The air between them was thick with tension, charged with something neither of them had fully acknowledged yet. The faint hum of the boat's steam engine vibrated beneath their feet, but it felt distant, drowned out by the weight of the moment. Isobel stood a few steps away from the Debt Collector, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp, watching him carefully. He was just as unreadable as ever, his figure cast in shadow, leaning against the side of Emberwake. The night stretched around them, thick with quiet.
Isobel shifted slightly, her expression unreadable, before she broke the silence.
"Now, five minutes—"
The Debt Collector turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he studied her. A moment of pause passed between them before he spoke.
"Back at the castle, Nux, why did you let him get that close?"
Isobel froze, her gaze flickering as she tried to recall the event he was referring to. It took a moment, but then it clicked. The memory surfaced in a rush, and she straightened, her jaw tightening in response.
"I was standing my ground," she said evenly, her voice calm but sharp with resolve.
The Debt Collector's eyes stayed focused on her, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly as he considered her words.
"He was planning something else," he replied coolly. "I was watching."
Isobel's eyes narrowed, irritation flickering beneath the surface as she stepped closer. Her voice was sharp as she spoke.
"I assure you, if he went that far, I would've detached his head right from where he stood."
For a moment, the air around them seemed to thicken, as if the words had weight, and the tension hung in the balance. The Debt Collector's gaze didn't waver, and for the briefest of moments, a small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. But it was gone just as quickly as it appeared, hidden again behind his impassive expression. He didn't let her see it.
He turned to leave, but Isobel stepped forward, her voice cutting through the stillness.
"You still have—"
He stopped mid-step, his posture unchanged. He didn't turn fully around but offered her a half-acknowledging glance over his shoulder.
"I still have three minutes, but I'll save those for next time."
His voice was smooth, almost casual, and with a final glance, he gave her a thin, knowing smile before turning away. His footsteps were soft but purposeful as he walked into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as he had arrived.
Isobel stood still, her fists clenched at her sides, her eyes following him as he left. The anger simmered beneath the surface, but she held it in check. For now.
The castle is quiet tonight. The stone walls seem to hum with an energy of their own, as if they are holding secrets — or perhaps, waiting. The moonlight streams in through the narrow windows, casting long, cold shadows across the chamber. I stand by the tall, arched window, watching the night stretch out beyond the walls of the castle. Everything feels too still. A silence that's almost too perfect. But not for long.
Such incompetence in such professionalism, it irks me. How could I have trusted a simple task to a hunter, one who I knew was capable but ultimately distracted by the taste of control? Loose threads... imperfections... must be cut...
I turn away from the window, frustration bubbling under my skin. I can see now that for such levels of perfection to be within arm's reach, I need to do it myself.
I pace across the room, my boots clicking against the cold floor. The silence feels suffocating. I need results. I need action.
"Summon your captain, now," I command sharply, my voice low and cutting through the quiet.
The guard standing near the door bows his head without hesitation. His movement is swift, efficient. He knows what's at stake, even if he doesn't fully understand the depth of it.
As the guard leaves, I stand still for a moment, hands clasped behind my back. My mind races. This isn't the way I wanted it to go. The mistakes are becoming too many.
The door opens, and Captain Velanora steps in, her presence sharp and commanding as always.
"require my presence, Nux?" she asks, her voice calm, but there's something in the way she holds herself that tells me she knows the weight of what's happening.
"Gather all the actors, now, and make sure they're all restrained," I order, my gaze steady, unyielding.
Velanora doesn't flinch. She understands what I mean. Without a word, she turns and leaves to execute the task. She is efficient, and that is why I have chosen her.
If these citizens can't be persuaded through safety, then I'll do so through fear. Let them see the full reach of my hand. Let them see the price of disobedience.