"Don't go back to Delarion after this."
Shade stood beside the wooden boarding ladder and spoke to the two figures in the night. He did not refuse when they took out money, since he had earned it:
"I was originally going to charge you a hundred pounds altogether, but sixty will do. You still need to find new jobs and continue studying art. You'll have plenty of uses for money."
"Sir, I truly don't know how to thank you."
Mr. Feringa stood in the night and spoke, eventually handing the sewer maps to Shade. He would never return here for the rest of his life, and those maps were useless to him.
"Sir. I do not ask for forgiveness. True loyalty..."
Though she was speaking to Shade, Miss Brown was actually looking at Princess Margaret behind him. The princess stood in a shadow on the ship that even its lights could not illuminate.
Miss Brown was too choked up to speak. Seeing this, Shade urged her:
"Go on, go on. You finally made it here, don't..."
Suddenly, a broad swath of light appeared in the distance. Shade sharply turned his head and saw a group of people carrying kerosene lamps approaching from that direction. At their head seemed to be Director Anlos.
The others on the dock also looked toward the group approaching along the riverside street.
"Military Intelligence Section Six! The one in front seems to be..."
The maid behind the princess whispered. Princess Margaret instinctively looked at Shade, her lovely face emerging from beneath her cloak.
"Don't worry."
Shade said in a low voice, then immediately urged:
"Miss Brown, Mr. Feringa, board the ship first."
He then turned and walked toward the approaching group.
"Your Highness, stay here. Leave everything to me."
He took off his hat and