Hazel had just walked through. According to Hazel, it was called Thieves' Quarter, and Owen wasn't a bit surprised. Presumably Cyder had a small army of well-trained muscle standing by ready to jump on anyone who made a nuisance of themselves. Owen had spent some time unobtrusively trying to spot them on the general principle that if trouble was to come his way, he wanted to at least have some idea of which direction it was coming from. He hadn't had any luck. Everyone looked equally violent and disreputable.
And then Cyder looked past Hazel directly at Owen, and he stopped with his drink halfway to his lips. In that moment she looked harsh and uncompromising and very dangerous, with the coldest blue eyes he'd ever seen. The moment passed, and then she was smiling at him and beckoning for him to join her and Hazel. Owen emptied his glass and moved unhurriedly down the bar to join them. He had no doubt that Cyder had deliberately allowed him to see the ice beneath her surface, but he wasn't at all sure why. Perhaps to impress on him that she was someone to be taken seriously. Owen gave her his most charming smile as he arrived and kept his hand near his gun.
Cyder lead the way to a private room up on the next floor, a small unadorned room with comfortable chairs and a crackling fire. Owen sat as close to it as he could bear and tried not to look too interested as the two women discussed Hazel's old times in Mistport. Much of it seemed to have been either disreputable or illegal, and Owen couldn't say he was at all surprised. Eventually the two women caught up to the present and smiled fondly at each other.
'You've put a lot of work into this place,' Hazel said finally. 'I can't believe this is the old snake pit where I used to drink.'
'I came into some money,' said Cyder, smiling demurely. 'I've been able to… indulge myself.'
'Where's Cat?'
'Around. People make him nervous.' Cyder shot Owen a mischievous glance. 'Does this young gentleman know about your checkered past, Hazel? Have you told him how you made most of your money here in Mistport?'
'No, and you're not to tell him. He doesn't need to know.'
'It's a perfectly honorable profession. We've all done a few things we don't like to remember when money gets short.'
'That's as may be.' Hazel glared at Owen. 'And you can wipe that look off your face. I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong.'
'I wasn't thinking anything,' Owen said, trying hard not think the word
Cyder laughed. 'Don't worry, Hazel, your secret is safe with me. Still, it must be said we've all come a long way since you and I and John Silver were thick as thieves and searching for some direction in our lives. He was a pirate, I was a fence, and you… were doing what you were doing. Now he's in charge of Mistport security, of all things, I am the highly respectable owner of a highly profitable tavern, and you're an outlaw with a price on your head. Quite a good price, too. The word was out on you and your friend ten minutes after your somewhat distinctive ship touched down. Don't think I've ever had a lord in my tavern before, let alone one with as famous a name as yours, Lord Deathstalker.'
'Call me Owen,' he said coolly. 'The title's been stripped from me. How long have you known about us?'
'Relax, dear. I don't turn in old friends. I don't have to anymore, and I have my own reasons for hating the Empire and all its works.' Her hand rose briefly to brush against a few thin scars on her face. 'Half this city has been turning the other half upside down looking for you, and the only reason no one's found you yet is because you've been moving around so much. Fortunately, no one's connected you with your last visit, Hazel, so they don't know to check your old haunts, but it's only a matter of time before someone gets lucky. That's why I brought you up here, away from prying eyes. Times are hard here in Mistport, especially since Typhoid Mary tore the town apart. The prices on both your heads are enough to tempt anyone. Even me, if I didn't have such a personal grudge against the Empire. There's nowhere in this city that's safe for you now; no one you can trust except each other. And you can forget about selling your ship. No one will touch it now, at any price. The Empire's already said it'll blow it apart on sight, no matter who claims to be flying it. I'm afraid you two are stuck with each other. Everyone else has to be seen as a potential enemy. Even I might be tempted, if you stayed around long enough. Friendship is nice, but it doesn't pay the bills.'
'There's always Ruby Journey,' said Hazel, and Cyder pulled a face.
'Ruby Journey. I should have known that name would come up. I never did know what you saw in her. I always thought of myself as a cold-hearted bitch, but dear Ruby's in a class all of her own. You can't seriously be thinking of throwing yourself on her mercy? She's a bounty hunter!'
'I said that,' said Owen.
'She's my friend,' said Hazel.
'Bounty hunters don't have any friends,' said Cyder.
'Do you know where I can find her?'
'I'm glad to say I haven't the faintest idea. She's around somewhere, no doubt killing someone for money. Or just for the fun of it.'
'She's not that bad.'
'She's a sadistic, amoral psychopath. And those are her good points.'
'You said yourself that Mistport is crawling with Imperial agents, bounty hunters and amateur assassins,' Hazel said patiently. 'If the aristo and I are going to survive this mess, we need someone like Ruby on our side, if only to frighten everyone else away. Do you have any idea at all where we might look for her?'
Cyder shook her head dubiously and reluctantly provided Hazel with a short list of places to check. Most of them seemed to be taverns, for which Owen at least was grateful. He felt very much in need of a stiff drink, or several. He realized Hazel was scowling at him and sat up straight, trying to look as though he'd been paying attention all the time.
'Much as I hate to admit it, Deathstalker, it appears we're going to be sticking together after all. If we separate, that'll just make us easier to take. Besides, you have a connection that might prove useful after all. Jack Random.'
Cyder raised a silver eyebrow. 'He's in Mistport? I hadn't heard he was back. Last I'd heard, he'd had his army shot out from under him on Vodyanoi IV, and the Empire was closing in on him from all sides. Of course, that was nearly two years ago. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised he made one of his miracle escapes. He does rather specialize in them. If you're looking for an ally, you could do worse. He's probably the only person on Mistworld that the Empress wants even more than you. Your best bet is to try the Abraxus Information Center, down on Resurrection Street. They're a small business, haven't been around long, but if anyone can find him for you, they can.'
'Thanks for the name, Cyder, but we should already have a lead on him. Isn't that right, Deathstalker?'
Hazel looked pointedly at Owen, and he sighed resignedly. He activated his comm implant and contacted Ozymandius.
'Everything all right with the ship, Oz?'
'Oh, sure. A few lowlifes tried to break in, but the yacht's security systems took care of them. Mistport ground staff removed the bodies. There have also been a number of attempts to break into my systems, but nothing I couldn't handle. Strictly amateur hour. These people wouldn't recognize a sophisticated system if they fell over it in the gutter.'
'I'm not entirely sure they have gutters here.'
The AI sniffed. 'Can't say I'm surprised. Where are you? What's been happening?'
'Tell you later. It looks like we're going to need Jack Random after all, Oz. What was the address you had on him?'
'The Abraxus Information Center.'
Owen shook his head slowly. 'My father's hand is getting clearer by the moment. He's doing everything but lead us by the nose.' He broke off contact and looked apologetically at Hazel. 'My AI says the same as your friend here. The Abraxus place has all the answers.'
'I should hope so,' said Cyder. 'They charge enough. Do you still have access to the money you banked in Mistport, Hazel? The money from your… previous occupation?'
'Yes,' said Hazel, glaring darkly at her. 'It's under an assumed name. I should be able to get to it easily enough.'
