Epilogue
A month later, as the setting sun was finally giving way to full night, a small skiff called The Triumph waited at Moor Spires. On the deck were two men, Linus and his brother Drew, who were watching to the west.
“There,” Drew said, pointing, “They’re coming. Right on time, like always. I knew they would.”
“I owe you five, then. I’ll bet you double or nothing that they deliver a ransom demand instead of Nita.”
“You’ve got a real dark streak, Linus.”
When it was low enough, Linus and Drew were able to see that it held not one person but two. The first was Lil, wearing a mildly ill-fitting dress of elegant Calderan design. The other was Nita, outfitted in her standard work clothes.
“Drew! I’m so glad to find you here! I was afraid I would have to wait until after your shift!” Nita called down as the gig continued to lower down to the water.
“I traded shifts. I wanted to get you away from these people as soon as possible,” Drew said. He looked to Lil. “No offense.”
“Aw heck. I’m pretty sure the bad influence went both ways, Mister,” Lil replied.
Nita leapt from the gig a few feet before it reached the water and landed in the skiff. “How has everything been since I’ve been gone?”
“Well, the foreman is pretty sore you took your relief time for the whole year at once without notice, but no one seems to think anything much of your sudden trip otherwise. You’ve always been a little impulsive.”
“And my mother?”
“I understand she’s been holding on, but your sister says she’s in a bad way.”
“You got the medicine?”
“I did. And I’ve got to get to my mother. The sooner she gets it the better.”