“What?”
Avery leans close and sets his hand on my shoulder. “You’re not doing this alone. We’re in this together—we’re a family now.”
“I can’t even boil water. How can I be a mother if I can’t cook?”
He gives me the strangest look. “Lucia, I thought I made this clear. We have a fair amount of money to our name. You don’t need to cook—ever.”
That makes me take pause. “Ever?”
“Not unless you want to.”
“I won’t.” I pin him with my eyes, making sure he understands.
He grins. “Understood.”
I finally give into his good mood. I settle my back against the bench and look out at the water, taking our clasped hands and setting them in my lap. There’s one more question I need to ask him. “Tell me the truth—were you a terror as a child?”
Avery nods, serious. “The worst.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Dragon Bridge
Malka’s library is dark and rather depressing—not the best place to spend every spare minute of the last several weeks. Gorin is beside himself. None of the scholars have heard of the dragon bridge; no one knows what Elrijan village was sieged by Kalaens in these modern times. We’re nearing the end of the month, and we have less than thirty days to find the lily.
My nose itches as I slap another dusty book closed. As I rub it, I scowl at the towering stack next to me. Though dark, the library is extensive, and their geography section is quite impressive. Of course, that just means we have more books to sort through.
I’ve deviated from our original task and started looking up legends and stories instead, hoping to find lore on the healing spring or the lily that grows there. I’ve learned several interesting facts, even if nothing hinted at the location of either.
First, the water is far more potent than the lily, but it loses its power if it’s transported from the spring. That’s why the flower is so valuable—it holds its healing properties long after it’s picked. Some of those properties are retained even after the flower is dried, though ancient alchemists tried to make their concoctions before that point.
Second, several of the texts hint at side effects, but nothing goes into detail.
However, none of this knowledge will do us any good if we can’t locate the wretched things.
Avery comes up behind me, brushes my hair aside, and grazes his lips over the back of my neck. “Find anything?” he murmurs.
“Dust.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Better.”
Avery dragged me to the midwife the day after I gave him the news. The tea the woman gave me helps, though I’m still exhausted. She assured me that would pass. Apparently, there is a small window of time—after all this nausea and before I look like a whale—that I will feel quite good. I wish it would hurry up.
“Set those aside.” Avery sets his hands on my shoulders and kneads my tense muscles, making me melt. “Let’s get some air.”
I glance at Gorin, who’s a few tables away. The poor man sits slumped over, his hands in his hair, staring at the book in front of him. For as many as he has set in the discard pile, there are two more to read. I’m not even sure he slept last night. He looks awful.
“I shouldn’t,” I say with a sigh, opening another book.
Still behind me, Avery rests his chin on my head. He points to an illustration on the page in front of me. “I’ve seen those before.”
It’s a yellow flower, similar to a buttercup.
“Yilentalis cruipitum,” I read carefully.
Yancey walks up to our table and frowns at Avery. “Dragon weed.”
The captain stands so slowly, I angle in the chair to face him. He rubs his chin, thinking. “Is that what it’s called?”
Our alchemist shrugs. “It’s what we call it in Kalae.”
Avery wears the strangest expression. I touch his arm. “What is it?”
A slow smile stretches across his lips, and his eyes light as if something just clicked into place. He grabs me by the hand and pulls me to my feet. “Come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
“Out.” I start to laugh as he hurries me along. Over his shoulder, he calls, “Gorin! I’ve got it!”
This, of course, earns him several nasty looks from the scholarly types who have been kind enough to let us study in their guild library.
“Listen here, young man—” an elderly woman starts.
He catches her hand and bows his head to her, grinning as he drops his voice to an acceptable level. “My sincerest apologies, madam.”
She flushes, probably unused to such attention. “I suppose it’s all right—but be quiet from now on.”
“Of course,” he promises, and then he tugs me through the aisles and out the door.
By the time we reach the street, we’re almost running.
“Avery!” I gasp, laughing, more surprised than out of breath. “Are we in that much of a hurry?”
He stops so abruptly, we end up causing a block in the street traffic. Several people mutter about mindless Kalaens as they walk around us.
“Are you all right?” he asks, instantly concerned. His eyes search my face.
We’re still adjusting to the news, and Avery’s dealt with it by treating me as if I’m made of glass.
“I’m fine.”
“But you say that every time.”
“That’s because I’m fine most of the time. If you didn’t ask me every five seconds, you might receive a more colorful variety of answers.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You’re crabby. Do you need to eat something?”
That’s another thing the midwife informed us of—I’ll feel better if I eat several small meals all through the day. Now Avery’s continually trying to shove food down my throat.
I grit my teeth before I answer. “I love you, you know that, right?”
Looking handsome even when he’s baffled, he nods.
I continue, “Then don’t take this the wrong way when I say this, but if you try to feed me one more time, I’m going to stab you.”
Wisely biting back a smile, he nods. “Noted.”
“I mean it.”
“And I believe you.”
