***
“I cannot believe you went to one of the masquerades, and you didn’t take me!”
Adeline’s not exactly happy with us. She knew something was amiss when we were all absent yesterday, sleeping our night off, but apparently, she didn’t expect it to be this.
“I thought you all ate something off!” She glares at Sebastian, Avery, and me all in turn. Sebastian, however, gets the brunt of her ire.
“To be fair,” I say, defending myself, “I didn’t tell Sebastian either. He just crashed the party.”
The four of us sit in the small tea room off Adeline’s quarters, trying to decide what to do. Sebastian, who took no oath before he sneaked into the masquerade, was able to tell Adeline where we’d been and what we’d seen. Avery and I are mute on the subject, no matter how we try to be clever with our words. We can, however speak of Dante and his elixir, since we swore no oath to stay mum about that.
“First things first—we have to warn Serena,” Sebastian says.
I groan just thinking about it. Something tells me the dressmaker won’t take the news well.
Sebastian shoots me a look. “She should be made aware that her husband is in on this.”
We all agree, though Avery and Adeline look uncomfortable as well. There’s nothing fun about announcing to a woman that her husband is a villain.
“After that,” Sebastian continues, “I believe we should leave Teirn. There’s no reason for us to linger. In a roundabout way, the larkwing has been returned to its owner. The job is finished, and there is nothing left for us here.”
My gaze drifts to Avery. The captain stayed in Teirn to heal, but he’s well now. When we first arrived, he tired easily, but he showed no signs of extreme exhaustion at the masquerade, and we were out until morning. Does that mean he’ll go back to the sea? Take his ship and sail into the sunset, leaving me on the shore, pining over something that never came to be?
“But what about Dante and his Lark and Song?” I shift, uncomfortable with where my thoughts have traveled. “Shouldn’t we do something?”
Avery and Adeline stay silent, but Sebastian thinks about it. “I believe it’s our duty as citizens of Kalae to inform the king of what we learned last night. But this is a job for the royal guards. We’re not warriors, Lucia. There’s not really anything we can do.”
“I don’t believe Dante will allow us to walk away at this point,” Avery says. “We know too much—we’re a liability now.”
Adeline bites her bottom lip, and her eyes dart between us. Sebastian thinks about it, not immediately protesting Avery’s words. If nothing else, I am happy to say the two are learning to get along.
The room goes quiet, all of us lost in our own thoughts. Flink, who’s fast asleep on the rug in the middle of the floor, snuffles loudly, and then rolls onto his back, legs up in the air. His front foot twitches as if he’s dreaming, and he makes tiny grunting noises. With every breath, he puffs out a small sparkling cloud of elemental glitter.
“He’s cold.” Adeline promptly snatches a throw blanket from the back of Sebastian’s chair, yanking him forward as she pulls it free, and then drapes it over the dragon. Flink immediately goes still, and he cuddles farther into the soft fabric.
Sebastian shakes his head, bewildered, and then gets back to the issue at hand. “We’ll speak with the king, see what he says on the matter. For now, do not give Dante an answer either way.”
Avery relaxes against the back of my chair, at ease. “And if I want to invest in their business?”
I can tell from his tone he’s only trying to get a rise out of Sebastian—and it works. My business partner turns an interesting shade of red and opens his mouth to argue with the captain.
“He’s not serious, Sebastian,” I say.
Sebastian doesn’t look entirely convinced, but it doesn’t affect him anyway. Though it’s beginning to feel like it, what with the two of us searching for the sea fire ruby and all, Avery’s not part of our business. He can do whatever he likes—even invest in Dante’s illegal potions venture.
I, however, believe the captain’s moral compass is stronger than he’d like us to give him credit for.
“All right,” I say, standing. “First, we must speak to Serena.”
“With all her demands for confidentiality, I’m not sure she’d like the four of us barging into her shoppe,” Avery points out.
“Then Adeline and I will go,” I say, motioning to the seamstress. “Addy, you’ll have to do the talking. I’m afraid my tongue’s tied.”
Sebastian turns to Adeline. “Do you think you know the situation well enough to explain?”
