Lily of the Desert (Silver and Orchids Book 4) Read online

  “It’s fine, Lucia,” Yancey assures me from behind Avery. “If it moves, I’ll push it back.”

  And yet again, I’m reminded that I need to learn a little wind magic. I wouldn’t worry about the viper at all if I knew I could harmlessly nudge him away with a simple gust of air—or toss him off the cliff. Whichever.

  Just when I think we’re going to make it through without an incident, Flink stops dead in his tracks and focuses on the viper, forcing my donkey to come to an abrupt stop.

  “Flink, no,” I hiss.

  Completely ignoring me, the dragon cocks his head to the side, studying the snake.

  “Flink!” Not wanting to spook the viper, my words are no more than a whisper, but Flink certainly hears them. His haunches twitch, and his wings flutter with anticipation.

  Height temporarily forgotten, I twist on my donkey’s back. “Yancey!”

  But before our alchemist can assist, Flink lunges.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Best Kind of Distraction

  The snake rears back and then springs forward in a fluid, graceful movement that spooks my stoic mount. The donkey brays, startled, and stumbles back. She bumps into Avery’s horse, who decides to correct the situation by nipping my little jenny right on the rump.

  She screams and leaps forward. I have a death grip on my reins, trying not to squeal myself.

  Everyone’s hollering at once. Flink’s battling the viper, and my donkey is dancing far too close to the edge. Though it seems like several minutes, it’s only a matter of moments before the snake goes limp in Flink’s jaws. I somehow calm my donkey, though don’t ask me how, and she stops making that awful noise. Then I take several deep breaths, trying to calm myself.

  Flink, quite proud of himself, holds the snake up, looking suspiciously like he’s going to bring it to me.

  “Don’t you dare.”

  His golden eyes flicker with confusion, and I feel bad for half a second. But Flink looks away, giving me the dragon version of a shrug, and then the horrid beast eats the snake. He literally slurps it right up, and the tail disappears into his reptilian mouth like an errant noodle. I think I’m going to be ill.

  Adeline makes a disgusted noise ahead of me, and her face twists with revulsion, likely mirroring my own.

  “All right,” Gorin calls from ahead. “Let’s keep moving.”

  I exchange a look with the dressmaker, and then she turns back to Sebastian, facing forward, and we continue our slow trek through the Tairan Mares.

  “Gorin,” I holler ahead after another not-so-close encounter with a desert viper. “Will we make it past the range tonight?”

  The trail has meandered away from the cliff, and I feel more at ease now that there’s a quarter mile expanse between us and the canyon. Red sandstone monoliths rise around us. Half our trail is over vast stretches of smooth slickrock. Patches of crunchy black moss grow on the surface of the sand like a thin crust. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.

  “No,” Gorin answers. “But I know a good place to stop for the night.”

  The last of the sun’s golden rays stain the western sky when we arrive at the camp. A charred circle of rocks and forgotten graying ashes betray that we are not the first to take shelter at this natural crevice in the rock wall. Nearby, there is the sound of bubbling water, and Gorin and Avery already lead their mules to it.

  We climbed high enough that the spring air is chilly. I dig my cloak from the very bottom of my saddlebag and look around. There are even evergreens at this altitude. Granted, they are scraggly, sad-looking specimens, but they are honest to goodness trees nonetheless.

  Nearby, Sebastian tries to coax Adeline from their mount while she adamantly swears she is far too tired to move a muscle. Though he knows full well she’s exaggerating, he doesn’t see it for what it is—a desperate attempt to get him to take her into his arms. Honestly. He’s the smartest man I know, and yet sometimes he’s as dull as a post.

  But then something passes between them. Their eyes stay locked a moment too long, and they share a secret smile. Maybe he’s not so dull after all.

  Smiling to myself, I turn to gather wood for the fire.

  ***

  “You look very serious,” Avery leans close and whispers into my ear.

  I smile but stare into the fire. “That’s because we’re keeping watch.”

  The moon is high in the sky, and according to Avery’s pocket watch, we’re nearing the end of our shift. Everyone is sound asleep in their tiny tents. Even the mules are quiet.

