Page 20 of Suffer No Fools
Efren and Vadim were Stan's two oldest friends, though. They'd weathered plenty of storms together. This would be one more.
"Have you started sword training yet?" Vadim asked Hugo.
Fuck. Yet another thing that had slipped Stan's mind.
"We've gone through some basics." Stan glanced at Tovey, who shot him a quizzical look.
"Yes," he said. "Basics."
"Grip," Tovey continued, and Hugo made a strangled sound in his throat. "Posture. We're starting with practice swords tomorrow."
Stan could feel Vadim's glare through Niall and Olivia, but he kept his head down and took another bite of stew.
"I'll grab them from my trunk," Vadim said finally.
"Thank you." Hugo started to stand, but Klaus shoved him back to the bench.
"Eat. It's much more important for you to eat to regain your strength."
Once Vadim left the galley, Klaus and Hugo dissolved into laughter. "Gods, if he smells you, he'll kill us all."
"What's going on?" Efren asked.
"Nothing, Captain!" Hugo's voice was bright and full of joy, exactly what Stan had been hoping to bring him. Only now, it seemed like it would cost Stan everything.
Efren turned his glare back on Stan. "Hurry up."
Stan finished his bowl and followed Efren out, leaving their dishes on Tim's counter as they passed. Vadim met them at the door, wooden practice swords in hand. He met Stan's gaze for a heartbeat, but it was enough. Vadim had weighed his heart against a feather and found him wanting.
"What have you done?" he asked.
Klaus hopped to his feet and took the swords from Vadim in one swift movement and shut the galley door between them. Then, Efren and Vadim shoved Stan farther into the hallway and paraded him across the deck.
"I'll be there in a minute," Vadim called up to Olivia.
She glanced over the navigation deck's railing at their procession and her eyes widened. "Take as long as you need."
"This is fucking silly," Stan said.
Efren scooted between his bed and the map table, and Vadim stood at the door at Stan's back. With no other place to stand, Stan huddled in the corner with his back against the wall so he could see them both.
"What are your intentions with Hugo?" Vadim asked before Efren opened his mouth.
"Bring him joy, as you asked."
Instead of the angry meltdown Stan expected, Vadim grinned. "See? I told you. This is my fault, not Stan's."
"Gods, Vadim." Efren rested his elbows on the table and rubbed his forehead with both hands. "How much did we bet, again?"
"Bet?" Stan glanced at Vadim, who was now bent over the table, laughing.
"Five gold. I'm still paying it to you, though. I know Petri's taking every renovation out of your coffers, when it should be mine."
"Bet?" Stan shouted.
Vadim turned toward him and clasped his shoulder. "I believed in you and Tovey. Efren," he jutted his chin at the captain, "thought you would wait until landfall."
"I thought they would honor our fucking deal." There was no heat in Efren's voice, though, and Stan relaxed.
