MER (THE STEWARD, #5) by M.D. Ironz

Author:M.D. Ironz
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: genre mash-up, science fantasy, mystery, police procedural, multiverse, folklore, forensics, parallel universes, science fiction, theoretical physics
Publisher: Professorial Holdings
Published: 2021-11-30T00:00:00+00:00

THE FOULED ANCHOR WAS filling up with the usual evening crowd. Perched on the staircase landing, Topsey, attired in a black bustier trimmed in scarlet feathers, smoothed the front of her multiple petticoats of red lace. She leaned on the railing and cast her eye approvingly over the gaming tables; there were few empty seats. She caught her partner’s eye at the bar and motioned with a tilt of her head to a few of her ladies bunched near one end of the bar.

Rumley nodded and sauntered down there. At the clearing of his throat and a smiling wink, Topsey’s hostesses knew to start circulating among the patrons.

Topsey was a practiced hand at predicting the behavior of eager sailors newly come ashore. She knew a number of vessels had docked with the incoming tide, and their freshly paid crews would soon be venturing into town. It was likely to be a good night.

That reminded her; she had a bit of related news to share with her partner, the barkeep. Yes, better to do so now, before the night got too lively.

She sighed, pasted a practiced smile upon her face, and descended the stairs to the floor of the saloon. With an exaggerated sway to her hips she strolled through the gaming tables, patting a familiar cheek here, touching a favored patron’s shoulder there, generally flirting with the regulars on her way to the bar.

Rumley met her with a small glass of watered sherry. “Looks to be a good night, I think.”

She sipped and nodded. “Aye, the more ships in port, the more coin in our pockets.”

“So? I can tell you have news.”

She smiled at him. “Can you now? Gettin’ a bit familiar, are we?”

He grinned. “Ah, love it, you do. Now, what is it?”

She turned, faced the room, and leaned against the bar, her elbows on the bar top. She sensed Rumley leaning forward and watching the room; he would easily hear her every whispered word. She let her eyes roam over the patrons as she spoke softly over her shoulder.

“The Xanthippe docked in the last hour, but her crew’s not come ashore yet. Her master, Circe, and ‘Bloody’ Bane met dockside.”

“Hmm, the Doom Wind has been here for days. Her crew is running short of coin. Have the captains some business with each other?”

Topsey sipped a bit more sherry. “Apparently some, but it may not have gone well. The junk was not expected this soon. I understand Bane was surprised at her arrival, and no happier after he and the sea witch met. It seems some expected payment was not forthcoming.”

“Ah, let me guess, for his part in the relay they ran?”

She sighed. “So it seems. There is more; the incognito passenger, who no one was supposed to know about, is still aboard the Xanthippe with some questionably strange cargo.”

“Oh, Circe won’t like that. She likes to keep her junk’s hold empty and ready for business.”

“Aye, she’s made no bones about it. She wants that passenger and his cargo off her vessel soonest.

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