He goes on, but I don’t have the stomach to listen.
King Harold holds up his hand, tired of the whole ordeal. “I believe you’re innocent, Bib. Let’s put this whole thing behind us.”
“What about the goblins?” Adeline asks, speaking up for the first time. “Why were they so interested in the tunnels? They never wander this far south.”
Bib extends his hands in front of him like no one ever listens to him. “That was the whole point of the expedition! Goblins eat larkwings. Apparently, they are quite the delicacy. Once a year, when the larkwings are plentiful, they hunt them. Addicted to the creature’s drug-like element, they’ve been in a tizzy since the larkwings have become scarce. Now they’re causing all kinds of havoc, traipsing all over the provinces, hoping to track them. They are simple, but there is some thought process there.”
“What will they do now that the butterfly is extinct?” I ask.
Bib turns to me, his eyes lighting for the first time. “Ah—but they are not extinct. I’ve returned with a pair, and I plan to begin a breeding program immediately, carefully rebuilding their species.”
Butterfly breeding program? Disturbing.
Sebastian stands and shakes Bib’s hand and nods to Serena. “Though I am glad it worked out, I’m sorry we were unable to retrieve your wildwood larkwing.”
The dressmaker sighs. “It’s all right. I’m sorry I involved you.”
We say our goodbyes, and finally, it is my turn to face the queen. I’m not sure there’s much to say.
“I’m sorry I never replaced your vase.”
Minerva studies me for several long moments, and then she leans forward, silently asking me to do the same. I raise my eyebrows, waiting for her to say whatever it is she deems to be so secretive.
“I broke the real one a year ago. That was a fake.”
“No,” I say, astounded. “It was very well done.”
She raises her eyebrows and shrugs.
After another moment, she says, “Take care of Avery.”
Well, this conversation just went awkward.
“No…hard feelings?” I ask, truly curious.
Minerva laughs—truly laughs. “Please, Lucia. I’m married to a king.”
Right.
Though she might be sad to see Avery leave, and though she’s certainly not going to shed any tears over my departure, I think we’ve made a breakthrough.
I move to Lady Claire and Elizabetta. Avery’s grandmother gives me an appraising look. “When you return, we’re going to get to know each other better.”
Even though that statement terrifies me, I manage to smile.
Elizabetta hugs me before I move on. She’s tall for her age, very nearly my height. Before she lets me go, she whispers, “Convince Avery to take me with him next time, all right?”
She gives me a pointed look when she releases me, and I promise I will try.
Before we leave, Harold takes my hands. “You are welcome anytime, Lady Lucia.”
“Thank you for everything, Your Majesty.”
We finally leave the castle. My trunks have already been sent to the Serpent. Adeline and Sebastian are going to drop Avery and me off at the pier, and then we’ll go our separate ways.
The ride is quiet. Occasionally, my eyes meet Adeline’s, and she smiles encouragingly. But the mood is a little sad.
Avery assists me from the carriage, and I take in a great gulp of the salty air. The day is so warm, it borders on hot. Spring has arrived in all its balmy glory. Flink bounds onto the pier, basking in the warmth.
The Greybrow Serpent waits, ready for its next adventure. Gregory waves from the ship. There’s no sign of Yancey—no one’s seen him in weeks. I hope that wherever he is, he is well and safe.
I turn to my friends, preparing myself for goodbyes.
Adeline hugs me first, wrapping me in her sweet-pea scented arms. “I’ll miss you. Be careful, all right?”
I smile against her hair. “I will.”
We pull apart, and Sebastian steps forward. Adeline slides her arm through Avery’s and pulls him aside, asking him about the sea birds, giving us a moment of privacy.
“Your parents aren’t going to like this,” Sebastian says, not quite smiling but not scowling either.
“Tell them I swear I’ll behave myself. And don’t forget to give Mother the orchids.” Somehow the plants I brought from the whirlpool island are still alive.
The air is heavy between us, and it crushes against my lungs. Not quite looking at him, I say, “I’m going to miss you.”
He growls and then reluctantly admits, “I’m going to miss you too.”
I look back, trying to laugh. “It’s only for a few months.”
He pulls me close and sets his chin on my head. “Take care of yourself, Lucia.”
