Layela nodded and walked toward the door, trying not to look at the red roses on the right that she had been growing for years, or at the white Lichta flowers that she had bargained three days to acquire. She tried to ignore the musky scent of the Growalls still dancing in the air, and the soft rustle of Mama Knot’s leaves as the large Booknot swayed, agitated by Layela’s unhappiness and departure.
The door was smooth and cold to the touch, and she closed it quickly behind her before she could relent and convince herself that her dream, her freedom, her flower shop were more important than her sister. It would be too easy to turn back.
It had been too long a road to Sunrise Flowers for the dream to set in one day.
i
The man stood by the railing, his cloaked body outlined by the setting sun. He did not move, did nothing to draw attention, but Avienne Malavant approached him very warily.
Something about the man’s calm yet ready posture told her that he was a warrior, and probably a dangerous one. Avienne glanced sideways from him and assessed her brother’s appearance. With his black leather pants, loose tunic and vest, he could be just another merchant. But his confident walk and the gun at his waist marked him as something much more dangerous. Not to mention the sword he insisted on strapping to his back, despite Avienne’s teasing and protests. She wished she could tease him now, but despite his casual steps, she could feel tension flowing from him as they approached the stranger.
Why tonight of all nights? Avienne thought, consciously trying to keep her hands steady. Fidgeting would not do.
Her brother walked up to the man, his stride unwavering.
“Beautiful night for a flight, isn’t it?” the man said as soon as the two siblings came within earshot.
Avienne’s pulse accelerated, though she was careful not to show it. So the man knew they were smugglers. He must have been the one who had sent word he wanted to hire them. If not, he certainly had picked an odd phrase to open the conversation. Besides, this was not a place a man came to unless he had some illegal or immoral business to take care of.
“That it is,” her brother Ardin said nonchalantly, leaning casually on the railing beside the man. Avienne stood off to one side, close enough to intervene if necessary. She let her brother do most of the talking on these occasions. It had been her experience that in her line of work, men were taken more seriously. Most men did not like talking business with a woman they would prefer to see in their beds.
The men stood silently and Avienne ran through the possible outcomes of this meeting. The most likely was that they were about to be hired, but being raided or killed also had high probability.
“Anything we can do for you?” Ardin finally said. Avienne hid a smile. Her brother had never been patient.
“I need one of the quickest, strongest and most discreet crews in the entire star system to take care of a very important mission. With suitable compensation, of course.”
“You’ve certainly come to the right crew,” Ardin said, pride filling his voice.
“That’s what I was told, and I’ve researched extensively.”
“Good. I’m sure you also found that we’re not the stupidest crew around. We won’t take a suicidal contract just to fill our pockets.”
“I’d expect no less.”
“Then what are we talking about?” Ardin said. Avienne winced at the impatience — worse, curiosity — in her brother’s voice. His decisions were not always the most sensible. Avienne had always blamed it on his sense of adventure and undying curiosity — things that she had hoped he would outgrow when he reached manhood. Too many odd adventures and questionable decisions had since occurred for her to continue to hope.
“A young woman needs protection, although she may not realize it. You may have to convince her to come with you, and bring her to Lockor for her own good.”
“Kidnapping?” Ardin said, his voice conveying disapproval. There were laws that even smugglers wouldn’t break. Stolen goods were not a problem; stolen people were a different matter entirely.
“Not quite. It’s where she needs to go, she just doesn’t know it yet.”
“Still sounds like kidnapping to me,” Ardin said, looking sideways at the man.
The man shrugged. “You’ll be keeping her safe and protecting her from those who will try to harm her.”
“Who wants to harm her?” Avienne asked, drawing attention to herself.
The man did not even bother turning toward her. “Solarian Government. Maybe an assassin or two.”
“Is that all?” Avienne replied sarcastically. “If it’s too dangerous, we can’t do it,” she said, her blood boiling. Ardin tensed as her words bit the air, words he had often used on her. “Our duty is to our own.”
The man turned around slowly and locked eyes with hers. “Remember those words, Avienne Malavant. Remember them well.”
Ice rushed down Avienne’s spine and she fought not to let it show. The man turned back to lean on the railing. So he knew their names, as well. That did not comfort her.
“Anything else?” Ardin asked.
“Yes. You must find her quickly, bring her to your ship and get her away from Collar. If you fail to do this, I won’t be able to compensate you.”
Ardin looked off into the spaceport where their ship, the Destiny, was docked. Avienne followed his gaze briefly. Although an old, unidentified model, its dull metal and battle scars were more beautiful to her than any of the newer ships in the port. But still...
Acid sloshed in her stomach and her heart skipped a beat. She forced herself to look away from the old ship and back to the man. Her brother was only second-in-command, so the stakes had to be good for him to accept this mission. He would need to justify his decisions to the