  “I have people for this sort of thing.” He loosens my hair and brushes it behind my shoulder. “Perhaps you should tell me how it works.”

  “Well, generally the people on duty are supposed to pay more attention to their surroundings than each other.” My heart picks up its pace as Avery runs his fingertip down my neck.

  “Keeping watch sounds boring,” he whispers, and his lips follow the trail his finger just took.

  Trying not to smile, I squirm away and pull my cloak tighter around my shoulders. “You are the worst kind of distraction.”

  “Then I’m not doing it right,” he murmurs, his lips moving to my ear since he can no longer access my neck. “I was rather hoping I’d be the best kind of distraction.”

  “Avery—” I say, turning my head, about to tell him to behave himself.

  Before I can, he threads his hands through my loose hair, holding my head firmly but gently, and stares at me with a cocky but sweet expression on his face. “Has anyone told you that you’re beautiful in the moonlight?”

  “Has anyone told you that you’re a pest?”

  He flashes me a quick grin. “Would you say pest is below or above pirate?”

  Unable to help myself, I shift closer to him. “They’re fairly equal.”

  “You know where this is going to end.” He leans close enough his body blocks the chill of the cool night, and his words tickle my lips. “Why not give in now and save yourself some time?”

  “You are a bad man, Captain Greybrow.”

  He slides his arms around my waist and yanks me closer, nearly taking my breath away. “I like the sound of that.”

  “And what if the camp is attacked by desert imps while we’re distracted?” My hand strays to the laced neckline of his lightweight, muslin shirt. I wind the rough leather tie around my finger.

  “They’ll carry Adeline away, and Sebastian can play the hero. It’s a win-win situation.” He nips at my bottom lip, which effectively steals every last ounce of my common sense. “Tell me anything Adeline would like more.”

  Unable to help myself, I laugh and move in to tease my lips against his. That’s all the invitation Avery needs. His hand tightens at my waist, and I pull him closer.

  His lips are a hot contrast to the cold air, and the shadow of stubble on his jaw tickles my skin. It’s deliciously wrong, considering we’re on watch, and I cannot get enough.

  “Lucia,” he breathes after several long, blissful moments. “We should probably—”

  I gasp for breath and then yank him back. “Stop talking.”

  He groans in agreement and deepens the kiss, pulling back just enough to murmur, “If you insist.”

  The smell of the night surrounds us—the sharp scent of the scraggly brush, the crisp emptiness of the desert air. Even the sandstone gives off a rich mineral fragrance of its own. It’s so quiet, so perfect.

  The only noise on the breeze is the far-off sound of a donkey braying. Which is strange, considering we haven’t seen a soul in days.

  I end the kiss abruptly and pull back. “Did you hear that?”

  “No.” Avery pulls me back.

  Distracted, I turn my head. “I heard a donkey.”

  “I don’t care if you heard a rockslide.” With a hand to my cheek, he tilts my head and kisses the sensitive skin in front of my ear.

  I listen for several moments, but there is nothing else. Shrugging it off, I meet Avery’s kiss, taking no time t
o deepen it again.

  “I’ve decided I like night watch,” Avery says against my lips.

  Just as I’m about to answer, a sharp, shrill shriek fills the night and echoes off the nearby canyon.

  Avery and I leap to our feet. Our movements are clumsy since we’re both half-delirious. My cloak falls off my shoulder, and Avery’s shirt is askew. We blindly reach for our weapons and run for Adeline’s tent.

  Sword drawn, Avery barges through the flimsy fabric with me at his heels.

  A man stands hunched over, just inside the tent, and Avery lunges for him. The man ducks just in time.

  “Stop!” Adeline cries. Simultaneously, she casts a light spell, which illuminates the small space and the four people who barely fit in it.

  “Sebastian!” I cry, my heart racing. “What are you doing?”

  I can hear Gorin and Yancey rousing outside.

  Sebastian stammers, and he looks very much like he wants to crawl into a viper hole. Instead of answering me, he turns to Adeline. “I couldn’t sleep. I just wanted to talk.”

  She stares at him, wide-eyed. Even disheveled, she looks lovely. It’s unfair, really.

