She shrugged.“I pick up things here and there. Traveling all over the place with my father meantstopping in a lot of different ports, home to many cultures.” Shequirked a grin at me in the mirror. “I adapt quickly.”
“I bet.” Istood and straightened out my heavy red skirt. “So, what’s with thehair? Are we going somewhere?”
“Yes,” shereplied. “We’re getting out of here. Let’s go walk around down bythe merchant tents. There’s also a market square further in town.It’s clear that your wish isn’t going to happen by just waitingaround here in The Kraken’s Den.”
“Yes, you’reright.” I sighed heavily. “I’m just… part of me is almost afraid tofind her, you know?” I shook my head. “Is that cowardly of me?”
Lottieregarded me thoughtfully. “No, it’s not. Maria is dangerous andunhinged. She can’t be trusted.” My friend’s hand went to mystomach. “I understand your reasons for concern.” She stepped backand raised the layers of her blue dress to reveal a leather garterfull of intimidating blades and grinned widely. “But I assure you,Maria Cobham won’t lay a finger on you. Not if she wishes to keepit.”
I laughed. Nowthat was the Lottie I knew.
Afterbreakfast, I left a reluctant Henry behind with the crew whileLottie and I hopped in a carriage that led us further in town. Hewanted to escort us so badly, but his presence was needed moreaboard The Queen. Our ship suffered more damage from the battle ofthe Siren Isles than we’d originally thought, and we didn’t want toraise any local suspicion by hiring men to help. Nothing screamsred flag like kraken guts andsmashed deck boards.
The ride wasbumpy and long. We probably could have walked faster. But mypregnant self couldn’t handle that long of a trek. The December airwas nippy, and I tightened the fur collar of my red cloak around myneck. Lottie caught it and looked at me with concern.
“Are youcold?” she asked. “You can have my cloak, too.”
I stifled aslight chortle. “Please, if I can sail across the Atlantic whilefighting giant squids and fight my way off a cursed ship of insanecannibalistic pirates, then I can brave a little bit of coldair.”
Lottie’sunamused eyebrows rose high as she regarded me from across thesmall carriage house. “Pardon me, Captain. I meant nodisrespect.”
I rolled myeyes, mostly at myself because that wasn’t the first time mypregnancy hormones had gotten the best of me lately. “I’m sorry, Ididn’t mean–”
Lottie let outa loud cackle of laughter and it took me a second to realize shewas messing with me. My brave, badass knife-ninja best friend so very rarely showed thecarefree lighter side she held under the shadow of her usual quietself.
“It’s quitealright, Dianna. You’re not the first pregnant woman I’ve dealtwith.” She peered out the little window to our left. “Don’t dancearound my feelings and I won’t dance around yours.”
My lips spreadfar and wide. God, she was the best. “Deal.” We jostled to and froas the carriage turned a corner. “So, speaking of feelings, how arethings with you and Gus?”
Her palecheeks flushed a pleasant rose. “As fine as they could be, Isuppose.”
“Justfine?”
Her eyesrolled. I knew she hated talking about the details, but that’s whatfriends do so I urged her with my widened eyes, but Lottiecontinued to scan the world outside the window. “A lady nevertells.”
“Well, I’m nolady,” I started, egging her on. “Things between Henry and I havenever been better. He’s… different. Happier. And, surprisingly, thesex is still amazing considering I’m a million years pregnant.”
I could seeshe was biting back a grin. Finally, Lottie sighed happily. “Thingsare… just as good with Gus and I.”
We caught oneanother’s playful gaze from the corner of both our eyes and eruptedinto a fit of laughter. Eventually, the giggles subsided asLottie’s face turned serious.
“Y’know, hetold me about his wife,” she said.
I fought backa look of surprise. Gus was clearly getting serious with her, then.“Oh? And how did that go?”
Lottie’sshoulders slumped. “I’m not sure, really. I mean, I’m thankful he’sopening up, willing to move on and take the next step with me. Butit’s odd, don’t you think?”
“Odd?”
“I don’tknow.” Her head shook quickly. “Perhaps I’m being silly. I haven’ta clue what I’m doing.”
“Look, thatpart of Gus, his past, his… the man he used to be,” I began, “I’msure he’s put it all behind him now. But it’s still a very big partof who he is, and I think the fact that he was comfortable enoughto share that with you means something.”
“You thinkso?”
I nodded. “Hewants you to know the person he used to be, so you’ll learn to lovethe man he’s become.”
Lottie’s facelit up. “Like you did with Henry?”
I was takenaback by the statement. Mostly because I’d never really thought ofit like that. But, in a way, I knew the person Henry used to bebefore I ever even met him. Through his journal. My heart cried forthe poor boy in the words and then fell in love with the man hebecame. His past was such a huge part of him, woven into his verysoul.
And he wantedto share that with me.
“Yeah,” Ireplied with the ghost of a smile, “I suppose so.”
We sat in acomfortable silence for a few more minutes until, finally, thecarriage came to a stop and the rickety door swung open to revealthe driver awaiting our exit.
“MarketSquare, Madams,” he told us as he took my hand and helped me downthe single step to the ground.
I noddedpolitely and stood waiting for Lottie to follow. I glanced aroundand absorbed the strange beauty of where we were. A long, narrowalley-like area filled with merchant tables covered with smallcanopies and shop fronts which lined each side. In the distance, aset of cobblestone stairs cut across the width of the stretch andled to what looked like larger shop fronts. The smells of variousthings; dried fish, roasting meats, baked goods, and flowers allfilled my nose and competed for a place there. Ultimately, thebaked goods won, and I took Lottie by the hand as I made my wayover to the quaint shop which had a hand-painted sign on the window that read