I close my eyes, for the last time letting a few fleeting “what-ifs” pass through my mind. But it wasn’t right for us. I love Sebastian, but I’m in love with Avery. And I know now there is a vast difference between the two.
Before I step back, I breathe in Sebastian’s familiar, comfortable scent. Goodbyes hurt, and this one feels substantial.
Blinking quickly, I hide my tears with a smile and pull away. It’s finished.
Avery walks back, a sympathetic smile on his face. He knows this is hard, and though he’s probably a little jealous, he’s very sweet about it. We say our final goodbyes, and Avery leads me toward the Greybrow Serpent with a soft hand on the small of my back.
But before we start up the gangplank, a man yells from the pier, “Lady Lucia!”
I turn, startled. The owner of the voice hurries forward. He’s tall and lean with dark hair and even darker eyes. His skin is caramel, and judging from his clothing, he looks like he belongs to one of the traveling caravans. And oddly, there’s something familiar about him.
“You’re a hard girl to track down,” he says, sucking in a deep breath after the run. “Especially with your king determined to keep you hidden.”
This must be the man Harold repeatedly turned away. “Do I know you?”
His eyes shine with good humor. “You don’t remember me, but I didn’t expect you to.”
Avery shifts closer to me.
“My name is Gorin, and we met two years before, on a dark night in Reshire.”
Something dances in my memory, just out of grasp.
“At the time, you were the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen. You thoroughly charmed me, and we made a trade—my ice charm for one—”
“Phoenix feather,” I breathe, the night coming back to me in a rush.
We were younger then, and he hadn’t yet grown out of his gangly, puppy stage. I was right at the time—he grew up to be quite handsome.
Avery stands silently at my side, but I can feel his questions.
“Actually, I sent you after a greater fire hippogriff.” Gorin grins. “But that’s not the point. I’ve come to collect, and I don’t have a need for the charm or a feather.”
That’s good. The ice charm now belongs to Prince Kaiu, far away in the whirlpool island, and we sold the feather.
Sebastian and Adeline make their way to us, curious.
“What is it you need?” Avery asks.
Gorin’s smile grows—reminding me very much of the boy I met those long two years ago. “Just a flower…a flower that is proving very difficult to track down. Rumor has it Lady Lucia and her partner are the best, and since you owe me…”
Gregory and several members of the crew have come to the edge of the ship, and they’re watching the exchange.
I grin at Gregory. “I happen to have a very powerful mage at my disposal. How about he whips you up an ice charm, and we call it even?”
The mage rolls his eyes, amused that I’m so quick to offer his services.
Gorin shakes his head. “I’m afraid that won’t do. You see, that ring was my great, great, great grandmother’s, and nothing will ever replace it. I need you.”
We stare
at each other for several long moments, and then I give in. “What do you need the flower for?”
“I am in love with a girl—a beautiful, vibrant girl. But her father refused to let us marry, so I begged him for a task. I’ll do anything, I told him, if he would only give me a chance to prove myself.”
Avery’s expression eases considerably. “What task did he give you?”
Gorin runs a hand through his hair, exasperated. “He’s very ill—aging too quickly. Dying, most likely. He told me to bring him the cure.”
“And what does this flower do exactly?” I ask.
The man leans forward, his eyes bright. “It will restore his youth.”
It’s impossible, but Gorin watches me with such an earnest expression, I don’t have the heart to tell him no.
“All right,” I say finally. “When we return from Marlane, I will help you find this flower.”
“There’s no time,” he says, looking desperate. “She marries another on the first day of summer. Too many weeks have already passed.”
I groan. “Give me a few moments to speak with my party.”
Gladly, Gorin strides to the edge of the pier and stares at the birds diving into the water.
Avery looks at me for several moments, and then softly, he says, “You should go.”
Sebastian nods. “I’ll accompany her.”
“Well, then I’m going too!” Adeline exclaims.
I stare at Avery. “Come with us.”
He shakes his head. “I cannot. I already told Harold I’d fetch his gold. My hands are tied, Lucia. I can’t back out now.”
“You choose today to become an upstanding citizen?” I cross my arms, exasperated.
Avery closes the distance between us, not caring that we’re surrounded by people. “I will bring back the king’s gold, and then I will find you—no matter where you are or how far you travel.”