  “All right,” she says, her voice breathy though she tries to hide it.

  Avery and I glance at each other, both amused and irritated that they scared us half to death.

  Sebastian, acutely aware of our presence turns his gaze on us. Dryly he says, “How’s the watch going?”

  He must have seen us.

  It’s our turn to look embarrassed. Well, my turn. Avery seems smug. “Fabulous, actually. I will gladly volunteer to do a watch every night.”

  “Perfect,” Sebastian answers. “Tomorrow you can partner with Yancey.”

  As the men poke at each other, Adeline shoots me a look, telling me to get out.

  I take the captain’s arm. “Well, since everything’s all right—”

  A wicked look crosses Avery’s face. “Yes, we’ll gladly give you some privacy.”

  Adeline makes a frazzled sound that’s either a giggle or a noise of distress. Sebastian has the decency to look chagrined, but there’s a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

  “So you can…talk,” Avery adds, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively, just to be rotten.

  If I don’t get him out of here, Adeline will never speak to me again. I yank the captain’s arm and shove him from the tent.

  “Everything’s fine,” I say brightly when we find Gorin and Yancey lingering outside.

  Avery gives them his charming smile. “Adeline had a nightmare, but fear not—Sebastian’s taking care of it.”

  Yancey rolls his eyes.

  “All right,” Gorin says, amused. “You two can get some sleep. Yancey, you’re on the next watch with me.”

  They wander to the fire to take their posts. Once we’re alone, Avery looks at me and raises an eyebrow. “Do you anticipate nightmares?”

  I step close and toy with his collar. “I don’t know, Captain. Maybe you should stay with me?”

  “Gladly,” he growls and pulls me into our tent.

  I’m not sure we’re going to get much sleep tonight.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Arrive at Dusk

  Struin Aria looms in the distance, a city forgotten. Like Stali, the buildings are clay. Slightly higher on a hill, a fortress overlooks the city. It alone is made of white stone, decorated with ornate, crumbling balconies. It stands like a forgotten bride. A feeling of emptiness has settled over the valley.

  I find it incredibly eerie, but somewhere in there, we’ll find the map that will lead to the lily. And the sooner we collect it, the sooner we may return to Kalae, and then back to the sea.

  I glance at Avery, remembering our time on the island in the whirlpool. Maybe we’ll find another deserted island, somewhere secluded and lush. Just the two of us.

  He catches me looking, and a slow smile builds on his face. I bite the inside of my cheek and look away.

  “The wells are tainted, right?” I ask Gorin, getting down to business. “That’s why the city was abandoned?”

  “That’s right.” Our guide nods to our alchemist. “But that won’t be a problem with Yancey here.”

  And though he’d like to hide it, Yancey puffs up under Gorin’s praise, even if all he’ll be doing, as he put it, is “boiling the water.”

  Shadows grow as the sun sinks behind the distant hills. The city is protected by a wall, and the only way in is through the massive iron gates—gates that stand wide open. I eye them as we pass through, half expecting something to jump out at us.

  I glance at Adeline, and she too looks spooked.

  We pass abandoned houses with shuttered windows. They’re dark on the inside, but a fanciful part of me wonders if something stares back at us. Just as an involuntary shiver travels up my spine, a loud howl echoes in the street ahead of us.

  Adeline yips in fright, and Yancey jumps in his saddle. The mules shy, startled as nothing more than a scrawny cat darts down an alley and out of sight. Even my little donkey looks uneasy.

  Gorin turns in his saddle to grin at us. “You five all right?”

  Yancey glares at him, and I place a hand over my heart, willing it to slow down as I laugh. All that over a cat.

  Our party is quiet as we follow Gorin through the city. Fortunately, he seems to know where he’s going. We traverse a winding cobblestone road that begins to climb. Soon, we’re looking over the city. My unease grows as we ride past the castle fortress’s walls.

  Gorin dismounts in the courtyard, and we follow his lead.

  “Do you want to set up tents or sleep inside?” he asks.

