The witch in charge of the Courier office is still cheerful and campy. She gets assigned another run to Cardiff, where that guy ripped her off with the secret delivery.

Wahey, Cardiff!

...maybe being over-enthusiastic will look too weird.

"Nice! Have a good day!"

Yes, good, that's a reasonable amount of enthusiasm.

Cardiff here she comes!

The trip to Cardiff is uneventful! The guy who paid her to sneak that package around isn't here today.

That's a good decision on package guy's part. Bad things might happen if he was there.

While they're readying the next flight, she heads off towards the docks to see if she can find Rost.

Rost gave her a description of his ship, and said ship is easy to find. The burly guy guarding the plank makes her describe Rost, then mutters that she's probably here to do more than talk to Rost, knowing the guy, and summons someone to show her to wherever Rost is right now.

Rost is apparently arguing with the cook, but breaks off when Marena arrives. "Aha! Welcome! My apologies I didn't meet you on the topdeck - didn't know you would actually come visit."

It's not like what she's wearing wouldn't give guard dude that impression.

"Well, I didn't expect to be here so soon either!"

"Let's go somewhere we can catch up, talk business. Are my quarters fine? I wouldn't want to give the wrong impression - unless that's the right impression-" He bustles out of the kitchen.

"Honestly, at this point I want to see how weird my reputation can get."

"The world can stand for some strange reputations. This way..."

And once they're behind a closed door. "I suppose you want to hear about my, ahem, special delivery job."

"Yep. Though I also have, hmm, some potential details about something going through the grapevine that you might be interested in."

"I can't promise anything in advance for information, not yet knowing its import. As for the delivery... Carefully prepared medicine that the local authorities do not approve of. It's not the nasty shit bliss poppies can be refined to, that makes you go mad for more. If anything, it just makes you sleepy. For many people, it's the only thing that soothes chronic pain. I shan't show you where I have it hidden aboard ship, I'll fetch it without you and bring it to the topdeck, and you musn't be caught with it in your possession if you can help it, but witches avoid most scrutiny so that should be safe. I can pay you fifteen pounds to deliver it to a certain person in Bristol. Half in advance, half when I get word back."

That's more money than she makes on four or five courier runs. Not a fortune, but a lot.

"I can deliver it for you."

"Grand. Now, I don't fully trust you yet of course. This is a small delivery. The seven-and-a-half-pounds and the product itself are my gamble on you."

"And I fully intend to be earn that trust.

So, about the odds things going down the grapevine: you've heard about what's been happening with the Westward Boat Company?" 

"They suddenly backed out of the fast transport competition last evening, citing lack of funds, but everyone knows they've had some bright idea or another and are pursuing it?"

"There's word on the wind that they've found a special metal, something so amazing they have to drop everything and research it. And I think I know what it is."

"Oh? Well, I'm not closely involved with the military industries but such a secret could be very valuable. If, mind you, several unlikely things happen. The strange metal is actually useful and valuable. They manage to keep the exact nature of the stuff secret. I find someone who very much wants to learn that secret."

"If it's what I think it is, it is quite useful, but I don't know how much of it they have. No idea how long it's going to be kept secret, or how badly people want to learn it. It also depends how quickly they work out how useful it is."

"...Hmph. I think I'll watch the rumors fly for a while, and if it's looking important next time we meet, I'll buy the secret."

"Sounds reasonable!"

"In the meantime, have you any need for things you don't want to bother having to get yourself? Or have any nosy questions? Acquisition and information runs both ways."

"Have any news from London? I'm slowly working my way down there."

"London? It's the center of the war organization for this whole half of the world, and the largest city in the country. You may have to be more specific."

"Honestly, that's all new to me. Hmm... any notable witches I should keep an eye out for?"

"I've already said I try not to make magical enemies - well. If you see a uniform with an emblem of a broom with a crown around it, that's the Royal Witch Hunters. Magical police answerable almost directly to the King. Careful with those."