The jailer opened the door and stuck his head inside. “Reynolds. Your wife’s here to see you.”

Mal stood up, but wasn't surprised as much as resigned when the redhead swept in. “Hello, hubby.” She crossed the cell to kiss him, but he stepped back. She made a moue of annoyance.

“Saffron.” Mal crossed his arms. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

“Oh, just luck.” Her irritation of a moment ago was forgotten as she looked around the cell, glancing up at the recording device in the corner. “There I was, looking for my husband, and I hear a certain Captain Reynolds is going to be in town. Better yet, he’s going to be married. Well, I just had to come along and lend my support.” She smiled sweetly.

“Try to feng le things up, you mean.”

“Depends on your point of view.” She stepped closer to him, close enough so that he could smell the perfume on her skin. “Now, are you coming or not? Judge said I was your wife.”

“You’re not. Freya is.”

She smiled again. “Prove it. And I don’t think you really want to stay here, do you?” She swept her arm around to indicate the room. “I mean, it’s lovely, but …”

“Okay.” Mal stepped past her to the door. “But just so I can ditch you first moment I can.”

“Oh, I don’t think the judge would like to hear you say that, honey.” She took hold of his arm. “On this planet, marriage counts for a lot.”

“Pity it doesn’t with you,” Mal said, pulling free and walking out.

---

They sat in the hover, heading, Mal noticed, away from the docks area.

“So, want to tell me the truth about what’s going on?” he asked, turning to look at her.

“Didn’t you believe me?”

“No. And I’m kinda finding it hard to believe that you ain’t in on this chalice thing either.”

“Maybe Badger did me a little favour,” Saffron agreed.

“Saffron, if you’re about to tell me that you’re married to him too, I'm gonna …”

“What, sweetie?” she asked, all innocence. Then she smiled. “And no, even I don’t sink so low. But I might have let him thin