Accidental Duelist by Jamie Davis

Author:Jamie Davis [Davis, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-23T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

After Harley took his leave, Merrick led Cari down into the bowels of the barge amidst the cargo bound for towns down the river. Beyond the cargo hold were two more rooms. The larger of the two housed a double row of bunks for the small group of river sailors who crewed the barge up and down the river. The other contained ropes, pulleys, and a host of tools used to manage the cargo and repair the vessel when needed. All were hung on pegs and hooks mounted in the walls of the small room.

Stopping outside the tool room, Merrick stepped inside and pulled a hidden lever. The back wall of the room popped open a few inches. He stepped back and gestured to Cari.

"Behind that panel is a small space where you may wait while we pole the boat through the city canals and locks to the River Gate. Once we're away from the city, I'll send someone to fetch you. An inspector from the city will surely board us when we arrive at the gate. Just remain quiet while we handle the business of the inspection. It should only take a few minutes and then we'll be on our way."

"This will be fine," Cari said after stepping into the tool room and pulling the panel open. The space behind the panel was tiny, but there was room to sit down and rest. She could use some rest.

Cari turned to Merrick. "Thank you again for helping me on my journey."

He shrugged.

"It's good business. You just make sure I get paid."

"I'll do my best. You understand I can make no promises."

“I know but I believe you are a person of your word. If you say you’ll do your best to make him pay me, you’ll do just that.”

Cari nodded and pulled the panel closed until it clicked. She could see the latching mechanism on the inner side of the panel. It looked easy enough to operate from this side so she wouldn’t be trapped. The light in the tiny space dimmed as Merrick shut the outer door. It was dark in the smuggler’s hiding spot but some light filtered into the room through the cracks in the wooden wall between her and the hold.

There was a crate on the floor and Cari sat down on it leaning against the outer hull, settling in for a long wait. The motion of the barge in the water changed a little after a few minutes and Cari realized they'd cast off and were moving down the canal towards the River Gate. She was on her way.

Cari leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes. She'd been up for almost a full day and was still slightly wounded from her escape from the Duke's palace. The barge's gentle rocking completed the equation and soon she was asleep.

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