"I need two pick kits, two bottles of grog, your best perfume, and some devil's whiskey."

The shopkeeper, a small unkempt man with thinning greasy hair, nodded until the last item. Hearing it, he stiffened. "We don't sell that here."

"Sure you don't, mate. Not to regular folk." Fenrin winked and pulled off his coat, lying it on the counter. "I also need to see your wardrobe collection." He pulled off his shirt, revealing the intricate pattern of tattoos that wove up from his elbows transforming at the shoulders in a bear on the right and a wolf on the left. Riley's eyes grew wide and then he shrugged.

"Clothes are through there." He pointed to a curtained doorway before entering the backroom to collect the requested items.

Fenrin rolled his shoulders. He may not want to be the Bear’s son or live under his shadow, but he wasn't above nepotism. He’d contributed to the reputation after all.

Although, this meant the already slim chance he'd make it through Taka without Lyra finding out was gone. He pushed that thought aside. What would she care anyway? With his plan, she'd assume it was about the ship.

After he had browsed the selection and chosen some items, Riley returned with two small wooden boxes and three bottles. "Find what you needed?" he asked and Fenrin grabbed the pile of clothes and followed the man to the counter dropping them there for Riley to tally.

"Fifteen and two for the lot."

Fenrin slapped the rest of Jayln's coin to the counter. The five gold and seven silver clinking pathetically. "This is what I got right now. You'll take it and be glad." The man looked ready to argue but Fenrin leaned in, his eyes dangerous and wild. "Or you can turn me away and be dead."

The man wavered, on the fence about standing his ground. He wasn't new to dangerous customers afterall. Fenrin straightened. "Besides, think of it as an investment. I haven't been to Taka in a long time, I need to pick some regular establishments."

The man shook his head but gave in, reaching for the clothes to bag them. Fenrin grabbed them first. "Don't bother, they're for immediate use. Riley, correct?"

"Yes, sir, Riley of Riley's Used Goods."

"Well, Riley, you have the thanks of Fenrin the Wolf. Feel free to advertise I was here, but I would warn you not to mention it for at least..." He did some quick calculations. "...six weeks."

Fenrin piled the clothes over one arm, tucking the boxes between them and his chest. The smaller bottle he carefully tucked in his shirt, holding the other two with his free hand. As soon as he emerged from the shop, he dumped the clothes into the unexpecting Jayln's arms.

"What the—"

"Hold those." Fenrin unstopped one bottle of rum and took a long draft, shook his head, and grinned. "Alright, let's find a room."

Jayln juggled the clothes and they started slipping off her arms. She cursed as Fenrin took off, whistling again. He stopped at a tavern. The Pale Siren. It was near the end of the docks, men already stumbling around drunk although it was still barely afternoon. Fenrin strode in and Jayln followed after awkwardly with her pack and armful of clothes.

Fenrin rapped the counter and a waifish girl floated over. "Yessir?"

"A room, end of a hall if possible—and check for bugs first." The girl nodded holding out a hand for payment.

"Sorry, love, got to talk to the big man first."

The girl's large watery eyes quickly grew sharp and she turned on her heel. "No room until payment. I'll get the boss."

Fenrin sat on a stool, continuing his whistling and Jayln climbed awkwardly onto one herself.

The girl returned with an older man, balding with leathery skin whose bare arms flexed with powerful muscle. He crossed those arms and walked up to Fenrin, the waifish girl poking her head out from behind his broad back.

"You the one given’ my Annabeth a hard time?"

Fenrin grinned and leaned forward. "Wouldn't dream of it. Just needed to see you and give my payment personally." He pulled out the small bottle and placed it gently on the counter. "This'll cover the room and food for two days, I'm sure, then I was hoping you could help me with your neighbor."

The man eyed the bottle. "We don't—"

Fenrin's grin vanished and his eyes narrowed. "Don't insult me. The Pale Siren? The title doesn't refer to the little ghostess there. Any addict knows what this place serves."

The man reached out and took the bottle. He uncorked it and gave it a sniff before passing it to Annabeth who scurried off to the back.

"Alright. One room. Two days."

"And the lady?"

Jayln looked up, what about her?

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"I'll talk to the Madame. Any preference?"

"Very much. Dark hair, tattoo of peacock feathers on her arm."

That rang a bell. The man they'd watched at the dock had been talking to a woman with that tattoo.

"You're very specific for a man I haven't seen around here."

Fenrin shrugged. "I saw and I wanted."

The barkeep nodded, turned, and left. Fenrin stood up, motioning for Jayln to follow. She huffed and got up carefully a dangling shirt sleeve threatening to trip her. The two went up the stairs and down a narrow hall to the last room. It had a small window looked out to an alley and one bed with single chest at the end of it.

"Alright, I'll get our meal. You change into something a bit more...exciting then meet me downstairs." Fenrin turned but added before leaving, "And be careful not to talk to anyone. There are quite a few people here I'd like to avoid."

Jayln dropped the clothes on the bed and started picking through it skeptically. She was more than a bit worried about Fenrin's choices and his phrase ‘exciting’. If exciting meant like the peacock woman, she would have words.

