Chapter Text
The road was long and winding. It had been years since she had seen so many people, well, normal people. She felt uncomfortable on the wooden planks of the humble cart driven by the messenger who was taking her there. In front of her, the indistinct sea crashed against the rocks below the shore.
The cart stopped at a crossroads and turned onto the second path, the one that descended toward the coast.
The driver gestured for her to get down.
"We’re not there yet."
"No, but I’m not going any farther. Continue on foot."
"You were paid to take me to my destination."
"That’s a shame. Get off."
Sure.
She climbed down carefully and grabbed the white flowered bag and the suitcase before the driver could take the reins of the donkey. The gunshot rang out sharp and dull, tearing several boards loose at the back of the cart and leaving a hole in the wood. The noise was enough to startle the animal, which bolted forward in panic.
The driver froze for a second. He looked at the girl, then at the fleeing donkey, and ran after it.
She slipped the pistol back into the holster hidden at the knot of her waist, adjusted the bag over her shoulder, and continued down the road with the suitcase in hand.
Farther down, the path opened directly onto the beach. Just as the driver had said, the road was lined with shabby bars and rundown inns. She approached the one that looked slightly better than the rest and asked about the house she was heading to.
As she spoke, the murmur inside the place seemed to dim just a little, not enough for anyone else to notice, but enough for her. Maybe she was being paranoid.
She left the bar and resumed her walk. It was not far. From the beach, the house was already visible through the vegetation. She walked a few more minutes, convinced she was alone again.
The air tightened.
A chill ran down her spine and she drew immediately, aiming at whoever stood behind her.
The man did not seem disturbed. He was tall, dark-skinned, with black hair and a V-shaped scar on his neck.
"Whoa, there’s no need for that."
"What do you want?"
"Ma’am, I don’t mean to bother you, but you should go back to town. It’s not safe for you to be here. Hey, wait."
She did not listen. She kept walking, leaving him behind, her brow furrowed, the weapon lowered but ready.
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Vista POV
He had arrived on the island that very morning. Normally, the crew did not bother with places like this, but it was too close to other islands under their control. Strategically, leaving it unattended would be a mistake.
The problem was the noble.
He had business dealings with the Tenryubito. No one knew under what terms, but the last thing they needed was a vice admiral sniffing around the island. Vista’s task was to investigate and, if necessary, eliminate him.
In theory, that should have been someone else’s job. Someone more diplomatic.
Vista had always been diligent and competent, but not being chosen as one of the four commanders Pops had recently appointed bothered him more than he was willing to admit. They had chosen Marco. Marco, of all people, and as the first commander. His silent sulking over the past few weeks had landed him straight into the most unpleasant mission Pops could find, meant to straighten him out.
That was when he saw her, in the bar.
Too well dressed to be a customer. She asked about the man he was looking for and left quickly. Vista followed a few minutes later.
"Wait."
"Go back the way you came. This land is private property."
"Look, you should just go home. This place is..."
Vista tilted his head as the shots flew past him. He had not been expecting that.
"I’m trying to be polite. Go back to town."
"I’m working, and you’re on private property. Do me a favor and leave."
He did not like the way she spoke to him, as if she were above him.
"Working?"
"I’m a maid on the estate. I don’t have permission to speak with outsiders."
She emphasized the word by moving the gun slowly from head to toe, without pointing it directly at him.
The mansion door opened.
They were still far away, but the smell of wine carried through the air.
"There you are, lass. I’ve been waiting for you for hours. Get inside at once and get to work."
She picked up her luggage and went inside without answering.