Adeline gives him a withering look, about fed up with his coddling. “Yes, Sebastian, I think I can handle it.”
“Then I’ll set up an audience with the king,” Avery says. Set with all our tasks, we split up. Before Adeline and I are out the door, Avery sets his hand on my arm. “Take Flink with you, all right?”
I give him an incredulous look. “You don’t think Serena will mind an unruly lesser dragon in her shoppe?”
“It would make me feel better,” he says quietly, real concern in his expression.
And my foolish heart gets all mushy. I know I can protect myself, and Adeline, should it come down to it, but it’s nice to know he cares.
“Come on, Flink,” I call to the dragon.
Jolted from slumber, the beast snorts, sneezes once, and then stumbles to his feet. He lets me clip on his lead, and then we’re out the door.
Because it’s such a nice day, and because it’s not as easy as you might think to convince a carriage driver to accept a two hundred pound “munchkin,” Adeline and I decide to walk to Serena’s shoppe. Trying to look casual, we stop for lunch at an open-air restaurant that boasts herb-rubbed, blackened fish (all for the memory cause), so we don’t arrive at the dressmaker’s until nearly two in the afternoon.
Just like last time, the doors are locked. But the shutters are closed as well, and the building has a strange feel to it. No one answers when Adeline knocks.
“I don’t understand,” Adeline says, frowning. “It’s the middle of the week. Someone should be here.”
A bad feeling settles in my chest, and I knock on the door, louder this time. “It’s Lucia and Adeline,” I call, hoping if someone is inside, they’ll let us in.
To my surprise, the lock softly clicks, and the door barely cracks open.
“Are you alone?” Serena’s assistant whispers.
I stand closer to the door and turn casually as if I’m still waiting for an answer, just in case we’re being watched. “We are.”
“Go to the milliner’s. He’s three businesses down. Ask to speak to Georgie. Tell him you need to access the lower entrance of Serena’s shoppe.”
I frown as I listen to the instruction. “Sorry, Adeline,” I say loudly. “It doesn’t look as if anyone is here after all.”
Adeline looks thoroughly bewildered, but she catches on and nods. Then loudly, in a stilted voice, she says, “Oh…well. Hmmm. Too bad.”
She’s as good a performer as my mother.
“Come on.” I give Flink’s lead a tug.
Instead of heading straight to the milliner’s, we casually stop in at the cobbler’s shoppe across the street, and then Adeline buys a soft blue scarf from the tailor next door. Finally, we step into the milliner’s shoppe. The air is a touch too warm, and it smells like leather and the curing liquids used to form the hats.
A plump, friendly-looking man looks up from a form. “May I help you?” Then he sees my dragon, and his eyes light up. “Hello, there! That’s the largest munchkin I’ve seen in my life!”
I give him a one-shouldered shrug. “He ate a strange mushroom when he was a hatchling. Say, are you Georgie?”
“I am.”
I settle against his desk. “Are you a friend of Serena’s?”
Looking a tad bit concerned at my blunt tone, he sets his glue aside, wipes his hands on a cloth, and
stands. “She’s my cousin, on my mother’s side. Is something the matter?”
“Possibly.” I frown out the window, watching for suspicious-looking characters. The problem is, I’m not sure what “suspicious-looking” looks like exactly. “We think her shoppe is being watched. Her assistant has locked herself inside, and she whispered instructions that we were to ask you about a back entrance.”
“Ah.” The shopkeeper nods, his jolly expression fading. “She’s been acting strange these last few weeks.” He stands and motions us toward the back. “And it’s not a back entrance, but a lower one.”
We follow Georgie into what looks like a storage room to the rear of the shoppe. I expect him to lead us out a back door, but there isn’t one. I flash Adeline a look. These people are all crazy. I think Sebastian’s right—it’s about time we get out of Teirn. But I can’t leave until I know Serena and her assistant are all right.
As soon as the shopkeeper begins moving boxes, I realize what he’s about. Sure enough, he reveals a trap door in the floor. “You have a candle?”
“I’ve got it,” Adeline says, and then, like it’s as easy as breathing, she conjures a light charm in the palm of her hand.
