Read Online Missing Elements (The Lament Book 3) by P.S. Power - Free Book Online Page A

wanted.
    "You have something in
mind?"
    There was a pause, and a smile
then. A bit of a crafty look to his face, too. Then he glanced over to the
side, where a woman that seemed to be in her late twenties sat. Twyla, his
First Mate. She glanced over and nodded, smiling as she did it, whatever that
meant.
    The man did the dealing however, since
that was his job.
    "Well... My daughter here is
getting married in two days, to Paul Marwick, of The Lament. It might be nice
to have a Bard playing for the party after, if that could be done?"
    Pran nearly made a face at him,
since it was just about a stupid thing to say. She understood that he wanted a
player at no cost, but Bard Benjamin would do it for free without even batting
an eye, she bet. Paul was a friend of his, and a shipmate, and had been for
nearly a year.
    Of course his playing on lute and
guitar was twangy on the high notes. It didn't mean he was awful ,
but that could be a factor.
    "I'll do it, if you want? I
don't know if either of you have heard me play. I can audition for you, if you
want?" That was pretty normal, when you were just starting out. Twyla
clapped once though, which got a sharp look from the room.
    Then she grinned.
    "No need, Bard Pran. I heard
you about two months ago. Just don't play that Guardian song and it's a
bargain! Paul will be happy, you're one of his favorites. He mentioned that to
me once."
    It made sense that they would
have met up as often as possible, if they were arranging to get married. They
were both kind of old for it, since most did that at about seventeen to twenty,
but they were also both on a rather career driven track. As Firsts on their
ships, either one was actually trained up to become a Captain. That would be
when the real money came in, she bet.
    That got a grudging nod from
Jacques, who didn't seem to really want his little girl mad at him over her wedding.
Pran smiled at the idea, but reached out to shake on the bargain. That would
make it seem more real to the man, she hoped.
    "Good, let me make sure all
of that is firmed up and see what else I can get going? I have four days... Can
we get a message to The Sorrow about all of this in time?" She knew they
could, but you weren't supposed to go around calling out about radios. For all
she knew those were only allowed to be used in emergencies anyway. This little
situation with some dyes probably wouldn't count.
    The man grumped at her a little,
but smiled over at his daughter at the end of it, which made him seem a lot
nicer, somehow. Even if it wasn't directed at her.
    "I'll handle that. Get what
you have ready for me tomorrow or the day after, though. I suppose I need to
get with Terry Prine over in Energy and see about getting her to pay cost for
once? That woman can squeeze a turnip until blood runs, I swear."
    Pran shook her head.
    "Standard rate. It's already
agreed upon. She's covering my agent fees on that side, too. It seems that she
really wants her daughter to come for the holidays. I imagine it will be her
daughter and a few others, even if that wasn't mentioned. I told her that they
had to expect to share crew quarters though. Especially if we have extra
officials going. Does that work for you? I mean, saving those agenting fees
will really sweeten the pot, with them not coming out of your end. Plus, no
haggling needed on your part. I'll handle all of that for you myself, so you
don't even have to talk to anyone you don't want to about this." It was
the least she could do, after all. Especially if she was going to steal forty
percent of the resale value of the goods, after taxes. That was good incentive
to stack the airship with as many government people as she could manage though,
wasn't it?
    There was a pleased laugh then
and a head shake.
    "That works for me then,
Bard. Now, go get that set up for me, and next time make sure you ask me
first, before coming in and pushing me around. I'll wear my dancing shoes, so
it's a fair fight." Then, as if any of that