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G

ideon opened up an eye when he heard the handle to his bedroom turn. He saw it open and a young girl slipped in. He hadn’t thought that the Duke was the kind of man to send guests. He didn’t particularly like a girl to entertain them. The girl didn’t have a weapon so she wasn’t sent to kill him either.

Gideon closed his eyes so he saw only through his eyelashes as the girl crouched by his bed and shook him awake. He opened his eyes but didn’t move.

She whispered, “Are you really a dragon?”

Gideon nodded his head slightly. Curious about the girl. The girl let out a breath of relief. “You need to get me out of here. I thought the Duke was a good guy but he is really trying to take over the throne and he is going to use me. My aunt is the Empress.”

Gideon asked, “Hermia?”

“You know who I am?” Her voice was a mixture of hope and surprise.

“The Emperor sent us here to get you out. Come.” Gideon got out of the bed. Hermia stumbled back, surprised by his movement. Gideon had on pyjama pants. He had purchased them for when he slept in Hara’s bed. She wasn’t ready for him to be naked. But since they were in enemy territory, he had thought clothes in bed might be a good idea. He didn’t add a shirt or even shoes as he went to the connecting door.

Hermia frowned and asked, “Who are you taking me to?”

Gideon pointed to one brand on his shoulder. “My mate is in the other room. She will know how to get you out of here without much trouble.”

Hermia asked, “Your mate?”

He nodded. “She is the Captain of the Blazing Blunderbuss. She will sort things out.”

Hermia looked worried and he glanced at her with his hand on the handle of the door. He frowned at her creased brow and asked, “What are you worried about?”

She cleared her throat a little. “She won’t mind that there was a girl in your room while you are... well, almost naked?”

Gideon flashed a brief grin. “Oh, I really do hope she minds.”

He didn’t let her reply to that before he opened the door and went through. Hara was still awake. She was drawing some designs at the small writing desk. She was muttering to herself and put up a hand to indicate that they should wait. Gideon didn’t mind. He also liked to be left alone whenever he was working. He rocked back and forth on his heels and put his hands in his pockets.

Hermia asked in a whisper, “Is she angry that you just barged in?”

Gideon almost laughed at the concept. “Unlikely. Annoyed? Maybe, but I barge in all the time. She is pretty when she argues so sometimes I do things to annoy her.”

Hara said without looking up, “Your breathing annoys me.”

She finished what she was working on and stood up. She looked at Hermia up and down and Gideon said, “This is the girl we came to retrieve.”

Hara raised an eyebrow. “I gathered that. I know you like to collect things but you don’t usually bring girls to my room. Unless you want her for our crew.”

Gideon brightened at this suggestion and turned to study the noble woman a little closer. She dressed in a simple gown so she wasn’t the kind that liked to dress up to the nines. She really wasn’t suited for Demetrius, who still complained about the clothes Alice had rummaged up for him.

Gideon asked, “That is a good idea. We are shorthanded. Are you good at anything?”

Hermia stared at him as if he had grown another head by asking such a personal question.

Hara said, “Surely this could wait for later. We need to get out of here with the girl and the sooner the better.”

Gideon shrugged. They could find out later what the girl was good at as he had a feeling she would be a good crew member.

Hara asked, “Have they been keeping you locked up?”

Hermia shook her head. “The Duke has been playing nice. He wants to seduce me as he doesn’t have any clergy in his pocket yet. Though I bet soon he will turn to threats if I don’t come around fast enough for him. But that does mean I get to move around freely. Though since you have arrived there have been a lot of soldiers around that weren’t there before. They have been keeping a close watch on me. I had to sneak out.”

“How long before they realise you are missing?”

“Not long.” Hara looked at Gideon and he nodded. Now was better than later, as far as he was concerned.

He asked, “You want me to put on a distraction. Say twenty minutes?”

“Yes. West wall, thank you. See you on the ship.”

He leaned forward and kissed her on Hara’s cheek before he headed back toward his room. “See you on the ship, sweetheart.”

Hara grumbled. “I hate it when you call me sweetheart.”

He turned and backed out of the room with his hand on his chest, as if she had pierced him through his heart. Hara returned his smile briefly before she turned back to Hermia and Gideon could hear them setting out plans as he dressed.