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</div></div><br/>It was bound to go bad at some point. Not as bad as it could have. Ardnt was still alive, for now. He knew between the blood loss and the cold wind coming off the sea that could change very quickly. A narrow escape and he had his instinct to thank for it. People were not so good at hiding their nature, and Ardnt didn't trust anyone he did business with. Why would he, considering how many times he'd seen them fuck someone else over? Really, he should have seen this coming sooner.<br/><br/>He was being cut out of the deal. Better off than the other guy who was lying dead, blood pooling out around the dinner table. Ardnt had done that. It had been a last minute thing, ordered by his long-term business partner.<i>Get rid of the third, Ardnt</i>. Tired of sharing the wealth. The man had fought, to his credit. He hadn't succumbed until he'd had the chance to stick Ardnt with that pretty knife of his that had no business being at the dinner table. Ardnt wasn't stupid. It occurred to him that he'd been tipped off. Pitted against one another, most likely.<br/><br/>Ardnt was wiping his hands clean when said partner came in, dressed as meticulously as always, a pistol trained on him.<br/><br/>“Didn't want to have to do it yourself?” Ardnt asked.<br/><br/>“I didn't figure he would, but I planned for either scenario. Ought to get going, Ardnt. I readied a boat for you, but you know what I'm planning. Don't come back. You'll be wanted for murder. And don't even think about pulling one of your stunts. You'll look even more guilty coming back to land with the owner of the vessel dead. We've been friends. Let's make this an amicable separation,” he'd said, and Ardnt nodded. He was at least giving him a chance. Hardly could fault him. He'd done worse in his lifetime. He was getting rid of the second and the third with and he'd hardly lifted a finger; had outgrown Ardnt's usefulness. He was shown out, and he went, the knife still lodged into his shoulder.<br/><br/>Ardnt hadn't removed the knife, knowing it might speed up his blood loss. He did run his fingers over the hilt. Another gift, perhaps. Deliberate. Everything his old friend did was deliberate. An expensive piece. Ardnt could sell it wherever he was going. He'd been thoughtful in his betrayal at least.<br/><br/>The boat rocked. It was a simple thing but it was sure as shit better than being in the frigid water or shot. No significant way to control it. Likely it was as good as a death sentence as any. Forced to drift on the whims of the sea. He was no sailor and had no idea where it might be taking him, if anywhere at all. And so Ardnt flopped down in the boat, to try and get out of the chill. He was dressed for a more casual evening. His breezy linen shirt was stained in more than just his own blood but he'd not thought to grab a coat. His wool breeches were warm at least, but not warm enough. His silver-grey hair was sticking to his neck, clammy despite the cold. With adrenaline past him, the pain was starting to becoming hot and pulsing. He'd tried to rest but was too uncomfortable, so was reduced to looking up at the night sky through foggy hazel eyes and contemplating all the decisions that had gotten him where he was at. Not much different than nearly two decades ago when he'd been determined to make a change in his life for the better.