  Avery and Sebastian share a look and glance around. It’s really a matter of what’s the least of two evils. There’s something about the city that makes me feel as if it doesn’t want us here—or worse, it’s eager for our arrival. Which is ridiculous, I know. I’m not usually this fanciful. But this place…

  I shiver.

  Adeline ends up answering for us. “I don’t want to sleep in there.”

  We all nod in agreement.

  “Tents it is,” Gorin says, sounding a touch too enthusiastic.

  By the time we make camp and eat a meager dinner, the sky is as dark as ink, and the stars are on display. There’s not a cloud to be seen, and the night is moonless. Gorin points out constellations to Yancey and Adeline, who both grew up with an entirely different set in Mesilca.

  The fire flickers, and its warmth goes a long way to soothe my nerves. The wildlands, with its amphibious beasts and exploding seed pods, were far worse than this. Yes, the city is a bit unnerving, but at least nothing has attacked us. Yet.

  Adeline holds out her hand, letting a turquoise flame flicker in her palm. I watch her, mesmerized. “What are you practicing?”

  “Sleeping charm,” she says. “I’m trying to decide if I can perform it on myself. Otherwise, I’ll never rest tonight.”

  Sebastian smirks. “I can do it for you—I’m getting good at it since you taught me. I used it on the harpies.” He flashes me a wicked smirk. “And I performed it on Lucia after the scorpion stung her.”

  I gasp, pointing a finger at him. “I knew I didn’t pass out!”

  The group laughs, breaking some of the tension around the camp.

  After a while, my eyes grow tired, and I yawn behind my hand. Exhausted after the last few long days of traveling, I lean against Avery and close my eyes. I certainly won’t need a sleeping spell tonight.

  “Are you ready for bed?” he murmurs in my ear.

  “Mmmhmm,” I mumble back.

  He says something else, but there’s a new sound on the breeze—a rider. I sit up, now awake. Sebastian too narrows his eyes, listening.

  “What is it?” Adeline looks at Sebastian.

  “Sounds like we have company,” Gorin says, but he must not be expecting any of the good variety because he pulls his bow from his pack.

  The rest of us stand alert, arming ourselves with ou
r weapons of choice—Avery with his ancient enchanted broadsword, Sebastian with his rapier, Adeline with her meager magic, and me with my bow. Yancey doesn’t need a weapon; he strikes a menacing stance, which is enough to make the most menacing of villains tuck tail.

  “They’re approaching,” Gorin says quietly as he draws his bow. I too nock an arrow and wait.

  Avery steps behind me and whispers into my ear, “Is this a bad time to tell you how ravishing you look?”

  “Probably,” I answer with a smile.

  I only hear one animal, and it’s in no hurry. It seems as though we wait forever. Finally, the rider crosses through the cut in the wall. He rides a donkey no larger than mine and wears a veil over his head and face. With his long, lean legs, he looks like a giant on the small creature, and I fleetingly wonder if I look ridiculous on my little jenny as well.

  Perhaps startled to find us on guard, the man yanks his mount to a stop. The creature dances sideways from the shock.

  Gorin swears under his breath and lowers his bow. “What are you doing here?”

  I too let my bow drop, but I keep the arrow nocked because Gorin’s tone doesn’t sound terribly friendly.

  The rider pulls away the head wrap, unleashing a cascade of riotous curls and a shockingly pretty face. “I’ve come to help.”

  Gorin glares at the girl. “And what did my brother have to say about it?”

  She swings down from her donkey, giving it an affectionate pat before she leads it to our group. “I didn’t ask.”

  “Esme—”

  “Stop right there.” She strides toward him and pokes him in the chest. She’s tall—only a few inches shorter than Gorin. She’ll tower over Adeline and me. “I am a year older than you. Therefore, you cannot order me about.”

  Gorin’s nostrils flare, and he pulls his eyes from her to address the rest of the group. “This is Esme.” He hardens his eyes and looks back at her again. “My niece.”

  Niece? She just said she’s older than Gorin.

  Instead of flinching under his scowl, she runs her fingers through her hair, trying to tame the light-colored curls, and then sets her hand on her hip and gives us a carefree smile. “Pleasure to meet you all.”