing you.”

          “Why do you think they would try and apprehend us?” Terrance asked.

          The captain shrugged, as it was quite obvious to him. After all, they were looking for safe passage with a smuggler. No doubt they must be in some sort of trouble with the law...

          “Why are you here again?” he responded instead, keeping a close watch on Terrance. “I told you that you were unwelcome on my ship.”

          Terrance waited for a second, and glanced from Adam to June. The bodyguard was not at ease with the space they occupied; the room was small and seemed one of the smuggling spaces on the boat. It also suggested this was a trap, since it was just a little too easy to lock them up in this small, empty room.

          June was less worried. She simply watched Kharos, waiting for Terrance to work his silver-tongued magic. Maya did the same, standing with June with a terrible smile on her face. The first wore her Cloak of Flight, the latter her own brown traveling cloak. Both wore their rings. However, it was obvious to the Soulander captain they were werewolves.

          “I have no room for you, nor will I make room on my ship for duggs,” he spat.

          “Surely, we must be able to change your mind,” Terrance quickly offered, the corners of his mouth turning into a charming smile. “After all, you are but a businessman, are you not? A smuggler is nothing, if not a man of money.”

          “I have money.”

          “How much of it? And how much do you figure will be spent by the time this ship is finally allowed to leave port?” Terrance said and chuckled. “After all, right now, you are forced to stay here, spending your savings, with no means of earning it back. All these days docked—wasted...”

          Kharos grunted; the only sign he was listening.

          “We, however, offer you a substantial amount of money. In fact, we ask you to name your price—which you can surely raise above the amount you ask your more average stowaways. We won't mind, and we will pay.” Terrance met June's eye, who nodded. “We have the money.”

          For a second, Captain Kharos seemed to hesitate. Terrance's promise was a tempting one—and to add to it, he produced a little velvet pouch, which rang with a clear high pitch tone when he tossed it to the captain. The man did not need to look inside it to know it held gold coins. He stared at it without saying anything, then finally closed his fist around the pouch.