Before the conversation can go any further, Gorin and the rest of our group join us. We follow Avery through the streets at a slightly saner pace until we reach the district around the artist’s guild. Unlike most cities, especially those in Kalae, Malka’s artists’ guild is far larger than the one belonging to their mages. Several murals decorate the stone walls. They’re beautiful, intricate works of art, most depicting desert landscapes.
“Look,” Avery says, holding his hands up in front of one of them.
Hundreds of yellow flowers vine over a sandstone arch. There are mountains depicted in the distance, tall ones with jagged, white peaks.
“It’s a bridge…of dragon weed,” I say slowly. “You don’t think this is our—
“Dragon bridge,” Gorin whispers.
“Those are the Castleridge mountains,” Yancey says.
I turn, surprised he bothered to join us. Esme stands by his side, frowning. “Where’s Castleridge?”
“Maywell,” Sebastian says. “In the provinces, far to the northwest.”
Gorin shakes his head. “Why would an Elrijan artist depict a Kalaen landscape on a wall in Malka?”
Understanding dawns on me, fast and sure. “Because the land didn’t always belong to Kalae.”
***
“Are you leaving Malka?” Akello asks as we saddle the new horses Avery, Sebastian, and Gorin pitched in to buy. They aren’t as grand as the black steeds we rode into the city, but they are fine enough for our trip over the border. At least I don’t have to ride a donkey this time.
I glance at Akello. The man’s been around the city this last month, and he checks in on us occasionally. Though he’s done nothing wrong, I can’t shake the strange feeling I have about him. He just has
the air of a shifty person, though, for the life of me, I can’t place why.
“We are headed to Kalae,” I tell him.
He gives me a knowing nod. “It is difficult, but sometimes it’s best to cut our losses when we’ve set our sights on the unattainable.”
“And just what were our sights set on?” I ask, cocking my head.
“Gorin told me you’re after the legendary lily that grows in the healing spring.” He smiles. “But, adventuress, I assure you, the spring and the lily are both myths.”
Because he looks so high and mighty now that he thinks we’re giving up, I almost tell him we’re not yet done searching for the lily. Just before I do, I stop myself. Let him think we’re going home.
Unfortunately, Gorin comes up behind me. “Actually, I think we’re finally on the right track. From our research, we believe the spring’s location is marked on a pillar in a ruin just outside Elrija.”
Akello raises his eyebrows at me, amusement tugging at his lips. “Is that so?”
I turn back to my horse. “We’ll see.”
“You must be careful. I’ve heard the bandits are getting braver, prowling during the day.”
“We’ll keep our eyes open.”
“I could come with you, offer you protection. For a price, of course.”
But who would protect us from Akello?
“That won’t be nece—” I begin just to have Gorin cut me off.
“We would be much obliged.”
I turn back to the two, not liking this one bit. “I’m sure Akello has better things to do than traipse through the desert with us.”
The man meets my eyes. “On the contrary, this is exactly what I do.”
“Do?”
“I’m a mercenary, Lucia. I work where the money is—protect those who need protecting.”
“You make it sound like a noble profession.”
Akello bows, already walking away to make arrangements. “Take my word for it—it can be quite noble indeed.”
I glare at Gorin as soon as the man’s gone. “Why did you agree?”
Gorin looks surprised. “He saved us in the desert, Lucia. And with all the strange things we’ve had happen, it cannot hurt to have a hired blade with us.”
That might be true—if it were anyone other than Akello.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Look at the Lovely Webs
The trip to the northern border takes six and a half uneventful days. We don’t find any dead crows around our campfires; we are not gifted with cobras. The trip is almost too peaceful, and I am on edge because of it.
Also, now that I have past my second month, riding is less comfortable, and it wasn’t pleasant before—especially on a donkey.
“How are you feel—” Avery stops when I flash him a look of death, and he grins. “You know, I rather like you like this, all spunk and sass.”
I narrow my eyes at him.
He rides closer and leans toward me so only I will hear him. “Perhaps we should have a dozen children?”
Staring right at him, I set my hand on the hilt of my new dagger. As he always does when we have this exchange, he laughs.
Though I haven’t spoken a word of my condition, the news has spread. Sebastian sends me wary looks, acting almost as concerned for my wellbeing as Avery but far more horrified. Adeline, bless her sweet, obnoxious self, has already started stitching a tiny blanket. The rest couldn’t care less, and Yancey blatantly avoids the subject.
We follow a road that hasn’t been traveled for what looks like ages, and we’ve entered a valley that could almost—almost—be considered a meadow. The ground here is clay, and our path was long ago rutted by carts traveling through after a heavy rain. Weeds and grass took over long ago, and it’s difficult to find our way.
There are no cities, no villages, and we don’t pass a soul on our travels. It’s a road forgotten, and we don’t even find a border guard. By far, this has been the easiest leg of our journey. Call me cynical, but that makes me wonder what terrible mishap is waiting for us once we reach Maywell.
We must be on the right road because right ahead of us looms a stone arch the size of a building. It’s a magnificent sight, naturally carved directly from the mountain. Even early in the season, vines climb over it, just like in the mural. There are no flowers yet, but the Castleridge mountains rise on the other side, sentinels in the distance. Seeing them and their green and blue hillsides makes me long for my home kingdom.
