Page 39 of A Thief to Die For

I watch him leave, not feeling any closure. I think I’d really like to know where he was on August fifteenth, sixteen years ago.

That afternoon, in the High Command, I find the Commander slumped in his chair, eyes heavy and glazed, unmistakably hungover. In comparison, his advisor – Coatl – looks like he’d sell his dignity for a thumbs up. Marian stands in her usual spot along the side wall.

As much as I need this deal done yesterday, I’m not mad about the Commander’s condition. Stalling means time for Sam and Levi to find a better option. And for me to convince the Commander a coal deal is better than invasion.

‘Marian, I wanted to say thank you for the enchanting time at the waterfall yesterday.’ I smile, playing it up. Last night, the Commander practically threw her at me, and if he wants her close, I’m happy to oblige.

Something calculating enters her eyes. ‘You’re welcome. It was so … romantic.’

I raise an intrigued eyebrow, as my stomach dips. Now, I’m thinking about Marian and Romance.

‘Really?’ the Commander asks. His eyes lift with interest for the first time since I arrived.

‘Yes,’ she says. ‘Ryland picked me wildflowers. Unfortunately, it was too loud at the waterfall, and we weren’t able to do much talking.’

I bite back a smirk. ‘That was unfortunate,’ I agree. ‘Which is why we should do it again.’

A sound of surprise emerges from her throat.

‘This time we could go somewhere quieter. Perhaps take a walk. Or maybe we could attempt a swim, since I’ve secured the proper swimwear.’ Her gaze flares with amusement, and it’s like a drug in my blood. ‘How does tonight sound?’ Her mask is uncrackable, except for her eyes, which I think I know intimately now after our staring game.

‘But I thought you told me you didn’t know how to swim?’ she counters.

‘Oh, I know how to swim.’ I cock my head. ‘You’ve seen me, remember?’

Colour blooms on her cheeks at being called out on spying, and the fact that she can’t hide it from me has me grinning like an idiot.

‘Enough,’ the Commander snaps. ‘My head hurts from all this talking. I called you here for a reason.’

My gaze flicks back to Marian.

‘I’ve got business at the Lower Beaver Trading Post. I’ll be gone two days,’ he grumbles. ‘So, you can take my offer or leave. I want twenty head of cattle or the equivalent for every wagon of coal.’

Twenty head? We traded our coal for ten per cent of that.

‘And no deal without your settlement name and location. For trust reasons, of course.’

Naturally. A slow, seething anger begins to boil in my gut. I knew he’d try to do us dirty, but this isn’t even in the realm of a possible deal. It’s a slap in the face.

And yet we can’t walk away.

‘Your hesitation tells me you’re not going to take advantage of my generosity. Fine.’ The Commander sounds unconcerned. ‘We’re done here. Coatl, have him removed.’

‘Whoa, whoa, whoa,’ I rush to say, then flash Coatl a look, letting him know he’ll lose that hand if he touches me. He stands down. ‘I thought this was a negotiation. Do I not get to make a counteroffer?’

The Commander rubs his forehead. ‘Like what?’

I exhale, wishing he wasn’t on the verge of puking – he won’t have the patience to go back and forth. ‘Our offer is …’ Going to be worlds away from what he wants. I grimace. ‘We’ll match you wagon for wagon of wheat and a second grain of your choice.’

Coatl barks a laugh.

‘I’m not done,’ I say loudly, even though I should be. ‘If you agree to my offer, we’ll give you a one-time gift of a water system – a gravity-fed water tower that will provide you with running well water from an elevated reservoir to one location.’

Marian gasps quietly. Coatl’s wide eyes grow wider.

‘You have your own lodge, do you not?’ I ask. ‘Imagine a water line to that.’

The Commander straightens, intrigued. ‘You have the old-world materials to give me running water? Pipes? A holding tank?’