Page 135 of The Last Hope
I clench down on my teeth. “If it can acquire a roof for us, it’s worth—”
“I’ll never get another bottle,” Stork interrupts. “It comes from President Freycastle’s stash.” Those words are a signal, one that I catch.
Stork’s liquor is a human scotch.
While I don’t know where he acquired the flask, I do know that President Freycastle governs over this country in Saltare-1, and Stork has never stepped foot onto this planet until this mission. There’s no possibility he stole it from Freycastle. I recognize the lie.
Stork’s anger is a fabrication to make the liquor appear more valuable.Clever.I play along, my mouth falling open in shock. “How?”
Stork rubs his lips. “It was a gift. In exchange for being entertainment for the night. A Fast-Tracker dartboard. Her guests loved it.”
Bollow lets out a long angry noise. “Influentials have no right…” He stares at the flask, a little more interested than before.
I hold the flask up, feigning sympathy. “I’m so sorry,” I say softly. “I’m going to have to retract the offer. I can’t give this to you.” I go to pass the flask to Stork.
“Heya! Wait a second,” Bollow says quickly. “Let’s not make any rash decisions.”
“It’s worth more than two thousand bills,” Stork seethes.
Bollow crosses his arms over his chest. “Two days,” he counters. “Heya, that’s better than one night.”
“Four days,” I counter. That’ll keep a roof over our heads for the rest of the holiday.
Bollow lets out an agitated sigh. “Fine. For theentireflask.”
“You have a de—”
“Wait.” Bollow narrows his eyes at me. “How do I know that flask isn’t filled with piss or ale… or both?”
I hold it out. “Take a sip, see for yourself. It’s nothing like you’ve ever tasted.”
He reaches for the flask. “Well, I’ve never tasted piss,” he says and takes the drink. Putting it to his lips, he swigs.
I watch as he frowns deeply.
He licks his lips and then stares at the flask with a pinpointed gaze. “What’d ya know. It tastes like gold.” He laughs loudly and then nods to me. “You’ve got yourself four days.”
I watch as he skips off, singing to the gods as he downs more.
My pulse finally settles to a normal rhythm, and Stork says to me, “Glad you finally picked up on it, mate.”
“I’d have been quicker if I thought you were capable of a ruse.”
Stork smiles. “Sounds like an insult, but I’m going to take that as a compliment.”
It was one.
As the others enter the house barge, I tell Kinden to hang back.
That I have to talk.
The waves thrash against the nearby rocks and wind whips through my hair. I can taste the salt in the air and smell the mold as Franny and Mykal walk farther into the house. She knows what I’m about to do.
Mykal doesn’t.
But he’ll be okay with it.
I know he will.
