The Pirates of Pacta Servanda (Pillars of Reality Book 4) by Jack Campbell

place at the same time,” Mari snapped. “Think about it.”
    “We just won a fight,” Alli pointed out. “Don’t you feel like celebrating?”
    “Not that way! Where are they doing this? Alain and I have been trying to find a private place on this ship since we left Altis! How did they find a private place when Alain and I couldn’t?”
    “You know how young lovers can be.”
    “Alain and I are young lovers! We’re both younger than Mage Asha or Mechanic Dav!”
    “But now you’re an old married couple,” Alli explained.
    “We’ve only been married for about a month. All right, a month and a half. That’s not
old
.” Mari gave Alain an accusing look. “Did you know about them?”
    “Did I know what about them?” Alain asked.
    Sometimes she wondered if Alain were truly that oblivious or if he just pretended to be unaware of human interaction. “Did you know that they were that interested in each other?” Mari asked patiently.
    “Not until this day, when Mage Asha made her interest so plain,” Alain said. “I recall a time that Asha discussed Mechanic Dav with you.”
    “She did,” Mari conceded. “At least, she asked if Dav was fair game and I said as far as I knew he was. I just hope she doesn’t hurt him. I like Asha, but she is still a Mage, taught to believe that other people don’t matter.”
    “Mages are taught that other people do not exist,” Alain corrected. “But I believe that Mage Asha…what is the word?”
    “I hope you’re not looking for the word love!”
    “No. Not yet, if I am to judge love by what I feel for you. Something less?”
    “She likes him?”
    “Yes,” Alain said. “I believe that Asha
likes
Mechanic Dav.”
    “Do she like him or does she
like
him like him?”
    Alain stared at Mari, openly conveying confusion. “I have no idea what you are asking.”
    “Is that because you’re a man or because you’re a Mage? Never mind. Who Asha takes up with is none of my business, as long as it’s not you.”
    “You know that Asha is not your rival in any way.”
    Mari shook her head, smiling to let him know she wasn’t really worried about Asha. “Alain, she’s the most beautiful woman anyone’s ever seen. She’s a few years older than me and a Mage like you. She’s even got a better rear end than I do.”
    “On that last you are absolutely wrong,” Alain said.
    “Sure. I’ll try to believe that.” Mari looked around the harbor again, at the city spreading beside it and up into the low hills beyond, at the forts and walls defending it, and wondered if she really was a descendant of Jules, who according to legend had been the first to see this harbor and who had founded this city. She felt a shiver born of some indefinable sensation and decided it must be nerves.
    “Alli and Bev,” Mari called. “We’d better shed the jackets so no one can tell we’re Mechanics. We need to get the supplies we require and then leave this port without any complications.”
    She pulled off her own jacket, wondering if the Syndari galleys would notify the city leaders of Julesport about who was riding on the
Gray Lady
in an attempt to claim the rewards, despite failing to capture Mari themselves. Or if the Mechanics Guild Hall and the Mages Guild Hall had taken note of the battle just outside the harbor.
    Mari didn’t make any comments when Mechanic Dav and Mage Asha eventually reappeared on deck, but both Alli and Bev began pestering Dav with mock concern, asking if he had been hurt in the fight and exactly where he had been and what he had been doing.
    By early afternoon the
Gray Lady
had tied up to an anchor buoy only about a thousand lances from the nearest pier. The captain immediately began negotiating with barges that came alongside offering food and water or transport ashore for the crew. The latter left disappointed, since no one planned to leave the
Gray Lady
.
    But Mari was quickly reminded that plans were what people made before they found out what the real