“You swear it?”
His lips brush mine as he whispers, “I swear.”
“How?”
“Keep the dagger close.” He grins an evil smirk, but for the first time, I’m grateful for his love of tracking spells.
“You’ll hurry?”
“I will.”
The thought of leaving him for even a month makes breathing painful.
“I love you,” I murmur against his lips. “And I will miss you.”
The captain of the Greybrow Serpent kisses me properly, in front of all of Teirn. People whistle and cheer, but we ignore them.
Sebastian and Adeline come to my side as Avery walks up the gangplank.
In his captain’s jacket and tall, dark boots, he’s so handsome. And he’s mine. I can wait a month; I can wait forever if it comes down to it.
The crew raises the ship’s anchor and adjusts the sails. Adeline wraps her arm around my shoulders as the Greybrow Serpent pulls away from the dock. Suddenly, Avery jogs from the rail and disappears into his cabin only to return moments later.
“Lucia,” he hollers when he returns. “Can you catch?”
Laughing, shaking my head at his strange behavior, I hold out my hands. He heaves a small velvet pouch at me, and I almost fumble it into the cove. The ship drifts farther away, and I hurry to open it.
“Hold it for me—keep it safe,” he yells, grinning like a fool. “I have a question to ask you when I return!”
My heart catches in my throat, and my fingers tremble as I turn the pouch over in my palm. A sea fire ruby catches the sunlight, taking my breath away. That day, months ago, he must have collected his own after I left the cave. But it’s not the ruby that does me in, but the gold that surrounds it.
“What is it?” Adeline asks, unable to quell her curiosity. She gasps the moment she lays eyes on it. “Lucia—that’s a ring!”
Yes, it is.
I look up, and my gaze locks on Avery’s. He leans on the rail, promises in his eyes. I stand here until I cannot see him any longer, until the Greybrow Serpent disappears into the horizon. Then I thread the ring on the chain I wear at my neck.
After I look at it one last time, I tuck the ring under my bodice, close to my heart.
Available Now
Avery swore he’d return, but one question haunts Lucia’s every waking moment: Can anyone truly trust the word of a pirate?
A spring cloaked in mystery and lore bubbles deep in the heart of Elrija’s high mountain desert. It’s a fountain of healing water, a natural concoction of minerals and magic, and on it grows the fabled lily of the desert—a flower rumored to carry the cure for old age.
It’s also impossible to find. Impossible, that is, if you’re anyone other than Lucia of Reginae, professional adventuress for hire…at least that’s what Lucia tells herself now that she’s knee-deep in sand and prickly ballo brush.
Lucia’s no stranger to dangerous territory, but Elrija’s desert is unlike any place she’s ever traveled. The wind is hot, the air is dry, and a person cannot turn over a stone without finding something venomous lurking underneath. She has a month and a half to track down the lily, but every clue she finds leads to another…and someone appears to be sabotaging the expedition.
As if all that were not enough, the ring Lucia wears on the chain at her neck grows heavier each day. Avery said he’d find her, but how long will it take? And how much trouble will she find herself in before the captain finally arrives?
If he arrives at all…
>>Click Here to View on Amazon<<
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About the Author
Shari L. Tapscott writes young adult fantasy and humorous contemporary fiction. When she's not writing or reading, she enjoys gardening, making soap, and pretending she can sing. She loves white chocolate mochas, furry animals, spending time with her family, and characters who refuse to behave.
Tapscott lives in western Colorado with her husband, son, daughter, and two very spoiled Saint Bernards.
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Books:
Silver & Orchids
Moss Forest Orchid
Greybrow Serpent
Wildwood Larkwing
Lily of the Desert
Fire & Feathers: Novelette Prequel to Moss Forest Orchid
Eldentimber Series
Pippa of Lauramore
Anwen of Primewood
Seirsha of Errinton
Rosie of Triblue
Audette of Brookraven
Grace of Vernow: An Eldentimber Novelette
Fairy Tale Kingdoms
Puss without Boots: A Puss in Boots Retelling
Contemporary Fiction
Just the Essentials
Glitter and Sparkle
Shine and Shimmer
Wildwood Larkwing (Silver and Orchids Book 3) Page 23