Page 33 of Inceptive (Ingenious #3)
The newlyweds linked arms and gazed over the bow at the endless blue lake dotted with islets. They were the only passengers invited on the commander’s barge that led the fleet and were two days from the Triangle. After three days of making love and living off food delivered to the door of the private quarters given to them as a wedding gift from Max and Quiggs, they’d emerged from the cabin wearing tees and drawstring pants.
On duty, the crew members passing by nodded but didn’t tease Will’s beard burn and waddle. Wedlock was sacred. Besides, Zach glowered at them since he was the cause.
Belle perched on the bow’s rail, singing out, then cocking her head, listening for an answering birdsong.
“Are you sad to leave home?” Will asked when she flew over for a warm cuddle.
“Home is you and scruffy husband.” She scratched her beak against Zach’s three days of stubble—shaving was impossible on the choppy lake.
Having greeted them, Belle flew back to the bow and sang again.
The honeymoon was over. They’d sacrificed their heritage for each other. Now they ventured into an unknown world.
Zach sighed. “I’m an ignorant farmer without land or assets to offer you.”
“Are you ashamed that your husband is the one who’ll provide for us?” Will teased.
“I’m a man full of work, yet idle,” Zach answered seriously. “The treaty gave me no land, and the rampart’s power cells belong to the people of Fort Hope.”
“Enjoy the vacation. In a year, there will be plenty of abandoned farms as the thrill of owning land wears off. Many refugees will seek city jobs or join the military. Heh. You can scoop up the land and grow tea. Think of how many will miss their special teas. I know I already do.”
“You seem sure of this.”
“I know Islanders, and I know you. You’ll become a land baron with the one cash crop that Fort Hope will trade for—tea. Especially new blends of teas. Food feeds the belly, music and love feeds the soul, tea begins and ends a day.”
Max, Quiggs, Beau, and Jagger hailed them from the deck above and joined them at the rail.
They exchanged pleasantries, clearly biting back comments on Zach’s blushes, clearly waiting until away from other ears to tease Will’s smug grin. Beau had fed and looked after Belle, but she’d refused to share quarters with him and Jagger, preferring to flit about the barge, singing out to the lake, then listening for challenges to her dominance.
A shadow circled the deck. Belle trilled as a dark-feathered bird swooped low, flying alongside the barge. It hovered near the men, its orange eyes regarding them. Belle clacked for attention, and it zipped to the bow’s rail, balancing on x-shaped feet.
“It is male and is unfamiliar with humans,” Beau observed.
“How do you know?” Will asked.
“It doesn’t act afraid. Humans would’ve hunted it.”
Will paled. “Is it hunting Belle?”
Zach stopped him from rushing to save her. “Oh, it’s interested in her, all right. Just watch.”
Beau chortled. “She’s been singing to attract a worthy mate.”
Though the male would launch itself off the rail, flapping its wings to entice her to fly away, Belle remained behind. After several failed attempts to elope with her, the male lit a few feet from her and chirruped.
Belle tilted her head as if asking Is that all you’ve got for me ?
It pulled its feathers in tightly and sunk its head between its shoulders, dejected.
Her dominance achieved, Belle batted her lashes coyly.
Encouraged, it puffed its breast and fanned iridescent tail feathers of blue and dark green. Its red crest flowed like a bright mane. She nearly fell off her perch.
“Dammit. She’s gonna fall for its flashy feathers.” Will turned to Beau. “Stun that fucker!”
Zach laughed softly. “Aw, she’s found a papa bird to replace my Will.”
Belle recovered and hopped to the deck. She casually bent to groom her claws, tipping her ass up. The male fluttered down behind her. She spread her tail feathers and swished away.
Will gasped. “She tipped her ass!”
“A trick that worked for me,” Zach murmured, drawing laughs.
Belle folded her legs and sat on the deck, seeming to dislike the men watching her courtship.
The male swiveled its head at the men, then at the female. It rushed at the men, clacking its beak in a challenge, with Belle trilling at its bravery. The men retreated to Max’s quarters, leaving the lovebirds cooing and rubbing beaks on a coil of rope atop a barrel.
“Look at the heroes of the Triangle fraternizing with the fools who vacated their titles and inheritance,” Will teased as the six men lounged on a circle of cushions in the commander’s quarters.
Max wrapped an arm around Quiggs, drawing him atop his lap. “When will you and Zach realize that we admire you as unsung heroes who saved the Carolina Sanctuary?”
“We’re unforgiven outcasts.” Will tapped his stein of beer to Zach’s. The Triangle produced excellent beer and cider.
Quiggs stared at them. “The refugees will tire of bickering on how to improve their lives and reconcile with their young ex-viceroy. They’ll vote you their ambassador to the Triangle Alliance.”
“Nope. No politics for me. I’ll commute by air shuttle between teaching in the academy and the cabin Zach builds us wherever we find land.” He told them about Zach’s plans for a tea trade.
“It’ll happen.” Quiggs held up a stein to toast a new beginning for all.
They clinked to the future and speculated on the bridges that connected the past to the present and to the bridges they must build for future generations to travel.
People crossed physical and emotional bridges, shedding beliefs and expectations along the way. When they touched the other side, their minds opened to a new beginning… and a new bridge was begun. Life was a series of bridges with unexpected obstacles to trip you over the side. Having a companion made the impassable possible.
Quiggs refilled their steins. “Plenty of beer left. What do we toast next?”
“To new friends and building new bridges,” Jagger suggested.
“To husbands who’ll watch that you don’t fall off in a brain fog,” Max added.
“To Belle’s future clutch and me getting first pick.” Beau yowled at Jagger’s pinch. “She promised.”
“To Beau outrunning enraged parents if he so much as touches an egg.” Zach looked at Will, thoughtfully tapping his stein as he composed a toast. “Will?”
“I was thinking that there’s never been a bridge with as many obstacles to their happily ever after as you and I have overcome.”
The other four men looked at each other, then at the newlyweds a long moment, and drawled in unison, “Wanna bet?”
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