“Layela Delamores,” the soldier said, his voice young underneath a gasmask as grey as the rest of his uniform. “You are under arrest for attempting to leave Collar illegally.”
Metal cuffs bit deep into the skin of her wrists. Before she could regain her bearings, she was in a shuttle, buttressed by two soldiers, flying towards what she guessed was one of Collar’s many detention centres.
How had they found her? Did they have every smuggler on alert for a reward? Did they question Josmere? Were they watching the flower shop?
Questions assaulted her like a thousand needle pricks. Each small, but together more than she could handle.
The only thing of which she was now certain was that she had gravely underestimated her current importance to the Solarian Government.
i
“Very quaint,” Avienne grinned. The old, dull concrete building was a silent warrior against weather and the passing of time.
“I can’t believe it’s a flower girl,” Ardin replied, shaking his head. “I just can’t believe that a little flower girl would be worth so much!”
Avienne laughed and slapped her brother on the back. She was enjoying this mission. If the flower girl came willingly, she could maybe stock up on supplies afterwards. They could use a few choice items for the long journey ahead, and with the down payment, they could afford them.
She repressed a grin and looked sternly at her brother. “Ardin, it’s not just any flower girl. She’s a business owner!”
Ardin opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again and examined her closely.
Sweetly, she looked at him and smiled. “What?”
“What are you so happy about? You didn’t even want to come.”
She bent in and he jerked back as she kissed his cheek, sending her into ripples of laughter again. “You’re too suspicious, Ardin! It’s a nice day, and we’ve actually got some money, and if we finish this simple job, we can get more. It’s great!”
“It would be greater if Cailan allowed us to use more of the money to finish the mission, and if I believed this actually made you happy.”
Avienne looked at the front of the shop, crisscrossing metal bars protecting the beautiful blooms inside. She sighed and shook her head.
“It does make me happy, because maybe we’ll have heat and fresh food again, and maybe we’ll actually open some of the extra rooms again. And maybe this little flower girl will be grateful to us and help us revive our gardens. That would be nice, too.”
Ardin merely grunted in reply, making Avienne grin. She wished she could explain more to him, but feared that he wouldn’t understand. Maybe she could use her share of the profits to travel a bit, without the Destiny. Maybe she didn’t need to stay on the ancient ship with its ancient crew. And maybe, just maybe, her brother would choose to follow her, where they could have a home built of materials other than metal, metal as empty within as the space it protected the crew from.
Maybe.
“I hope this is worth it,” Ardin mumbled as he opened the door, and Avienne followed, smiling as dozens of scents soothed her senses. She wished she could comfort her brother, whose main concern was that this would lead to kidnapping. And Ardin, a man whose practicality was only challenged by romantic dreams of heroism, would not easily accept such behaviour from himself.
That’s why I’m here, she thought, resisting the urge to flip one of her knives. It wouldn’t do to let anyone know that she was armed with more than the one protective bullet allowed on Collar.
The shop was fairly busy, which surprised Avienne. Two customers milled by some large orange flowers, three more where some pink blooms seemed to glow.
Ardin looked around, and Avienne linked arms with him, satisfied at his slight groan. She dragged him towards some multi-coloured flowers, wondering if the strong honey smell emanated from them.
“May I help you?” a voice chimed behind them, and Avienne hoped victory stayed from her eyes. This was going to be too easy. All they had to do now was convince the little flower girl to come with them, or use a bit of force if necessary. That would have to be her contribution, of course! She fought her growing smile as she and Ardin turned around, holding back a curse as they came face to face with a Berganda.
“Are you the owner?” Ardin spat out in surprise. Avienne winced.
The Berganda’s smile did not falter, but Avienne saw something dangerous cross her green eyes. She looked down, seeing the regulation gloves safely secured. She had heard what those of the Berganda race could do with their touch, and did not intend to die at the hands of one.
“I’m sorry for my brother’s rudeness,” Avienne said, all smiles. “We’d just heard of a particular young woman gifted with plants.” Avienne glanced at the Berganda and gave a short, sweet laugh. “Although, I guess you would be great with them, too.”
The Berganda seemed to relax a little, but her smile was too unmoving, too frozen, for Avienne to let her defences down. She let her right hand fall casually at her side, where she hid a throwing knife at the belt of her pants, without a pause in her speech. The Berganda was either fooled or enjoying Avienne’s performance, and so she continued.
“What was her name? Lale Dem…no, more like Layla Moras?”
“Layela Delamores,” Ardin said bluntly. Avienne wanted to hit him.
“I guess that’s it,” Avienne said, hearing the strain in her own voice.
The Berganda’s eyes lit up at the name.
“She used to work here,” the Berganda said, her voice adopting the same sing-song quality as Avienne’s. “But she left to find rare Collarian flowers with her sisters Lale and Layla.”
Avienne groaned. The little Berganda was having fun with them.
“Excuse me,” the Berganda said, leaving them and turning her attention her customers. When the last three filed out with their colourful purchases, their glances sternly avoiding the