I’m so tired of the desert.
Gorin leads us under the arch, and we get our first glimpse of the ruins. It’s a village carved right into the cliff face, under the protection of an overhanging rock ledge. It’s older than Struin Aria and far smaller. Not more than ten families could have lived here, perhaps a few more. Most of the clay and stone houses show their neglect. Roofs are caved in; entire walls crumbled long ago. The small buildings all seem connected by stairs and walkways, but those too are in a sad state.
I look at Avery, curious what his reaction will be. Just as I expect, he looks like a young child, eager to explore.
“No robbing tombs,” I tell him.
He flashes me a broad, not-so-innocent grin. “I would never.”
Sebastian slows his horse to walk next to us. “Look there, right in the center of the village.”
A pillar—the pillar.
“Do you think that’s it?” I ask. “It almost seems too easy.”
“After all we’ve been through, it’s time for something to go well.”
No argument there.
Gorin dismounts just before the ruin, which seems wise. When the village was at it’s prime, I am almost certain the stables were below. The pathways look as if they were built for foot traffic only.
Flink wanders away as soon as we stop, off to explore. He’s happy to be out of the city, where he was forced to spend most of his time in our room in the caravanserai. We saw little of him on the way here, but he always returned in the evening, checking in, scrounging for food.
Yancey gets off his horse and walks to Esme, ready to offer her a hand. Akello beats him to it. The alchemist narrows his eyes, and turns away, looking slightly irked.
Esme gives Akello a tight smile. I’ve watched her around him, and though I haven’t spoken with her, I believe she trusts him as little as I do.
“I’m not sure the ruin is stable,” Avery says, running a sharp eye over the tiny village. “Perhaps you should wait here.”
I give him a withering look and lead the way up the ruins.
“Lucia—” my oh-so-protective husband continues.
Whipping around, I give him a look that makes most people back off. It’s never worked on him.
In answer, he holds up his hands, laughing. “Just be careful, all right?”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help but smile. He’s going to drive me mad. How in the world am I going to survive seven more months of this?
“Lucia, we have a problem,” Sebastian calls from ahead of me. Because Avery slowed me down, he beat me to the pillar. I jog the rest of the way, and he motions to the cylindrical stone. “There’s nothing here.”
Frowning, I examine the surface for signs of extreme erosion. And, yes, time and weather have taken their toll, but not so much as to wipe out an entire etching.
Akello leans on a low wall just outside the ruin, watching but not participating. Apparently mercenaries are only handy in a skirmish. Even Yancey is making himself useful—sort of. He’s walking about, frowning as if he’s deep in thought when in truth, he’s probably wondering what and when we’re going to eat.
The alchemist pokes at something with his foot. “There’s another level below.”
He then leans down and shoves a heavy stone disk along the ground. It makes a horrible noise, and the entire ruin trembles. I glance around, not entirely sure it won’t come crashing down around us.
Esme joins Yancey and gives the newly-uncovered hole an uncertain look. “You know, the last time we
went down one of these, we found a nest of wraiths.”
Sebastian brushes dirt and dry, crumbling leaves away from the base of the pillar. He looks up at me, resigned. “I believe the pillar goes down.”
“So the map might be below?” I ask.
“I think there’s a good chance.”
Adeline casts her light spell and gives Sebastian a smile that’s forced but trying to be eager. “I’m ready.”
Sebastian gives her a questioning look. “Are you sure?”
She nods, attempting to be brave.
“I’m not going down there,” Esme says, crossing her arms.
Yancey looks at her, a rotten expression on his face. “Scared?”
Oddly, she glances at Akello, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s worried he’s going to trap us as soon as we’re down. The mercenary looks back, his face expressionless and his dark eyes unreadable.
I’m just about to go down the dusty stairs Yancey uncovered when Avery gently takes my arm. “You’re not going to like me for saying this, but I think it would be best if you were to stay up here with Esme.”
“Avery!” I hiss quietly, exasperated. “You cannot continue to coddle me like this.”
“I’m not, I just…” he glances down.
There are very few times I’ve seen the captain uncertain, and it stirs something in my heart. It’s not enough to make me loiter about while they do the work, but still. It’s sweet in its own frustrating way.
“Fine,” he says with a sigh, smart enough to realize he’s not going to win this argument. “Seeing as you have your bow this time.”
I walk down the steps, hesitant. Slowly, my eyes adjust to Adeline’s dim light. We’re in a small room, an octagonal chamber with eight doorways. Spiderwebs decorate the space like satin tassels in a royal carriage. My skin is already crawling.
“Remind you of our friend from the island?” Avery whispers in my ear, bringing up the goat-sized tarantula.
It’s nice to see some things have gone back to normal.
Just as I’m spinning, taking in the place, Adeline’s light flickers. I whirl around to face her, knowing that’s a bad sign. Her eyes are glued to something on the floor, and as soon as I follow her gaze, I wish I hadn’t.
Lily of the Desert (Silver and Orchids Book 4) Page 12