Reborn From the Cosmos

Miniarc-Bad Tidings 07

Having a woman that had just killed a man and still bore the signs of violence of her person sitting at her feet was beyond unnerving, but Maxine knew pressure well. She felt sick to her stomach, a little faint, and had to constantly suppress the urge to flee the room, but all that showed through was a tight frown. So long as she didn’t look directly at Rey.

Her upbringing told her that such a thing was rude but once again, Graywatch proved its individuality. Where a noblewoman of the capital would have been offended, the whaler didn’t even taken notice, staring up at her with interest as she continued her conversation with Artor.

“My sources in the city say that a giant purple creature did the city in. Know anything specific about that?”

“No. The last time I saw her, she only had a thrall and an imp contracted.”

“The hell are those?” Maxine gave a short example. With every word, Artor’s frown deepened. “Damn it all to the sea. I can’t trust anything coming from my dumb son. What is he thinking, getting close to creatures like that?”

“I won’t tell you not to be cautious, but I will say that Lou has shown a reluctance in abusing the mental affinity,” Maxine said. She wanted the man to be cautious, not antagonistic. “She went as far as to demolish a family known for abusing it. I’m sure you heard of the Grimoires.”

“Course. That was her work, huh? Why is she an unknown then?”

Maxine searched for a diplomatic way to explain the situation but quickly realized there were none. “No witnesses.”

“Ah, yeah. Can’t just show up with a whalebone and say you wrestled it single-handed.” The pirate captain stroked. “This Tome woman sounds like trouble. Might be best to steer around her.”

“She sounds interesting.”

Rey’s first words in quite a while made Maxine jump. Against her instincts, she dared a glance in the woman’s direction and was pleasantly surprised. The nightmare had retreated. Seated on the ground with her head tilted back, her arms crossed, and a big grin on her face, made inhumanly wide by her large jaw, she was hardly scary. Almost…charming, in a childish way. Her pure happiness brought to mind scenes of joy and innocence…until it was ruined by the dried blood on her shirt. It was a stark reminder that the woman taking an interest in Maxine or her acquaintances wasn’t good.

Despite the merchant’s frantic mental pleas for the contrary, Rey rocked forward, focusing on her intensely. “You said she employs monsters? What does she pay them?”

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“Summoning isn’t…” Maxine’s rebuke trailed off. It wasn’t an accurate depiction of the art, but it wasn’t technically wrong. She remembered the captain’s words from earlier and let the thought die. Pursuing it wasn’t worth the cost. “I don’t know what she pays them. That is one of the secrets summoners keep, much like crews hide their maps.”

“Hrrrng. Makes sense. Only one thing fer it.” Rey snapped to her feet. “Just got to see ‘er and ask myself.”

Maxine took a moment to imagine the whaler losing her temper and attacking Lou. Then she imagined her attacking one of Lou’s lovers. “That is a terrible idea,” she said immediately after rejecting the bloody scene from her mind, uncaring about her tone or how the villains in the room would handle her bluntness. None of them were the type that took well to being ordered.

The merchant counted herself lucky that Rey only puffed out her cheeks, as there was a real chance she would have attempted to cut her throat. “Eh, why not? It’d be good. Uncle needs some reliable information—"

“You’re not the one I think of when I need reliable.”

“—and everyone’s worried about their little projects in the fancy pants magic school. Ma and Pa have a few eggs there too they were getting huffy about. And you’re worried about Little Shrimp too, say it or not. One net for the whole haul.” Her cheeks deflated as she scowled. “Don’t try to tell me I can’t. I’m doing it.”

“…I was going to say it sounds good.”

Maxine tried to share the visions in her mind through her pointed gaze. The captain ignored her.

“Yeah, that’s perfect. You’re going to pay me back by escorting the little lady here back to the city and checking on everybody’s investments. Do it seriously, Rey. You better not cause me more trouble, cause I’ll just hand it off to your parents to sort.”

The big smile returned as Rey offered him a sloppy salute, her fingers bouncing off her brow before she snapped her arm down. “Aye, captain!”

“I—"

“Need to go back to Quest, yeah?” Artor turned to her, his stare silencing her. “You’ve made promises to the crews. If you’re not able to keep them, nobody can save you. Not that I would. Our partnership comes with a price. I suggest you make sure you can pay it.”

What would happen if she couldn’t didn’t need to be said. Maxine swallowed her first rebuttals and changed tact. “I will need a few days to make sure my affairs in the city are handled.”

He waved her off. “Get it done. And don’t worry about somebody screwing you while you’re gone. That’s what I’m here for. Hollow, get her back to her rooms and then go see Tuft. I need to know about this summoning crap.”

“Got it, captain.”

Maxine ignored Jack’s offered hand and his chuckle, standing up on her own. She did wait for him to proceed her out of the door. There was no point in walking ahead of her shield for something as inconsequential as personal dislike.

Rey tagged along with them, but Maxine was too preoccupied with coming up with ways to get rid of her to pay attention to her. She had no doubt that if she walked around with Rey, she would be connected to any trouble the whaler started. And there was no doubt the reckless woman would cause problems. The worst thing that could happen was Rey’s antics isolating her from the Tome clan and there was a very real possibility of it happening.

It was only when Rey stepped onto the carriage meant to take them back to the tavern did Maxine take notice of the strange woman. Before she could speak against her presence, the whaler slammed the door and slapped the wall, signaling the driver to go. Maxine swallowed as the woman stared at her. Her eyes found Jack’s but he looked away, leaning against the wall. He’d been ordered to protect her but apparently, that didn’t apply to unwanted attention.

“…may I ask why you joined us?” the merchant eventually asked.

“Huh? Oh, can’t let ye get away, yeah? Ye look like the skittish type.”

A worrying statement but Maxine expected as much. Rather tame compared to what it could have been. Her eyes went back to the blood on the whaler’s shirt, but she forced herself to look away. “Do you not have preparations to make?”

“Eh, I’ll send word to the crew. I’m not good at organizing stuff so I let other people do it.”

“We won’t be leaving for some time yet.”

“I know that! It’s good cause I’ve got things to ask you.” Maxine’s back hit the wall as Rey suddenly lurched forward, looming over her with her hands on either side of the bench. A quick glance revealed that Jack was looking at them, but he still hadn’t moved. Maxine had to deal with this herself. “This Tome something. Ye said she talks with monsters, yeah?”

“Simply put, yes.”

Rey nodded sharply. “Good, good. See cause, the monsters have been talking to me for a while.” She tapped her head with a knuckle. “I spend a lot of time on the water cause they’re louder there. I stand on the ship and I shout and I shout but they never hear me. Never shut up.” There was desperation in her tone despite her smile. It was a pitiful display. “So, I’m hoping yer friend can help me talk to them. Do ye think she can do that?”

“I…of all the people I know, personally and by reputation, she’d be the first person I’d turn to.”

A sudden laugh burst out of the whaler as she threw herself onto her own bench, kicking her feet. “Whoo! I’m holding you to that, fancy pants! This is gonna be fun.”