To her pleasant surprise, nothing was too risque. There was a black shir, embroidered with black waves with a hole cut in the front that dived much to deeply for Jayln's liking, but besides that, the clothes she figured were intended for her included a few pairs of dark colored pants, a red sash, some chains and beaded strings, and a large black coat which fit her perfectly.

She cinched the coat at her waist with a buckle and it flared out at the bottom. The polished brass buckle also was large and dramatic. As she looked down at herself she had to admit she liked the coat quite a bit. She kept her cream shirt, a bit more loose without her green jerkin, dangled a few chains and beads over her neck, and tied the sash around her waist below her coat belt. She bundled up the rest of the clothes and jewelry and stuffed them in the chest. Leaving the clothes much too large for her and clearly for her companion.

Descending the rickety stairs, she found Fenrin in a corner tearing into some bread and soup. A bowl and plate sat opposite him and Jayln sat down to eat. He eyed her with his speckled grey eyes and nodded approvingly.

"Not perfect, but it'll do."

"So what's the plan?" she whispered and reached for her drink. It was ale, but not good ale, a bit sour and she made a face. Fenrin ignored it.

"Hmmm, still calculating. But short term, we're going to steal a ship."

Jayln nearly choked on her food. She clenched the table. "What?"

"Don't worry, the authorities won't get involved, it's a bit of a personal matter. We're short on resources and there's one key piece we need. It's going to be difficult and I need you to stay out of my way. As the sun starts to set I want you to walk around the city."

He waved a chuck of bread at her. "I don't care where you go, just don't be here. Don't go anywhere stupid, though, and if anyone tries to give you trouble, lead them to an alley and take them out there. I don't want to alert any authorities because you ripped the arm of some drunk sailor. Also, stay away from the children, even without money, you make an easy target."

Jayln frowned. She didn't like it but Fenrin seemed calm and collected. Without a plan of her own she swallowed her objections but said, "Just remember our deal."

Fenrin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, just do your part and follow my orders."

After a moment of silence, Fenrin clanked his empty soup bowl down and leaned back. "By the way, have you ever been at sea?"

"No, I haven't."

"Of course not." Fenrin sighed and waved his bowl in the air. "Hey, siren!"

Annabeth floated over and took the dish, her eyes like daggers. Her dress was thin and pale and now she was out from behind the dark counter, Jayln saw that she was actually quite pretty. Also a lot older than she'd seemed at first. Probably eighteen or nineteen.

"A paper and something to write with. Also you sing, right?"

"Only for those who pay my fee, sir."

"Ah well, then no siren song tonight but put the paper on my tab."

The girl walked off but Fenrin's words had been loud enough that when she came back, one of the men at the bar tossed her a coin and slurred out, "Sing meh a song, my beauty!"

She dropped the paper and a stick of charcoal on Fenrin’s table unceremoniously beforing walking to the cold fireplace. She stepped up to a small platform there and began to sing.

Her voice was airy and light. Her notes long and wistful. It had no words and was almost more like chanting. In front of the dark fireplace, her paleness seemed to almost glow. It was all a trick of the ambience, but Jayln was impressed by the whole set up. The Pale Siren indeed.

"Alright, here's a rough layout. I hope you're a quick learner."

Jayln’s attention shot back to Fenryn who had quickly sketched out a ship. Fast as a galloping horse, he started naming off the parts of the vessel, their function, what sail went where and soon Jayln was frantically trying to absorb it all. A few minutes in, she grabbed the pencil and started jotting down notes around the drawing, soon having to flip it and use the back.

"You got it?"

"I think so. I'll go over it until I do."

"Good, because seamen don't much like useless people. You've got two days to know enough to at least fake your way around."

Fenrin glanced out the window. The sun was dipping low and more people were starting to trickle into the bar. "You'd better go. Remember, don't talk to anyone."

"Right." Jayln stood and walked out. The streets were quickly getting dark, buildings casting long shadows that were banished only by the few streetlights.

One building, however, was well lit and Jayln hadn't much noticed it before. It was directly across the street from the tavern and had undergone a dramatic transformation. The lamplight made what had seemed like dull cloth in the sunlight stand out in the gray darkness. Colors splashed across the wooden and stone structure. Colored lanterns were placed eye-catchingly across the building front.

It didn't take a scholar to realize what kind of house it was. There were ladies leaning out the windows and standing outside the door. Swaying and smiling, their painted faces inviting the onlookers inside. As men came up, they would laugh and press themselves into their sides, pulling them in. A large shirtless man with a single gold earring stood by the door, eyeing each customer the ladies brought in.

Jayln walked past quickly but glanced back when she got to the end of the street. She saw the dark haired lady in her purple dress, the silk flickering the candlelight, walk across to The Pale Siren. She wondered what Fenrin planned exactly.

“He better not be just another customer,” she thought darkly. There must be some secret code, like the thieves guilds rumored to lie under every city.

Jayln put the thought of the peacock lady out of her mind and walked around. She found a curved street that ended with a nice overlook of the dock and in the sunset, tried to identify all the parts of the ships docked there. She had her own work to do.