On the Deep Waters

Chapter Three

If the night before had been hard, the current day would be even more so.

Solomon only hoped his nerves didn't show as he approached the Parliament of Griffins. There were a lot of reasons to be nervous beyond the obvious; the tavern attached to the inn was one of Nimah's favorite haunts, and served as an unofficial sort of office where she met potential and current clients. If she wasn't wherever it was she'd been living currently (he could never keep track, she'd moved so many times since he'd met her), she would probably be there. And if she was there, she would have questions. And he was definitely not in the mood for them. Not today.

But, to his relief, the tavern was only sparsely populated. Even better, Nimah wasn't there, nor was anyone in her social circle. He was able to breathe a sigh of relief, until he saw Kasib sitting in the corner.

Hell.

Solomon forced a smile as he approached. Kasib's smile was much more genuine. Thank whatever deity or deities were listening that Kasib was sitting alone. This would be difficult enough without an audience. "It's good to see you again!" Kasib said.

"And you," Said Solomon, though his stomach was twisting into knots. "I hope I'm not interrupting your meal."

"No, no, sit down. Can I get you something?"

"No, thank you. I've eaten already." That was a lie; he'd been too sick to eat that morning, and he was certainly too sick now. "But thank you."

They sat down at the table. Solomon had to sit with his back to the door; he didn't like it, but he also didn't say anything. At least the Parliament didn't have a no-weapons policy. He felt much safer with a throwing axe strapped to his leg. If Kasib noticed the weapon, he didn't say anything about it. "I'm sorry about the other day," Kasib said. "If I'd known you had an appointment, I wouldn't have chattered on so much."

"No, it's all right. I should've left more time to get away from the docks." He had planned on there being more time, but negotiating prices was always a longer and more arduous process than he thought it would be. He didn't know why they kept asking him to do it. He was sure he had the persuasiveness and charm of a rotting potato. Definitely not a personality suited to negotiating. "So...when is the wedding?"

"Two months from now. We would have it sooner, but I have some other family that wants to travel over and...well, we weren't sure how long it was going to take to find you. It gives me some time to finish a few other things as well. Do you have anything happening here, do you?"

"Only my work." That came and went with the demand for ships. He wasn't sure if there would be a lull in projects two months from now, but he had been a loyal and dedicated worker the whole time he'd been with Nyoto. He saw no reason why she wouldn't give him the time. She always had in the past, and the fact that it was a family matter might make her more inclined.

"Is there anyone you might want to bring with you? Any friends, or...anyone else?"

The first person Solomon thought of was Alicia, remembering how enthusiastic she'd seemed about the wedding. But inviting her seemed ostentatious, almost like bragging. He hadn't even planned on telling his family that he had been knighted; he wasn't sure why, but it did. He didn't want to invite Bo for similar reasons. Eve was off somewhere else, and Nimah was far too much of a chatterbox to allow her. That left Kit, and as much as Solomon liked the man, he knew that bringing Kit into an emotionally fraught situation full of people he didn't know would be cruel. "No," he said finally, "there's no one."

Kasib's smile slipped. Concern crept into its place, which Solomon immediately resented. "That seems lonely," Kasib said hesitantly.

Solomon shrugged. "It's all right." Actually, Kasib was right; it could be lonely, and n fact having the acquaintances he had now only showed him how lonely he had been. But even now, even with that, loneliness seemed better than the alternative. He hadn't hurt anyone recently, for starters. That was good. "I have my work. I have...people I know. I just don't think they care enough to come to my sister's wedding."