Scavenge the Stars (Scavenge the Stars #1)(41)

“Don’t call me that.”

“Actually, I do have a lead for you. We picked up someone not too long ago who had counterfeit coins on him.”

“Who is it?” he urged.

She hesitated, a conflicted look on her face. “It’s probably not connected, but he was employed by your family until recently,” she admitted. “He claimed he was retired when we picked him up, though, so I doubt there’s anything there.”

“Employed? How?”

“He was the captain of a ship called the Brackish.”

Cayo frowned at the familiar name. The Brackish was like a ghost ship following him around, haunting him. “How many counterfeit coins did he have?”

“Just a dozen or so. Claimed he won them in the Vice Sector. There was no reason to think otherwise, and no hard evidence, so we had to let him go.”

Cayo nodded. “Thank you for the tip.” He stood up, preparing to leave.

“Cayo.” She hesitated, looking uncomfortable. “I’m sorry. About Soria. If there’s anything I can do…”

“Just promise there’ll be a fat reward for me when I bring the information you need.”

She huffed out a relieved laugh. “Deal.”



The best place to start, Cayo figured, was his father’s records. Kamon kept meticulous notes on all of his employees, and information about the Brackish’s captain would surely be in there.

Mercado Manor was eerily quiet as he padded down the hall to his father’s office. Cayo was used to seeing maids scurry about and hearing the sounds of the kitchen staff preparing the day’s meals, as well as Miss Lawan’s voice as she instructed Soria on subjects like poetry, arithmetic, and etiquette. All they had now was a cook who only came to make dinners; the carriage driver; and the footman, Narin.

Narin had been on his father’s list of those to let go, but the man had been in the Mercados’ employ ever since Cayo could remember. Instead, Narin had offered to take a reduced pay, which Cayo found distinctly unfair given the fact that he also had to help take care of Soria now that Miss Lawan was gone.

When Cayo peeked into his sister’s room, he was shocked—and elated—to find her sitting by the window instead of in bed, a pamphlet open on her lap. Narin was preparing tea for her and nodded in greeting to Cayo when he walked in. Soria turned her head and smiled weakly.

“You’re up early. Oh,” she said, noticing his party clothes, “or should I say, you’re up late.”

“It’s been a long night.” But strangely, he didn’t feel tired—his deal with Nawarak had given him new energy. He bent down and kissed the top of her head, briefly feeling the heat that radiated off her. “What are you reading?”

“The new designs coming in for next season. Look at this.” She practically shoved the pamphlet under his nose. “This is an unconscionable amount of lace.”

Cayo swept his eyes over the dress in question, wrinkling his nose. She was right—much too much lace when a simple satin sash would work better. Then he noted the designer. “Well, what else do you expect from Girald? He wouldn’t know fashion if it rose out of the sea and bit his backside.”

Soria giggled as Narin set her tea before her. It wasn’t her usual Kharian black, but some swampy-green brew that smelled like grass.

“A message came for you, my lord,” Narin said, handing him a small envelope. The seal of red wax was stamped with a curly Y. Cayo broke it with his thumb and pulled out the paper inside.

“Who is it from?” Soria asked.

“Countess Yamaa.” He narrowed his eyes at the elegant script, a blush heating his face at the reminder of their encounter last night. “She wants to meet at Laelia Teahouse later today.”

Soria gasped. “I’ve wanted to go there for months!”

“Well, don’t be too jealous. The countess is…ah…” Really, what word could best describe her? “Eccentric.”

“I want to meet her,” she whined. “And drink tea that doesn’t taste like bathwater. Not that you don’t make excellent tea, Narin.” The footman gave an amused half bow. “But why does the countess want to see you? Do you think she’s taken a liking to you?”

He choked. “Absolutely not.” Not after all the things I said about her—to her face. “I might not even go. Now come on, drink your bathwater.”

Cayo encouraged Soria to keep taking sips of the medicinal tea as they went through the pamphlet together, dog-earing their favorite pieces even though they both knew they could no longer afford them. For the first time, Cayo noticed a ring on her finger, a band of green rock.

“Where did you get that?” he asked, worried that she’d recently bought it.

“This?” She glanced at the ring. “It’s been in my jewelry box for forever. I think Father gave it to me as a present a few years ago.”

He deflated in relief. “Oh. Good.” Before, the purchase of a ring would have been of little consequence. Now it sent panic coursing through his veins.

Eventually, Soria’s energy flagged and she went into a coughing fit. Cayo and Narin helped her back to bed, where she fell into a light doze. Cayo kissed her forehead and stole into his father’s office, determined to find a lead that would help her.