Free Master of Myth (The Antigone's Wrath Series Book 1) by Starla Huchton Page A

exciting.”
    “Did you find a ship to take us to Singapore?”
    Silas stood and stretched. “Possibly. There’s a ban on all travel past India right now, but I’ve got a lead on one that might take us, Port Control be damned.”
    “Which one?”
    He grinned and shrugged his shoulders as Eddie looked up at him. “I’ve no idea. She wasn’t very forthcoming with details, and her captain might not even allow us on board.”
    “That doesn’t sound very promising, or even very safe. Isn’t it breaking the law to leave without permission? How do you know she’s not a Port Control agent looking for people acting against the ban?”
    “How does she know I’m not?”
    Eddie got up with an exasperated sigh. “You know, for someone with all this experience, you would think you’d be more suspicious of people. You don’t know anything about this woman but trust her completely?”
    “I didn’t say that.”
    “But you didn’t deny it either.”
    Silas crossed his arms and studied the fifteen-year-old carefully. “You think you know so much, hm? What do you know of land travel across India?”
    “Uh, nothing, Mr. Jensen.”
    “Well, I do. And I would do anything to avoid it.” He gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “Our options are limited. Even if it’s risky, I would rather chance this than put my bets on the overland route.”
    Eddie shook his head. “Where are you supposed to meet her?”
    “A public house down the way.” He made a general sweeping motion with his hand. “But not for several hours. I thought perhaps we’d get the luggage stowed somewhere and see a bit of the city before then. Are you hungry? There are some delicious smelling cafes not too far away.”
    A well-timed rumble from Eddie’s stomach gave him his answer, and he laughed loudly. “Looks like lunch it is.” Silas clapped him on the back. “Let’s have our belongings taken care of, shall we?”

    Danton frowned at the paper in his hand. “ Non . This won’t do at all. There’s considerable risk involved here, and this would barely cover normal transport costs.” He was irritated. This merchant acted as though a shipment to Singapore from La Rochelle should cost the same as if it were going to Egypt. “You’ve wasted my time. Go find yourself a fool to take your offer seriously.”
    He left the man there, mouth agape at the way he’d been treated. Danton grew more and more agitated as the day wore on. This was the third person that tried this nonsense with him. His sources from the black market were apparently having an off day. They hadn’t recommended a single useful thing to him. He decided he would try one more time, and if that fell through, he would give up and let Iris work her end of it. He had no idea how she managed it, but that woman could get a full cargo bay at one hundred and fifty percent the normal going rate whenever he was unable to find half that.
    Danton was certain she was using some sort of Aether Manipulation to do so, but could never prove such a thing. Nor would he want to. The penalty for being caught using magic was steep, and he had no desire to bring that on her, Rachel, or anyone else aboard Antigone’s Wrath . And he did genuinely like Iris, but he thought that, from time to time, she was a bit too involved in her “hobbies.” If she continued as she was, it would only be a matter of time before groups like the Brotherhood or government agencies looking for illegal magical activities noticed her and took action. For the most part, she was discreet and he found no need to intervene.
    He turned his attention back to the matter of cargo. They needed something to take to Singapore. Apparently, the blockade was new and most were only now learning of it. The demand for transporting goods hadn’t caught up with reality yet. They might have to postpone their trip until there was more panic about the travel suspension. It always took the merchant community a stupidly long time to comprehend the