Barnaby left High Tide in even more of a hurry than when he had arrived. He nearly collided with a waiter carrying a tea tray at a corner in the corridor, but instead of apologizing, he squeezed sideways through the narrow passage and left, cursing under his breath.
Renato stood by the window and watched Barnaby emerge onto the street outside the inn. He hurried up the stone-paved road through the Governor's Special District and soon vanished into the shadows around a corner.
The pirate chief walked with a spring in his step, apparently never having expected things to go so smoothly.
The Swordsman pushed the window open a little farther, letting the sea breeze sweep in with the salty moisture of the bay, and savored its freshness.
Renato declined the tea and snacks the waiter brought and simply asked him to close the door. Then he leaned against the windowsill, recalling their conversation and the expressions on Barnaby's face.
Barnaby's surprise at how readily he accepted the commission had far exceeded the excitement one would expect from a middleman.
Though the pirate chief had disguised it well, the shadows around Renato had easily caught the secret delight and greed spilling from deep within him. Nothing could hide them from the Swordsman's perception.
Renato knew perfectly well that Barnaby had not brought such a substantial commission to his door thanks to the old connections and friendships he claimed.
A pirate chief who had just failed in a rebellion, been imprisoned and nearly hanged, and was now utterly penniless could never have secured a job involving the Saltbone Marquis on the strength of his reputation alone in so little time.
Even though Barnaby acted brimming with confidence, as if he had everything under control and enjoyed influence on both sides of