Roads unknown

I R I S She snickered at his comment, ”So say the great philosophers.” He wasn’t a mercenary, but used correspondingly dark humor. Iris entangled her fingers in her hair, tugging on the strands just like the velvety strings of her dress. She knew they would reach this hill eventually. Common sense dictated that she wouldn’t risk the whole endeavor by underpaying her smuggler. But Jack didn’t know if she had any sense, yet. ”You do both or you get nothing.” The statement was firm. ”As for me slipping up,” she let a clipped and brazen laugh interrupt her, ”Better worry about yourself, Jack.” She’d practiced avoiding the Acquarones’ scornful gazes for the better part of her life, as if in preparation for a final escape. ”All jobs carry risks.” A decidedly vague statement. She sighed. ”This one hangs on you keeping your mouth shut. If you speak so much as a word about this meeting, having met me, or any details of the job itself – you put yourself at risk. There’s also the matter of Erasmus’ bloodhound.” This was the point where her hopes could sink like an anchor. They all hung on the smuggler’s daring. ”My father is good at finding the things you care about and using them against you.” Iris imagined the Ark in flames, lighting up the port like a small sun. ”You’d gain a rival and lose property.” Probably some men, depending on how he handled it. Maybe a limb. She still stood to lose much more. ”On the other hand,” she started with a coy smile, abandoning any harshness in her tone and letting it melt into that seductive look that promised reward. Was it just a method of coercion, or the surfacing of greedy pleasure that erupted from the thought of bridges she was to leave in flames? It was hard to tell. She untangled her fingers from chestnut hair as thoughts strayed away from all the complications, and closed the distance between them, gently reaching for the smooth surface of the emerald in his ear. ”If you do well, you’ll be getting your hands on one of the Acquarone stashes. A considerably heavy load. You’ll find jewels to outshine this one.” She was a bundle of emotions. After all, she never felt quite as much than when she was doing something she wasn’t supposed to.