I grin at her. “You’re handy to have around. Have I told you that?”
Sighing, looking as if she feels quite under-appreciated, Adeline shakes her head. “Not nearly enough.”
“I’ll work on that.”
Flink insists on going first down the stairs, and I have no reason to argue with him, so I let him lead. Adeline’s right behind me, and before we’re out of sight, Georgie says, “Be careful, and come right on up when you’re done. I’ll keep the door unlocked for you.”
“Thank you so much, sir.” Adeline says the words sincerely, flashing him a smile that’s sure to make him melt.
As expected, his cheeks go pink, and he stutters. Luckily, I’m already in the tunnel, because I can’t help a tiny eye roll.
“What’s with all these secret tunnels?” Adeline asks, sticking close.
“The whole city’s riddled with them.”
“But Gerard said the king’s guards have searched all of Teirn and never found any.”
I glance over my shoulder. “Well, they’re lying. We’ve been here a month and found an entire network.”
Serena’s shoppe is close, so we don’t have to walk far. Surprisingly, this tunnel is another direct one, like the cottage to the scholar’s guild. There are no offshoots, no doors to other shoppes. Very strange.
We climb the stairs and then quietly knock on the trapdoor that should lead into Serena’s shoppe. I turn to Adeline as we wait. It’s taking Serena’s assistant a long time to answer.
“Do you think she’s all right?” Adeline whispers.
“I’m sure they’re fine,” I say, though I’m not convinced. Hoping to ease Adeline’s fears, I change the subject while we wait. “Did you notice that the confections shoppe we passed had macaroons? I wouldn’t mind buying—”
I stop short when the trapdoor opens, but it’s not Serena’s assistant on the other side.
“Hello, Lucia,” Dante says cordially.
Startled, I take a step back. “Dante! What are…I mean. Hello.”
What is he doing here?
Trying to act as if he didn’t catch us sneaking into the dressmaker’s shoppe through a secret tunnel in the ground, I smile. “So, Dante, I don’t suppose Serena is in?”
“She’s gone.” He casually crosses his arms and leans against the stone wall. “So, tell me, what business did you have with Serena?”
Gone. Gone? What does that mean?
I meet his eyes, trying not to look nervous. Flink’s with us after all. He might be worthless most of the time, but he’s useful in a scuffle. “We came to inform her that we weren’t able to track down the larkwing.”
Lies, more lies. Will they ever end?
“Really?” He smiles. “Are you sure you weren’t here to warn her that her husband is involved with a group of elixir-making alchemists, and that it would be best if she were to flee before he arrives back in Teirn? I hope not—because I think I mentioned that I didn’t want you speaking of the masquerades or our meeting.” His eyes flash to Adeline. “Not to anyone.”
Well, this isn’t going as well as I had hoped. I nudge Adeline back.
“How could I do that?” I say, mock offended. “I was charmed into secrecy. In fact, if my friend here knows about your involvement, perhaps it’s because you just admitted it yourself.”
He chuckles. “That is a valid argument, but she doesn’t look nearly startled enough to see I’m alive, now does she?”
I elbow Adeline in the side. “Act surprised, Adeline.”
She gasps in a most unconvincing way, which earns another smile from Dante.
“Funny.” He takes a step down. “Pretty and amusing, Lucia. What a deadly combination that is.”
Picking up on my anxiousness, Flink growls as Dante approaches. The man pauses to look at the beast.
“Stay where you are,” I say, my tone far bolder than I feel. “He’s barely trained, and I have no idea what he might do if you get too close.”
That, unfortunately, is not a lie.
“We were going to work together, Lucia,” he says, pulling his eyes from my dragon. He looks truly disappointed. “I so hoped you’d come to me willingly. I like you. I really do.”
We walk backward as he talks, but Flink’s eyes stay trained on Dante. If we can just make it to Georgie’s shoppe…
“You know I’m not going to let you leave, right?”
“I figured you were going to try, but I honestly think I can take you.” Dante’s not a small man, but what I lack in size I make up for in spunk.
“You are Kalae’s siren slayer—I have no doubt. But I don’t like to get my hands dirty, so I don’t exactly fight fair.”
