the one.”
She began sharpening a different blade. “What was in this package?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea. Kason doesn’t seem to know, either.”
“What did it look like?”
He held out his hands. “About this big.” When she didn’t look up, he continued. “A small metal box, each side no more than a half-meter.”
“Intriguing,” she said. “But we both know you didn’t come here to talk about my secret admirer.”
“It’s about the delivery penalty,” he began. “We docked this evening. We’re ready to unload now. Waive the penalty fee, and let us unload tonight.”
She looked up. “You know I can’t do that. If I did that for you, every runner would ask for the same leniency. Before you know it, the runners’ union will demand no fees. Every runner will get lazy, and Ice Port won’t get its deliveries on time. When deliveries are late, people starve. You unload in the morning, and you get a thirty percent penalty.”
Reyne swallowed. “With that penalty, I don’t break-even. I need to pay my crew.”
“You also need to pay your rent and docking fees. You’re two months late on both. One more week, and I’m renting your place out to someone else.”
“Vym, come on.”
“I hear you also need to repair your ship.” She walked around her desk and headed straight toward Boden. Reyne’s tall mechanic visibly tensed.
She ran her hands over Boden’s biceps before letting them settle on his hips. Reyne winced for Boden’s obvious discomfort.
She smiled. “Tell me, Tren. Who’s your favorite stationmaster?”
“You are, Lady Patel,” he replied glumly.
She slapped his butt and smiled. “I always love how you address me as though I were a citizen.”
She took a step back, and her smile faded. “But I’m not a citizen and never will be. We’re colonists. A simple label that makes us less worthy than a privileged few because of the land on which we were born.”
She returned to her desk and took a seat. “Tren, what repairs are needed?”
Boden began counting on his fingers. “The stern has a breach. One of the nav engines is shot. The gear for the solar sails is sticking. The air converter overheated because I had to run it at max all the way back. Those are the critical issues, for starters. I have a long list on non-critical repairs needed.”
“Those are costly repairs, and any single one of them grounds you.” She looked at Reyne. “I’ve seen your bank accounts. After all, I am your banker. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Reyne clenched his jaw shut to not snap back a retort.
She resumed sharpening her blades. “I’m feeling generous. I’ll fix your ship, Reyne. Not only that, but I’ll also have it ready for you in three days.”
Reyne’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever your deal is, I doubt I can afford it.”
She smirked. “We both know that you can’t afford to not accept my deal, regardless of what it is. I’m not even asking you to do anything illegal. In fact, I’m giving you and your crew the chance to help the fringe in a way you’ve always wanted.”
He cocked his head. “What’s the deal?”
“I want you to speak with someone.”
He laughed aloud. “You’ll fix the Gryphon in exchange for me to talk to someone? That’s all?”
She gave a thin smile and nodded. “That’s all.”
His eyes narrowed. “Who?”
“An old friend of yours.”
“ Who ?”
Her smile grew wide. “Critch.”
All expression leeched from his face. “ No .”
“Consider it an opportunity to reconnect with an old friend.”
He shook his head. “No way, Vym. We both know I’m a dead man the second I walk through his door.”
She shook her head. “He and I have an understanding. Besides, you are kindred spirits. You’ve both always been after the same thing. You remember what that is, don’t you?”
Reyne swallowed. “I remember, but that was a long time ago.”
“Not so long ago, and things haven’t changed.”
“I know
She began sharpening a different blade. “What was in this package?”
He shrugged. “I have no idea. Kason doesn’t seem to know, either.”
“What did it look like?”
He held out his hands. “About this big.” When she didn’t look up, he continued. “A small metal box, each side no more than a half-meter.”
“Intriguing,” she said. “But we both know you didn’t come here to talk about my secret admirer.”
“It’s about the delivery penalty,” he began. “We docked this evening. We’re ready to unload now. Waive the penalty fee, and let us unload tonight.”
She looked up. “You know I can’t do that. If I did that for you, every runner would ask for the same leniency. Before you know it, the runners’ union will demand no fees. Every runner will get lazy, and Ice Port won’t get its deliveries on time. When deliveries are late, people starve. You unload in the morning, and you get a thirty percent penalty.”
Reyne swallowed. “With that penalty, I don’t break-even. I need to pay my crew.”
“You also need to pay your rent and docking fees. You’re two months late on both. One more week, and I’m renting your place out to someone else.”
“Vym, come on.”
“I hear you also need to repair your ship.” She walked around her desk and headed straight toward Boden. Reyne’s tall mechanic visibly tensed.
She ran her hands over Boden’s biceps before letting them settle on his hips. Reyne winced for Boden’s obvious discomfort.
She smiled. “Tell me, Tren. Who’s your favorite stationmaster?”
“You are, Lady Patel,” he replied glumly.
She slapped his butt and smiled. “I always love how you address me as though I were a citizen.”
She took a step back, and her smile faded. “But I’m not a citizen and never will be. We’re colonists. A simple label that makes us less worthy than a privileged few because of the land on which we were born.”
She returned to her desk and took a seat. “Tren, what repairs are needed?”
Boden began counting on his fingers. “The stern has a breach. One of the nav engines is shot. The gear for the solar sails is sticking. The air converter overheated because I had to run it at max all the way back. Those are the critical issues, for starters. I have a long list on non-critical repairs needed.”
“Those are costly repairs, and any single one of them grounds you.” She looked at Reyne. “I’ve seen your bank accounts. After all, I am your banker. You’re not going anywhere anytime soon.”
Reyne clenched his jaw shut to not snap back a retort.
She resumed sharpening her blades. “I’m feeling generous. I’ll fix your ship, Reyne. Not only that, but I’ll also have it ready for you in three days.”
Reyne’s eyes narrowed. “Whatever your deal is, I doubt I can afford it.”
She smirked. “We both know that you can’t afford to not accept my deal, regardless of what it is. I’m not even asking you to do anything illegal. In fact, I’m giving you and your crew the chance to help the fringe in a way you’ve always wanted.”
He cocked his head. “What’s the deal?”
“I want you to speak with someone.”
He laughed aloud. “You’ll fix the Gryphon in exchange for me to talk to someone? That’s all?”
She gave a thin smile and nodded. “That’s all.”
His eyes narrowed. “Who?”
“An old friend of yours.”
“ Who ?”
Her smile grew wide. “Critch.”
All expression leeched from his face. “ No .”
“Consider it an opportunity to reconnect with an old friend.”
He shook his head. “No way, Vym. We both know I’m a dead man the second I walk through his door.”
She shook her head. “He and I have an understanding. Besides, you are kindred spirits. You’ve both always been after the same thing. You remember what that is, don’t you?”
Reyne swallowed. “I remember, but that was a long time ago.”
“Not so long ago, and things haven’t changed.”
“I know
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