To my surprise, and Adeline’s great horror, he pulls a bottle from his pocket and splashes us with a blue liquid that smells an awful lot like rotten fruit.
Nothing happens.
I gape at him. “What was the point of that?”
Dante holds up a hand. “Give it a minute.”
But we don’t because that would be insane. I turn around and give Adeline a shove. It’s all the boost she needs. We run toward Georgie’s door, but Dante doesn’t even bother to chase us.
“I liked this dress!” Adeline pants. Then she looks over her shoulder and hollers at Dante, “You better hope this washes out, or I will be sending you a bill!”
“Run, Adeline!” I gasp, giving her a hefty push. I don’t know what this stuff does, but I have a feeling we don’t want to be trapped in the tunnel with Dante when it takes effect.
We rush up the stairs, and I fling the trap door open. “Move—I have to lock it!” I yell, shoving Adeline aside.
Georgie rushes into the back, horrified. He wrings his hands at his waist. “What happened? Where’s Serena?”
“We don’t know!” I pant. “Lock your door when we leave. Better yet—go home for the day.”
“But I…”
I have no idea what he says because I’m dragging Adeline into the street. Flink runs beside us, unsure whether this is a fun game or if something’s wrong. But something is very wrong, because as soon as we’re in the open, a dragonfly lands on my arm. Then a butterfly, and a moth, and another dragonfly.
“LUCIA!” Adeline shrieks, flailing.
They’re everywhere, swarming us from all different directions. Flink panics and roars out his sparkling flame, but he doesn’t manage to hit us with it.
“Flink! On US!” I scream as I spin in circles, frantically trying to free myself of the insects. They’re all over me, crawling with their tiny feet, tickling my skin with their horrible wings.
Adeline faints dead away.
Men come at us from Serena’s shoppe, and I start to panic. “FLINK!”
He roars out another flame in the wrong direction, but this time I jump right in
to it. The effect is almost instantaneous. Suddenly, the insects flee—right onto Adeline.
Oh well. She’s unconscious anyway.
I tug on Flink’s lead, trying to get him to face her. “Again, Flink! Do it again!”
He looks at me, cocking his scaled head to the side, confused and overwhelmed. It’s still not something he does on command—yet another thing I need to work on.
Fortunately, he feels threatened by Dante’s men, and he roars out a flame in their direction. I grasp hold of Adeline’s arm—trying not to think of how many winged creatures I just crushed, and manage to drag her into the cloud of magic. Like smoke leaving an extinguished flame, the insects fly away from Adeline, no longer interested.
The men gape at us on the street, along with dozens of spectators. I’m not sure how well Dante thought through his plan because there are witnesses aplenty.
I step over Adeline’s still-unconscious form and pull my dark dagger from the sheath at my side. Already, shopkeepers are gathering around me, offering protection from Dante’s two burly men.
“Leave us,” I say, growing far more confident now that I have backup.
The men hold up their hands, and one acts all innocent as he says, “We were just trying to help you, my lady. Never seen anything like it before.”
I narrow my eyes, seeing right through his lies. “We’re fine now.”
They nod and turn down the street. I’m swarmed with questions, but my eyes are on Serena’s shoppe. I can just make out a figure in the window—Dante. He watches us intently. Slowly, my eyes drop to Flink. It’s the dragon he’s focused on, but why? After several more heartbeats, the drape falls closed.
Hoping we’re safe for the moment, I sheath my dagger. The silversmith’s son pulls Adeline into his arms, ready to carry her to safety. Too bad she’s not awake to enjoy it—he’s quite handsome.
“She’s breathing, and her pulse is normal,” Adeline’s knight in shining armor says.
“Thank goodness.” I was worried she might have hit her head on the cobblestones when she fell…or when I dragged her over to Flink.
The well-meaning crowd presses closer. I try to answer the people’s questions as best as I am able, but I don’t quite know what happened myself. Obviously, the potion was a bait—likely for the larkwings. Perhaps it’s what Serena’s husband is using right now as he searches for another butterfly. I sniff my arm and grimace.
Wildwood Larkwing (Silver and Orchids Book 3) Page 18